Education · 1 of 4

The path

Become a constable first. Then years of patrol, then selection and courses.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Then the same path as any police officer: requirements, testing, hiring, police college.

2. 2

   Get hired as a police officer

   1 to 3 years including waiting

   Testing, background, fitness, then Ontario Police College (13 weeks) or your province's academy. Quebec requires a college police diploma first.

3. 3

   Patrol

   3 to 5 years

   Job Bank lists several years as a police officer as the requirement. Most services want 3 to 5 years on the road before you can apply to investigative units.

4. 4

   Selection and courses

   Months to a year

   Apply to a unit, interview, then courses in general investigation, interviewing and major case management through your provincial police college or the Canadian Police College in Ottawa.

5. 5

   Detective rank

   After 5 to 10 years total

   Some services promote to detective constable or detective; others treat it as an assignment. Either way, seniority and results decide who stays.