Medical standards for MDP Authorised Firearms Officers 

Upon receiving confirmation that you have been successful at the MDP competency interview, you will be invited to attend a pre-employment medical.   

Pre-employment medical requirements 

• Medical assessment (including drug and alcohol test). 

• Job-Related Fitness Test (JRFT). 

• Required forms (must be completed before medical appointment): 

  • Medical History Questionnaire (Applicant to complete section 1 and arrange for section 2 to be completed, signed and stamped by GP). 

  • Opticians' Form (to be completed, signed and stamped by optician). 

  • Audio Form (completed by applicant – last page to be completed by MOD OHSP Practioners at medical).

• Required forms (completed at medical appointment): 

  • Health surveillance respiratory questionnaire. 

  • Fitness to use breath apparatus screening questionnaire. 

Additional medical assessment tests 

• Audiometry (hearing), 

• Vision, 

• Blood pressure and pulse, 

• Urinalysis, 

• Lung function, 

• Height and weight measurements, 

• Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment.  

Essential standards 

Hearing 

• Must meet Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) standard unaided. 

• Maximum permitted hearing loss: 84dB over 0.5, 1, 2 KHz frequencies. 

Annual hearing tests for all Firearms Officers are required throughout career. 

Vision

• Binocular vision: 6/7.5 (aided or unaided). 

• Worst eye: 6/12 or better (aided or unaided). 

• Unaided binocular vision: 6/36 or better (when successful correct has been achieved using soft contact lenses, the unaided standard need not apply). 

• Near vision: N8 (corrected and uncorrected). 

• Visual field: Minimum 120° horizontal by 100° vertical. 

• Laser surgery: Must wait 6 weeks post-surgery with no side effects. Colour vision: Must pass specified tests (Ishihara and additional testing if required). 

Physical requirements

• BMI: Between 19 and 30 

• Waist circumference:  

  • Men: <40 inches 

  • Women: <35 inches 

• Alternative measurements accepted: 

  • Men: Waist-to-hip ratio <0.95 or body fat ≤21% 

• Women: Waist-to-hip ratio <0.80 or body fat ≤30% 

  Blood pressure: Must be below 140/90 mmHG 

Other medical conditions 

• Asthma: Individual assessment required. May be accepted with controlled medication. 

• Type 1 Diabetes: Unlikely to be suitable, but will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

• Type 2 Diabetes: Individual assessment required. 

• Epilepsy: Unlikely to be suitable if episodes occurred after age 5. 

• Mental health conditions (including stress, anxiety or depression): Individual assessment required.