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Medical Examinations for Crossing Guards

Crossing guard candidates should complete the same medical history and physical examination required for pre-placement examinations designed for other municipal full-time positions. The examination should be repeated as follows:

  • Up to age 39: every five years
  • From 40 to 49: every two years
  • 50+: every year

The physical examination, vision and hearing tests should be conducted in a clinical setting by a physician with experience examining job applicants. To perform the functions of the crossing guard position, the applicant must be capable of standing for two hours or more at a time and be able to lift and hold in position a stop sign weighing approximately one pound while holding the opposite hand in an upright, raised position. The examining physician should be provided a job description listing the physical requirements for the position.

If abnormalities or deficiencies are identified as a result of the physical examination including vision and hearing tests, the candidate is not qualified for the position. As an option, candidates not meeting the standards can be referred to an appropriate specialist for further examination to determine their physical capacity to perform the duties of the position. If this option is pursued, the specialist must be provided with the results of first examination and the standards that are to be met. Until the specialist report is received, the candidate should not be permitted to serve as a crossing guard. If the specialist report confirms the earlier testing outcomes, the candidate is not qualified to serve as a crossing guard.

The following vision and hearing standards are excerpted from the New Jersey Crossing Guard Report, Copyright ©2007 I/O Solutions, Inc.

Vision Standards and Recommended Tests

1. Peripheral Vision
Visual field shall be 160 degrees in the horizontal meridian binocularly with or without correction. Any perimeter that can measure the horizontal field of vision can serve as the testing method. The extent of the visual field shall be determined along the horizontal meridian for each eye with a perimeter (confrontation fields are not acceptable.) Values less than 160 degrees are acceptable only if complete compensation occurs with the opposite eye in binocular viewing. Any central absolute scotoma must be completely compensated by the opposite eye.

2. Stereopsis
Using either the Titmus test (TST) or the Rand Dot Stereo test (RST) or the Randot E test: TST Wirt Circle #8 (50 seconds of disparity) RST or RDE Target #6 (50 seconds of disparity). Subject must identify which object stands out from the page wearing Polaroid eyeglasses.

3. Color Vision
In response to one of the following three editions of the Ishihara Pseudoisochromatic Plate Screening test, with the testing conducted one plate at a time, the applicant should achieve the following results:

  • 38 plate edition: The first 21 plates – 9 errors or less. An individual who misses the first plate has failed.
  • 24 plate edition: The first 15 plates – 6 errors or less
  • 16 plate edition: The first 9 plates – 4 errors or less

4. Visual Acuity
The applicant must be able to read 20/30 letters with the dominant eye on the Standard Snellen optotype chart. The non-dominant eye must have 20/40 or better with best correction. The applicant is asked to read the smallest line of letters that can be read with one eye covered. This is repeated with the opposite eye covered. An applicant wearing contact lenses must meet the visual acuity standard with their contact lenses in place. A statement from the applicant’s eye care professional must be presented confirming that contact lenses have been worn successfully for a minimum of four months.

Hearing Standards and Recommended Tests

The candidate must be tested in a sound booth. Both the sound booth and audiometer used for testing should be calibrated using the most recent ANSI standards, and have been calibrated with the past year. Calibration certificates should be on file and available for review.

Candidates qualify if they meet standards with or without amplification.

The crossing guard hearing standards are as follows:

  • Hearing thresholds of 40dB or better in each ear at 500, 1K, and 2 KHz.
  • Pure tone average thresholds at 500, 1K and 2K Hz 35dB or better in each ear.
  • The hearing threshold at 4K Hz must be 45dB or better in each ear.