In our school, at first level black, one has to perform the first seven of eight basic kata, the first six "perfectly," which means well enough to add in a little individual interpretation, and the last, and the seventh, Kusan, well enough. (It's really, really hard.) There are other kata, but only eight that count for promotion.
Next, one has to defeat two out of three first level black belts in mostly full contact kumite, preferably people one doesn't know personally (we have contacts with several other schools in the South for this purpose--I'm going to fight some Fort Bragg guys for mine). "Mostly" means it'll hurt without causing lasting damage.
There is also a teaching requirement, which I've been satisfying as I go along. I love teaching.
No weapons kata are ever required, though I've studied bo for quite a few years now.
Anyway, other schools may have other requirements. These are ours.
Oh, I'm sorry...
Since I'm in better shape now, the training is more a pleasure than work, if you know what I mean. I run my kata every day; nothing unusual in that. I teach class twice a week, and fight as often as I can--usually three times a week.
Our classes last two hours. Black-and-brown belt classes can go on for three. It's a good kind of exhaustion, which I wouldn't be able to do if I had any kind of real job. (I'll be putting in more teaching hours come the fall. It's my first year, and the new guy gets overworked.)