Fitness test

Chester Step Test

A submaximal step-based exercise test estimating aerobic capacity (VO2max) without maximal exertion.

Duration

15 min

Category

Fitness

From

£30

Included in

3 medicals

What It Involves

A submaximal step-based fitness test - you step up and down a fixed-height box at an increasing pace set by an audio cue, while your heart rate is monitored, estimating your aerobic capacity (VO2max) without needing to push to full exhaustion. It's widely used across offshore, maritime, wind turbine and diving medicals, where working at height or in an emergency evacuation demands a genuine baseline level of fitness, not just the absence of illness.

What to Bring

Valid photo ID (passport or driving licence) (and 2 more items)

Read full guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Tell the clinician beforehand - they can assess whether an alternative fitness check is more appropriate for you.

There's no universal pass mark - the test estimates your aerobic capacity relative to what your specific role requires, so requirements vary by sector.

Health questionnaire

If your clinic requires a pre-visit health form, we'll email you their link. You complete it directly with the clinic — we never see or store your answers.

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