The B-PAD is used in public safety fields in both the U.S. and Canada as an assessment of each employment candidate’s interpersonal relations, communication skills, logic, situational judgment, ethics, decision-making abilities and professional demeanor under stress. This behavior-based test is widely used in the hiring process at the entry level, promotional level and oral boards.
There are eight job-related scenarios presented. For entry-level candidates, the situations revolve around on-the-job incidences that are critical. The applicant’s task is to become the personnel at the scene, providing calm and controlled responses and judgment calls.
Promotional B-PADs contain a managerial focus, requiring candidates to react in a logical, helpful, professional and organized manner to difficult employee incidents.
As a psychological fitness test, the B-PAD is meant to place a spotlight on applicants whose decision-making skills and reactions to stressful circumstances do not coincide with the emergency nature of public safety positions.