Navy PRT Requirements

The Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT) was a program developed by the military for sailors finishing boot camp. Before the completion of boot camp, sailors are required to obtain a score of "Good-Low." After finishing training and becoming part of the Navy, sailors are periodically retested with the Physical Readiness Test. At this time, they must receive a score of "Satisfactory-Medium" in order to be considered active in the military.

  1. The 1.5 Mile Run

    • For the 1.5 mile run, candidates are asked to run the 1.5 miles as fast as they possibly can. Combining walking, jogging and running is allowed, but the event is timed. In order to obtain a passing score, sailors are encouraged to run for a majority of the time, resting when only absolutely necessary. The sex and age of the person is considered when scoring. For example, to obtain an "excellent-medium" score a 17- to 19-year-old male must complete the 1.5 mile run in nine minutes and thirty seconds. However, a 30- to 34-year-old female has 13 minutes and 15 seconds to complete the same event and obtain the same score.

    Curl-Ups

    • During the test, candidates have two minutes to complete as many curl-ups as they can. All curl-ups must be done correctly to qualify. Sailors are allowed to take breaks as much as they want during the designated two minutes. Like the other events, the standards for each category vary. To even be scored, sailors must complete a minimum of 31 to 50 curl-ups, depending on age and gender.

    Push-Ups

    • Like curl-ups, candidates have two minutes to complete as many push-ups as possible. All push-ups must be done correctly to qualify. Candidates may break as often as possible but are only allowed to do so in the "up" position. Depending on age and gender, a minimum standard between five and 42 push-ups is set for sailors taking the test.

    Averaging Scores

    • If a sailor falls below the "good-low" standard for one category, they can make up for it by exceeding their goals in the other categories. At the end of the test, all scores are added together and then averaged. Therefore, if a sailor is particularly strong at running but not strong with push-ups, they can still pass the test.

    Body Composition Assessment

    • The Body Composition Assessment (BCA), which measures weight and body fat composition is also a requirement as part of the PRT. Candidates who receive an overall score of excellent or outstanding and have no scores below good are eligible to be waived from the body composition assessment.

    Prepare Yourself

    • It's a good idea to know your abilities and limits before taking the PRT exam. There are several training programs that can be completed at home to help train for the PRT exam. Training yourself to receive an outstanding or excellent score will increase your odds of passing the test. Pair up with a friend or fellow sailor and stage a pre-prt exam to identify your weaknesses beforehand.