How To Become A Police Officer In Ontario? (2023)

A police officer is a member of a city’s law enforcement. A police officer is typically in charge of keeping public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing, discovering, and investigating illegal activity. A police officer is also often entrusted with various licensing and regulatory activities.

To become a police officer in Ontario, you must, first of all, be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, be 18 years and above and have a minimum of an Ontario secondary school program diploma or an equivalent. These are some of the minimum requirements needed to become a member of the Ontario provincial police (OPP).

The job of a police officer is to protect and serve and the OPP is the epitome of those pledges. The OPP can always be relied upon to carry out these responsibilities with the utmost effect. They are responsible for policing more than one million kilometers of land and water across the province of Ontario. They also provide frontline, investigative, and administrative police services to the people of Ontario. Some of the other functions of the OPP include;

• Patrolling all provincial waterways
• Providing police service to rural areas that do not have their own municipal police
• Investigating province-wide and cross-jurisdictional crimes
• Providing specialized response services across the province
• Providing security services in government buildings.
• Providing security services to visiting politicians and government representatives

How to Become a Police Officer in Ontario?

The police department in Ontario is known as the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) which was founded in 1909 and has been protecting and serving the people of Ontario ever since. To become a police officer in the province of Ontario, certain requirements have to be met which will be followed by 3-6 months of police training. The education required to become police is minimal as only a grade 12 level education is required at a minimum and level of education also does not affect earning potential.

If you are looking forward to becoming a member of the Ontario Provincial Police, here are some requirements that must be met;

Age: The minimum age to become an officer in the Ontario Provincial Police force is 18 years. This is a basic requirement as every police have to be an adult by law. The retirement age of Ontario police officers is 65 years. So, if you are 65 years and above you are not qualified to become a police officer in Ontario.

Fluency in English: To become a member of the Ontario Provincial police, you must be fluent in the English Language. It does not mean you can’t be fluent in other languages as long as you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.

Good Driving Record: A good driving record is required to become an Ontario police officer which means you have been a law-abiding citizen. Having parking tickets or DUI tickets might not be in your best interest when applying to be an officer.

High School Diploma: A minimum educational requirement of a Canadian High School diploma or an equivalent to the diploma. Education qualifications are not a barrier to payment and promotions in the Ontario Provincial Police force.

Citizenship: To become a member of the Ontario Provincial Police force, you have to either be a citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.

First Aid Certification: Becoming an Ontario Police officer requires you to have a valid first aid certificate and a CPR “C” certification as a minimum health requirement to be an active police officer.

Physical Standard: You need to have the required level of physicality to enable you to be able to pass through the rigorous police college training. You must also have standard required vision and hearing ability to become an Ontario police.

Criminal Record: To become an Ontario Police officer you must not have a criminal record. This means that even if u had a conviction in the past, it must have been pardoned and you must not have pending criminal charges at the time of application.

There are other specialized units in the Ontario Provincial Police like the SWAT, Police service dogs unit, Narcotics unit e.t.c that requires further qualifications and physical training to be a member of the special units.

Requirements to Become a Police Officer in Ontario?

The following are the minimum requirements required to become a police officer in the province of Ontario;

• Minimum of 18 years of age
• Fluency in English
• Must have an Ontario Secondary School diploma or an equivalent
• Must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
• Must have a value class ‘G’ license with no more than six demerit points
• Must not have a criminal record
• Must be certified in standard first aid and CPR
• Must pass medical, psychological, security, and financial assessment tests

How Much Does Ontario Police Officers earn?

The average salary of an Ontario Provincial Police Officer is $94,934 per year which is 29% above the national average. The police officers in Ontario are paid hourly wages ranging between $30.05 to $57.69 per hour. Which makes the officers earn $56,000 yearly as a starting salary and can go up to $117,000 per year based on the rank and experience of the officer. The Police academy in Ontario however costs $14,550 and can be paid one time or in installments by the applicant.

Are Police Officers in Demand in Ontario?

Yes, Police officers are in demand in Ontario. As of 2020, 86% of Ontario police departments reported a shortage of staff. And a new bill was passed in 2020 to increase the number of recruits to the Ontario Provincial Police Force between the years 2020 and 2028. There are 24,500 projected job openings in the Ontario Police Force between 2020 and 2028 and there are expected to be 24,800 applicants comprising of School leavers and immigrants who meet the requirements to be available to fill those positions.

Related:

• How To Become A Pharmacist In Ontario?
• How To Become A Paralegal In Ontario?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Police Officer in Ontario?

It usually takes 24 weeks to complete training in the Ontario Police Academy and become sworn in as a 4^th class constable. New recruits go through a three-week orientation at the Ontario Police College followed by a 12-week course at the Ontario Police College as cadets in training.