How to Become a Police Officer in Ontario

Police officers candidates undergo a rigorous recruitment process.

A law enforcement career can provide excitement, career security and the pride of serving your community. But because of the responsibility police officers wield, candidates must undergo a fairly rigorous recruitment process. This process varies among different jurisdictions, and in Ontario, the major police organization is the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Instructions

1. Make sure you meet the initial requirements, including having the following: Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent; a clean driving record; a clean criminal record; and certification in first aid and CPR.

2. Get your Certificate of Results, or COR, by passing a battery of written and aptitude tests, vision tests and physical tests.

3. Prepare your application package, which is a 14-page packet that includes your application to become a constable along with a release for a background check.

4. Sit for a Local Focus Interview with a recruiter; this covers your background and your motivation for wanting to become a constable and gives you a chance to demonstrate the personal qualities you think will make you a good candidate for the OPP.

5. Pass the psychological assessment.

6. Receive approval from the Final Review Board, which examines each application and selects those applicants that will be put into the eligibility pool and be offered positions within the OPP.

Tips & Warnings

• Obtaining your COR is a two-day process and requires a fee of $67.62. If you pass, your COR is valid for three years--except for the physical fitness test, which is valid for six months.

• If there are no delays, the process generally takes six to eight months.