RCMP Entrance

Overview

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is Canada's national police service. People who want to become RCMP police officers apply as cadets through a multi-stage selection process run by RCMP recruiting. There is no single written exam: applicants move through an online application, an online entrance assessment, a fitness test, interviews, medical and psychological checks and a background investigation. Successful applicants then complete the 26-week Cadet Training Program at Depot, the RCMP Academy in Regina, Saskatchewan, before being hired as constables.

This page covers the general police officer (cadet) route. The RCMP also runs separate streams, such as Federal Policing recruitment and a programme for experienced police officers, which have their own application pages.

Who can apply

• Citizenship: you must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. Permanent residents must have lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) in the past five years.

• Age: you can apply and start the selection process and Depot training at 18, but you must be at least 19 to be hired as a police officer. There is no upper age limit.

• Language: you must be able to read, write and speak English or French well. Being bilingual is not required.

• Education: a Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma or equivalent. If you studied outside Canada, you need an equivalency assessment of your education.

• Driver's licence: a valid, unrestricted Canadian driver's licence.

• First aid: a valid standard first aid certificate with Level C CPR (infant, child and adult), which must still be valid when you enrol at Depot.

• Fitness: you need to be in good physical condition before applying. Cadet training prepares you for the physical demands of policing but is not designed to get you fit from scratch.

• Training and posting: you must be willing to live at Depot for the full 26 weeks of training, and you (and your family, if applicable) must be willing to relocate anywhere in Canada.

Selection stages

Exam pattern

RCMP Online Entrance Assessment

The RCMP describes this as an assessment rather than an exam. It looks at personality, behaviour and cognitive ability. Once the link arrives by email, you have 14 days to complete it.

It takes roughly 55 to 70 minutes. Some sections are timed, but there is no overall time limit, and the RCMP recommends finishing it in one sitting.

Police Fitness Assessment (PFA)

The PFA uses four stations, each modelled on a common, physically demanding police task. You need a signed medical clearance before taking it, and only applicants who meet the PFA benchmark move on to the interview stages.

Interviews and suitability

Attribute Evaluation interview. Held after the PFA. Passing both leads to your file being assigned to a recruiter.

Suitability interview. Based on a detailed review of your Regular Member Applicant Questionnaire (RMAQ), which asks about past actions and behaviour. The interview weighs how serious, how recent and how repeated any issues were, and includes behavioural questions on your knowledge, skills and abilities. Honesty is the main focus: answers are checked carefully.

Medical and psychological assessments. These are split into a Psychological Suitability Screening and a Medical Screening Process, carried out by RCMP-designated physicians and psychologists. Passing gives you medical clearance.

Field investigation and security assessment. The final step. The RCMP looks into roughly the past 10 years of your life, including employment, education, references, finances, drug and alcohol use, online activity, criminal activity, associations, integrity and loyalty to Canada. Time spent outside Canada is assessed case by case and may require documents such as foreign police certificates. Passing gives you security clearance.

Marking and results

The RCMP does not publish pass marks for the entrance assessment. Passing it means your application is kept in the process, though it does not guarantee you will advance. If you are unsuccessful, you can reapply after waiting three months. The PFA is pass/fail against a set benchmark.

Fees

The RCMP does not list an application fee for the police officer process. It covers the cost of the medical and psychological assessments. During cadet training it also covers meals, accommodation, uniform, training courses, insurance and travel to and from Depot.

How to apply

1. Check that you meet every basic requirement, including first aid certification and a valid Canadian driver's licence.

2. Create an account on the GC Jobs portal and submit the RCMP police officer application, answering the screening questions honestly.

3. Watch for emails from RCMP recruiting with your career presentation and entrance assessment link, and complete the assessment within 14 days.

4. Follow your recruiter's instructions for the later stages and submit forms on time.

After selection

Successful applicants are enrolled in the Cadet Training Program at Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan: 26 weeks of full-time, live-in basic training. At the time of review (2026), the RCMP lists a cadet recruitment allowance of CAD 1,000 per week, up to CAD 26,000 for the full programme, paid every two weeks.

After graduating and accepting an offer of employment, you are hired as a constable at step 1 of the annual pay scale. The RCMP's pay page listed step 1 at CAD 71,191 and step 5 at CAD 115,350 at the time of review (2026), with step 5 usually reached within about 36 months of service. New constables can be posted anywhere in Canada.

Preparation tips

• Build your fitness well before applying. The RCMP's self-test guide sets a minimum of 10 continuous push-ups (target 25 to 40) and a 5 km run in under 30 minutes (target 23 minutes 30 seconds to 26 minutes).

• Attend an RCMP Police Fitness Assessment workshop or practice session if one runs near you, so you can try the equipment and get tips from PFA trainers.

• Set aside at least 70 uninterrupted minutes for the entrance assessment and do it in one sitting, since some sections are timed.

• Complete the RMAQ and security forms fully and honestly; the RCMP checks answers carefully for truthfulness.

• Get your first aid and CPR Level C certification early, and keep it valid until you enrol at Depot.