How to become a police officer in BC

The road in one paragraph

Becoming a municipal police officer in British Columbia takes about one to two years from your application to the end of academy training. First you meet the basics: Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 19 years old, high school graduation, a Class 5 driver's licence, Standard First Aid with CPR-C, and at least 30 post-secondary credits, which is about one year of college or university. You also pass the Peace Officer Physical Abilities Test (POPAT).

Then you apply to a police department, such as the Vancouver Police Department, the Surrey Police Service or the Victoria Police Department. Selection takes several months and includes tests, interviews, a polygraph, a psychological assessment, a medical and a background check. If hired, the department sends you to the Police Academy at the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC). Recruit training runs about nine months in three blocks, with field training in between, and ends with you sworn in as a constable.

Getting in

You cannot enrol in the Police Academy yourself. A police department must hire you first and sponsor your seat. Provincial standards under the Police Act set the minimum rules, and each department adds its own. Departments look for steady work history, community volunteering, physical fitness and honesty above all. A second language helps.

What it costs and what it pays

In our directory, tuition for the JIBC Police Academy is Not published, because recruits do not pay it. The hiring department pays for the academy and pays you a salary from your first day. Your own costs are the 30 post-secondary credits, the first aid course and small testing fees.

Pay comes from WorkBC data for police officers, except commissioned. The median wage is $54.00 per hour. Entry-level pay is around $35.00 per hour and experienced officers earn around $70.67 per hour. WorkBC lists average annual pay of $117,391.

Common mistakes and shortcuts

• Applying to the academy instead of a department. JIBC does not take independent recruits. Get hired first. (Source: Justice Institute of British Columbia)
• Applying with only Grade 12. Most municipal departments require at least 30 post-secondary credits before you apply. Do the year of college first. (Source: Justice Institute of British Columbia)
• Underestimating the POPAT. It is a timed obstacle course with pushing, pulling and running. Train for it before your test date. (Source: Justice Institute of British Columbia)
• Hiding anything in the background check. Undisclosed drug use, tickets or job discipline found in the polygraph or background check ends the application. Tell the whole truth. (Source: Government of British Columbia, Police Services)
• Starting over as an experienced officer. Officers already serving with another Canadian police service can apply as experienced officers and skip most of recruit training. (Source: Justice Institute of British Columbia)