Training to Succeed on the CPAT (Friday morning, March 26; repeats in afternoon)


Faculty: Brenda Berkman, Anna Schermerhorn, Maureen McFadden.

CPAT and CPAT-like exams continue to be one of the biggest obstacles to women being hired and retained as firefighters. All fire service women, and particularly women aspiring to be leaders in the fire service, need to understand these exams and how to minimize their adverse impact on women. This panel will present information from a variety of perspectives on programs that help women succeed on physical abilities tests. Included will be "Private Health Clubs as Training Partners," "Practicing the Course: The Essential Ingredient," and "top five" lists of suggestions for success and pitfalls to avoid, drawn from programs around the country.

About the faculty:
Brenda Berkman is a captain with the New York City Fire Department, where she has worked for more than 20 years. She is past president of the WFS Board of Trustees and has presented workshops at almost every WFS conference since 1989. Anna Schermerhorn is a firefighter with the New York City Fire Department. Maureen McFadden is Vice-President for Communications for the National Organization for Women Legal Defense and Education Fund.