Canadians who are interested in the law enforcement field as a police officer have the option to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or one of the provincial police forces. The various law enforcement agencies each have their own recruiting requirements, but many of them are consistent throughout the field.
In order to become a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer, one must meet the following basic requirements:
- Must be a Canadian citizen.
- Must be 18 years old to apply and 19 years old to be hired as a regular member.
- Must possess good character traits showing honesty, integrity, compassion, accountability and respect.
- Must be able to speak, understand and write English or French.
- Must have a diploma from a Canadian secondary school or high school or have successfully completed an equivalent assessment.
- Must pass a medical examination.
- Must be physically fit.
- Must pass a first-aid class.
- Must be able to provide a birth certificate, social insurance number, a valid unrestricted driver’s license, driving records, school transcripts and diploma.
If all of the above requirements are met, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer prospects will need to do the following:
- Attend one of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police career presentations.
- Complete the Royal Canadian Mounted Police application process:
- Written exam
- Physical abilities exam
- Interviews
- Polygraph test
- Background check
- Medical exam
- Enroll in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police training program as a cadet.
In order to become a Provincial Police Officer, one will need to contact the local police force, which they are considering, to find out what their recruit requirements are. The provincial police forces often have the same requirements as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that are listed above.