How Do I Become a Police Officer

Requirements/ Qualifications for Recruits to Municipal Police Forces

The following are basic requirements for police recruits:

• must have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
• completion of secondary school is required
• completion of at least one year of post secondary education, preferably graduation with a college diploma or university degree
• physical agility, strength, fitness and vision requirements must be met, and psychological or other tests may also be required

Check with your local police force as each municipal force has its own detailed list of qualifications for recruits.

Education/Training for Municipal Police Forces

• a 41 to 44 week police training program is provided
• in BC, the Justice Institute of BC operates a police training program through The Police Academy
• The Police Academy is responsible for training all municipal police recruits in British Columbia
• upon successful completion of the Recruit Training Program, candidates graduate as “Qualified Municipal Constables“
• Please note:  ALL candidates in the Police Academy must already be hired by a municipal police department prior to receiving training

Requirements/ Qualifications for Recruits to RCMP

• Canadian citizen or permanent resident status and has resided in Canada for the past ten years
• completion of secondary school is required
• successful completion of RCMP entrance exam**
  **the entrance exam is waived for candidates who have completed a college program or university degree

Education/Training for RCMP recruits

• cadets must successfully complete 26-week training program at Depot, the RCMP Training Academy in Regina, Saskatchewan.
• upon completion of training at Depot, candidates are granted peace officer status

Some larger urban police forces have an additional class of officers who may be called ‘Reserve Constables’, ‘Community Safety Officers’, ‘Auxiliary Officers’.  These officers may have reduced training/education requirements depending on their police force.  They usually work as a volunteer, often assisting at community events, crime prevention programs, or traffic safety for their police force. They may be classed as ‘Auxiliary Constables’ or ‘Special Municipal Constable’. For more details on qualifications and requirements, check with individual police forces in your area.

Education/Training for Reserve Constables

Each local police force recruits its own candidates for reserve constables who will then be required to complete a 92 hour basic training program and successfully pass an exam.  For more details on training program, check with individual police forces in your area.

Some police forces *may* hire jail guards.  All candidates *must be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status*.  For examples, see the following police forces for details on requirements/qualifications and training: