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Navy Fitness

Navy PRT Explained: Events, How Scoring Works and How to Prepare

What the Physical Readiness Test involves, how it fits into the fitness assessment, what changed for 2026, and how to train for each event.

By NavyMentor Editorial Team

Published 4 min read

Sailors perform push-ups on a grass field while a fitness leader observes during a physical readiness test
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Clayton A. Wren
In this guide

If you are new to the Navy, or about to join, the acronyms arrive before the explanations do. This guide sets out what the test is, how it is structured and how to prepare, and points you to the official documents that contain the actual scoring tables.

PFA, PRT and BCA: what the terms mean

Term What it is
PFA — Physical Fitness Assessment The whole assessment: a medical screening, a body composition assessment and the physical test.
BCA — Body Composition Assessment A check of body composition against Navy standards, done before the physical test.
PRT — Physical Readiness Test The physical events: push-ups, forearm plank and cardio.
CFL — Command Fitness Leader The person at your command who runs the program and can answer questions about it.

The three PRT events

Push-ups

You do as many correct push-ups as you can in two minutes. Repetitions only count if they meet the form standard, so strict practice matters more than a high number of sloppy ones.

Forearm plank

The forearm plank replaced curl-ups as the core event. You hold a straight-body position on forearms and toes for as long as you can, up to a maximum time. The test ends when you can no longer hold correct form.

Cardio

The standard cardio event is a timed 1.5-mile run. Commands may authorise alternative cardio options, such as a swim, row or stationary cycle; which ones are available depends on current policy and your commanding officer.

For technique and training, see how to improve your push-ups and plank and our 8-week 1.5-mile run plan.

What changed for 2026

The Navy issued updated fitness guidance at the end of 2025. According to reporting by USNI News and the Navy’s published program guides:

  • Two cycles a year. Sailors now complete two PFAs each calendar year, one between January and June and one between July and December.
  • Updated standards. Body composition and event standards were revised, and the Navy published new program guides during 2026.
  • Stricter consequences for repeated failures. The policy sets out administrative action for multiple failures within a set period.

How scoring works in principle

Each event is scored against a table for your age group and sex. Your results place you in a performance category for each event, and those combine into an overall result. You must meet at least the minimum standard in every event — an outstanding run does not make up for failing push-ups.

How to prepare

Good shoes help more than gadgets. If yours are worn out, see our guide to running shoes for PRT training.

Frequently asked questions

How often is the Navy PRT?

From 2026 there are two Physical Fitness Assessment cycles each calendar year: January to June, and July to December.

What happens at boot camp?

Recruits take an initial fitness event during in-processing and an official fitness assessment near the end of training. Arriving already able to run 1.5 miles comfortably makes boot camp far easier.

Can I do something other than the run?

Alternative cardio events exist, but whether you may use one depends on current policy and your command. Train for the run unless you have been told otherwise.

Where are the official score charts?

In the Physical Readiness Program guides published by MyNavy HR. We link to the source rather than copy tables that may go out of date.

Sources

Facts last checked against these sources: October 2026.

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