The Recruitment and Training of Police Officers

• What are the two qualifications that are required for people to become police officers?

  The two qualifications are:

  1. Basic: The minimum requirements for candidates applying for employment in policing. This includes (1) Canadian citizenship, (2) minimum age of 19, (3) physical fitness, (4) grade 12 education, and (5) no prior criminal convictions and pending charges.
  2. Preferred: Requirements that increase the competitiveness of applicants seeking employment in policing.
• Operational Field Training

  Instructing the recruit how to apply principles from the training academy in the community.

  • The recruit learns to apply the basic principles taught at the training centre. This is done under the guidance of a field training officer (FTO).
  • During this phase, the FTO makes sure the recruit is able to meet all the demands and challenges of police work.
  • The objective of the FTO is to enhance the skills and knowledge the recruit gained through the academy.