Basic requirements to be an RCMP police officer

To apply, permanent residents must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (3 years) during the past 5 years.

The application process takes place in Canada. If you are a Canadian citizen living abroad, you will have to travel to Canada at your own expense for some parts of the process. If you have been living outside of Canada for an extended period time, it may be difficult to assess your suitability to move forward in the application process.

RCMP police officers who are permanent residents may not qualify for certain roles that require a top secret security clearance or specific travel documents.

To learn more about becoming a Canadian Citizen, visit the Immigration and Citizenship section on Canada.ca.

You can apply to the RCMP and begin the selection process and basic training at age 18. However, you must be at least 19 years old to be hired as a police officer.

There is no maximum age limit to apply to the RCMP.

You must be proficient in either English or French. Fluency means being able to speak, write, and read in either English or French. You do not need to be bilingual to apply.

You need to show that you are a confident and skilled driver. If your driving experience is limited, gaining more experience before applying is encouraged.

An unrestricted driver's license means that you must be able to drive unsupervised at any time of the day or night, on any road, and with as many passengers as there are seat belts.

If you completed your education outside Canada, you must get an equivalency assessment. Contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for more information and to find out which organizations across Canada perform these assessments.

If you did not complete secondary school, you must obtain an equivalency assessment. For more information, contact your local board of education or adult learning centre to be assessed and take a Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) test or equivalent.

If you did not complete your secondary education in Canada and do not have an equivalency, you may still apply if you have completed a university degree from a recognized Canadian university, or a diploma from a recognized Canadian college. If you have completed a college diploma, you may be asked to provide your education equivalency later in the process.

You must have Level C CPR for infant, child and adult. The certification needs to be valid at the time of Depot enrollment and will be requested closer to the end of the recruitment process.

You must meet the health standards as assessed by RCMP Health Services. This includes a full medical assessment, laboratory tests and psychological examinations.

A Recruiting Analyst will reach out to request the required documents before the medical suitability assessment stage of the application process.

You will need to meet the minimum vision standards as assessed by a registered/certified Ophthalmologist/Optometrist. Review the vision standards.

You must meet the minimum hearing standards as assessed by an audiologist. Review the hearing standards.

Police work is physically demanding. You need to be in good physical shape before applying. The Cadet Training Program is not designed to build your fitness – it prepares you for the physical demands of policing.

If you arrive at training without strong physical fitness, it puts you at a disadvantage. If you are not physically prepared, you may face a higher risk of injury and find the program more challenging. Strong fitness supports both your physical and academic performance and increases your chances of graduating. Review the fitness requirements.

Police officers are required to maintain public order and safety, which includes carrying a firearm and using force when necessary. Officers often work in fast‑moving, high‑pressure situations where they must quickly assess risk and take appropriate action to protect the public, themselves, and their colleagues. This can involve using various levels of intervention, up to and including the use of force or a firearm when required by law and policy.

You are required to live at Depot while in training for the entire 26-week duration. You will also be required to do evening and weekend training activities.

The RCMP is a national organization. You, and your family (if applicable), must be willing to relocate anywhere within Canada. Postings are assigned based on operational needs.

Police officers can be relocated depending on the officer's role, promotional interests, human resourcing needs and available opportunities. The RCMP serves communities across the country, and our police officers are expected to be mobile to gain varied experiences and meet the organization's operational needs.

Policing is a 24-hour service, expect to work shifts, including nights, evenings, weekends and holidays.

Tattoos are permitted if they don't depict or incite hate, harassment, or discrimination against individuals based on the grounds listed in Canadian Human Rights Act, section 3.

You may wear discreet personal effects on the body if they don't interfere with the effectiveness of personal protective equipment. Examples include glasses, watches, medical bracelets, jewelry, wedding bands, kangas, kirpans, karas, and medicine bags.

These principles define the expectations for RCMP employee conduct and how they serve communities. You will be expected to demonstrate and uphold these core values as an RCMP police officer.

RCMP core values

Take responsibility

We are transparent about our decisions and actions, and hold ourselves accountable for the results and impacts.

Show respect

We treat all people with fairness. We value and promote reconciliation, diversity and inclusion by being considerate of the democratic rights, history and lived experiences of others.

Serve with excellence

We commit to continuous learning, and work collaboratively with colleagues, communities, and partners to provide and support innovative and professional policing services.

Demonstrate compassion

We care for each other and the communities we serve by approaching each situation with empathy and a genuine desire to help.

Act with integrity

We conduct ourselves ethically and do so with honesty, dignity, and honour.