Sworn Selection Process

Becoming a Police Constable

The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Selection Process is a four-stage process. Applicants must successfully complete each stage to go on to the next stage.  Please note that the Constable Selection Process is very competitive and the successful completion of these stages does not guarantee an offer of employment.

Stage One - Application Phase

The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) certificate of results is required (issued upon successfully completing the Applicant Testing).  The applicant must a copy of their OACP certificate, along with their Standard First Aid and Level C CPR certificates. For experienced officer applicants, an additional cover letter and resume is needed to complete the application process, as well as a copy of your Basic Training diploma.

Applicants will be required to pay $292.50 plus $38.03 HST for a total of $330.53. The fee for re-test/renewal component testing is $70.28 plus $9.14 HST for a total of $79.42 per test.

To obtain this certificate, please contact Applicant Testing Services (ATS) to schedule an appointment for testing. Testing is conducted at various locations throughout the province of Ontario, including Ottawa.

Contact ATS to schedule a testing appointment.

The applicant should also review and fill out the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (PDF*) for his/her own information. 

Stage Two - Pre-Background Questionnaire

Candidates are required to answer some brief questions related primarily to character and habits, in such areas as work and school experiences, alcohol, drugs, criminal activity, credit record, as well as the ability and willingness to work under the conditions related to policing.

These questions should be answered as accurately as possible, and truthfully, since deliberate misinformation could lead to the candidate being disqualified from the selection process.

Stage Three - Interview Phase

The Essential Competency interview is conducted, as per ongoing staffing requirements.

Stage Four - Background Investigation Phase

An extensive and comprehensive background investigation will be conducted, as well as a psychological test and interview with a psychologist.

Note: Applicants that are successful through the interview process may proceed to the background investigation stage.  The background investigation may include, but is not limited to, reference checks, verification of educational documents, verification of employment history and credit checks.  Part of the background is further supplemented with a psychological assessment, which includes an interview with a psychologist.

Information is collected throughout the selection process to determine whether an applicant possesses the competencies of a police constable for the Ottawa Police Service.

Stage Five - Final Selection Review Phase

All of the information collected from the previous stages of the selection process is reviewed and compared to the selection criteria.  A conditional offer of employment may be made to qualified applicants.  This offer will be conditional on a medical examination. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a probationary period, and complete all mandated training.

• The successful completion of any phase of this process does not guarantee proceeding to the next phase.
• Upon being selected and signing a job offer the applicant must be willing to attend training at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, Ontario for a period of 13 weeks.  The applicant will also be personally responsible for paying a sum of $14,550 towards the training costs levied by the Ontario Police College.
• The OPS is an equal opportunity employer, and readily acknowledges that a diverse population is best served by a similar diversity of police and civilian membership.

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