Constable Selection System

1. What is the process to complete the OACP Certificate?

When you purchase the Full OACP Certificate package for $250 (before tax), you will be provided with a series of emails containing several attachments that will outline instructions for your next steps to receive your certificate. After submitting your signed Consent and Release form and Applicant Code of Conduct via email as required in Part A, you can expect to receive another email with a registration link to complete the online Sigma Survey for Police Officers assessment and personality assessment. These assessments have no pass/fail components and are designed to be accessible to all applicants. You have six months to write the online assessments from the purchase date according to your schedule, whenever is convenient to you. We include study material in the Part B and Part C email package to help you prepare for what to expect on the assessments. After we receive your assessment results, we will process your certificate and you can expect to receive it in a number of days via email. Your certificate is valid for one year from the date it is issued to you, and you are eligible to retest as early as ten months after receiving your certificate.

After you receive your certificate, you may submit it along with your application (including your completed medical package and fitness log) to the police service(s) you wish to apply to. Please inquire with the police service(s) you apply to if they have any further fitness testing later in the hiring process.

So long as your PATI and BPAD components are consecutively valid, you are not required to purchase the OACP Certificate package and may continue to use your ATS Certificate of Results until one or both components expire. As part of our current process, the PREP is no longer required at the pre-screening stage. However, the PREP will be part of the hiring process further into recruitment. It is important to take your physical preparation seriously, therefore it begins at the pre-hiring stage through the completing of fitness logs. You will only be required to complete the fitness log as per the fitness log guide which can be downloaded for free on our website at: www.oacpcertificate.ca. This can be found in the “Constable Selection System and Forms” page. You will then submit it alongside your application to the service(s) you are interested in applying to. Please inquire with the police service(s) you apply to if they have any further fitness testing later in the hiring process. The written communication test is no longer required as part of the certificate as there is no relevant component that is tested with the new process. 

Please note that once either or both of your PATI/BPAD components expire, you will be required to purchase the full OACP Certificate package for $250 before tax, should you wish to maintain its validity. The medical components are still considered valid up until the marked expiry date on your ATS Certificate and can be used in place of our medical examination package when submitting your application to the police service(s) of your choice

Applicants are eligible for re-testing the online assessments as part of their OACP Certificate 10 months after their certificate was issued to them. As a reminder, our medical examination package is valid for two years from the date they are signed by your health care practitioners. If you had the medical package completed last year, you are not required to complete it again this year. 

If you had completed and received the full OACP Certificate OR completed both Part B and Part C assessments through the OACP Equivalency package, please proceed to purchase the OACP Re-Testing Certificate package from our website. You will be granted both assessments to maintain the validity of your certificate. 

If you had completed only one assessment through the OACP Equivalency Certificate and one or more components are set to expire, please proceed to purchase the OACP Equivalency Certificate package and you will be granted the remaining assessments required to maintain the validity of your certificate based on your ATS Certificate and OACP Certificate.

As of January 1^st, 2021, the OACP Equivalency package is only extended to applicants who have previously completed the OACP Equivalency testing in 2020. Applicants who did not complete any testing with us in 2020, regardless of the status of your ATS components, are directed to purchase the full OACP Certificate package. 

Please note the medical components are still considered valid up until the marked expiry date on your ATS Certificate and can be used in place of our medical examination package when submitting your application to the police service(s) of your choice.

The Part B and C assessments are completed together in one sitting of 60-90 minutes. Please ensure you set aside an appropriate amount of time to complete this examination uninterrupted. The online assessments have no pass/fail component and are meant to be more approachable for new applicants. 

The Part B (SSPO) is broken down into two sections. Section A consists of 44 multiple choice questions which measure spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar. Section B consists of 30 multiple choice questions and is based on police problem-solving. The math questions have been all but removed and at most relate to travel and distance. You will have 35 minutes to complete all 74 questions. You should avoid blind guessing because there is a penalty for selecting incorrect answers. Please note if you are unsure about the answer to a question, you may leave it blank and return to it later time permitting. We also understand the time limit per section is quite short. However, this is the intention of the examination as it is calculated in its marking algorithm. It is expected that not all applicants will answer each question in the SSPO, as mentioned in the test instructions. 

No electronic devices (including calculators) are permitted; however, you are permitted blank paper and a writing utensil to work out solutions to the problems presented in the assessments. It is prohibited to write down the full questions for the benefit of another applicant. 

The fitness log is to be completed over the course of 14 consecutive days, including rest days. You will record running, strength training, stress management, and other physical activity as part of your exercise regime. These exercises can be recorded at home or at a gym. You will also be required to record your sleep schedule over the course of 14 days. Once you have completed the daily fitness logs, you will submit these documents alongside your application to the police service(s) you wish to apply to. The fitness log is considered valid for one month from the date it is completed. Please inquire with the police service(s) you apply to if they have any further fitness testing later in the hiring process.

With the medical examination package, you were provided in the email package or downloaded for free from our website, you are to have it completed by your preferred eye care specialist for the vision test and audiologist/hearing instrument specialist for the hearing test so long as both practitioners are located within Canada. Any fees associated with these tests must be paid by the applicant. Please note this package cannot be completed by a family doctor nor military doctor. Once you have completed the medical examination package, it is valid for two years from the date it is signed and is then to be delivered to the police service(s) you wish to apply to. As a reminder, the full medical examination package is not required to receive your OACP Certificate.

If you have completed a medical package with a specific service, it is only applicable to that service you choose to submit an application with. The medical examinations must be completed to meet the standard of the OACP as laid out in the medical examination package. Any tests completed outside Canada or with another service do not apply to the OACP Certificate. 

If you have already completed a medical package with another service, please bring the OACP medical examination package to the eye care specialist and audiologist/hearing aid specialist you visited and inquire if they can transfer their signature to the OACP medical package.

Please inquire with the service(s) you wish to apply to if they will accept the ATS medical results so long as they are still marked as valid, however the OACP consider the ATS medical results as having met the standard.

When you obtain the OACP Certificate package, you have six (6) months from the purchase date to submit the required documents outlined in the email package and write the online assessments. Applicants may write these tests whenever convenient, without needing to schedule an appointment. The only time-sensitive component is registering your ProctorFree account within 24 hours of receiving their registration email, as the link inside expires as a security precaution. This email is typically sent to applicants 24 to 48 hours after they receive our confirmation receipt of their required documents.

When you purchase the full OACP Certificate package, a series of emails will be sent that contain several attachments that outline instructions for your next steps to receive your certificate. After submitting your signed Consent and Release form via email as required in Part A, you can expect to receive another email with a registration link to complete the online Sigma Survey for Police Officers (SSPO) assessment and personality assessment. These assessments have no pass/fail components and are  accessible to all applicants. From the date of purchase, you have six (6) months to write the online assessments, and you can do so whenever convenient for you. Included in the email packages for Part B and Part C are study materials that can help you prepare for the assessments.  After we receive your assessment results, we will process your certificate and you can expect to receive it in a few days via email. 

After receiving your certificate, you may submit it along with your application (including your completed medical package and fitness log) to the police services to which you wish to apply. When you apply to the police service(s), please inquire about any further fitness testing requirements later in the hiring process.

There are no prerequisites to purchase and receive your OACP Certificate. However, police service(s) may have prerequisites depending on the job posting you are applying for. You should inquire with the police service(s) you are interested in applying to for any further information regarding potential requirements and restrictions.

Unfortunately, as the pre-hire testing administrator, we cannot answer this question for you. We do suggest that you contact the police service you wish to work for and inquire about potential disqualifiers.

With the medical examination package provided in the Part A email package, you are to have it completed by your preferred eye care specialist for the vision test and audiologist/hearing instrument specialist for the hearing test. Both practitioners must be located in Canada. Please also note that it cannot be completed by a family doctor. Once you have completed the medical examination package, it is valid for two (2) years from the date it is signed, and it can then be delivered to the police service(s) you wish to apply to. As a reminder, the full medical examination package is not required to receive your OACP Certificate.

Applicants do not have their assessment results provided to them; they are forwarded directly to the police service(s) you apply to when they receive your application. 

As the assessments are no pass/fail, all applicants are guaranteed to receive the certificate. The assessment measures how well you did in comparison to other applicants in the pool. Recruitment officers do not solely base their hiring on the results of the assessments. They will also review your fitness logs and journal, volunteer hours, education, previous work experience, and how well you perform in the in-person interview. While you may feel you did poorly in one aspect, you can still boost your standing in others by showcasing your strengths in other areas. Each service has differing requirements based on what they are looking for to best serve the needs of their communities. We encourage you to strive to do your absolute best in all areas of the recruitment process in order to stand out as a competitive candidate.

The online assessments have a no pass/fail component and are more approachable for new applicants. The applicant must complete  Part B and C assessments simultaneously, which takes 60-90 minutes. Please ensure you set aside an appropriate amount of time to complete this examination uninterrupted. 

Part B (SSPO) has two sections; Section A consists of 44 questions that measure spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar, and Section B consists of 30 questions based on police problem-solving. The quantitative section has been removed. There is some math included in the police problem-solving section; however, it is not the focus of that section. The math questions are word problems involving only the basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). You will have 35 minutes to complete all 74 multiple-choice questions. Avoided “blind guessing” as there is a penalty for selecting incorrect answers. Please note that if you are unsure about the answer to a question, you may leave it blank and return to it later if there is time remaining. Questions left blank are unscored when the assessment is submitted for evaluation. 

No electronic devices (including calculators) are permitted; however, you can have blank paper and a writing tool (pen, pencil) to solve the problems presented in the assessments. It is prohibited to write down the complete questions for the benefit of another applicant. 

Part C is not an assessment you study for; they are multiple choice questions that ask your opinion on various scenarios that most accurately and least accurately describe your personality. Applicants are required to be honest and truthful in their responses. There is no time limit to complete it, although it takes 30-50 minutes on average. You can find an in-depth outline of both assessments on the updated OACP Certificate website home page. 

The OACP does not recommend or endorse any third-party company offering preparation for these assessments. For further preparation, the information outlined below are search suggestions you can type into Google that will be able to help you! 

• Free cognitive ability practice assessments
• Free verbal comprehension practice assessments
• Free word problems practice assessments

18. What if I do not meet the vision and/or hearing standards of the medical examination package?

In the event you do not meet the medical standards for a police constable, then you will not be eligible for a position. Currently, our vision standards are stipulated as meeting both 20/40 without corrective lenses and 20/20 with corrective lenses. Kindly note that some applicants who do not meet vision standard undergo refractive eye surgery to improve vision. You can inquire with your optometrist/ophthalmologist if you are an eligible candidate for refractive surgery, as not everybody can be. In the event you have completed the surgery within the past 6 months, then please advise us and we would be able to direct you on your next steps.

Our hearing standards are broken into a three-stage process. If you have failed the Stage 1 audiogram, then you are eligible to move onto Stage 2 which is a secondary hearing test conducted by the QuickSIN and can be found at a local audiology clinic. In the event you are unsuccessful with Stage 2 testing, the next step is to schedule an appointment to conduct the last hearing stage which is Stage 3 (HINT) assessment. The only clinics authorized to conduct the HINT assessment are located at the University of Ottawa and AudioSense on Yorkville in Toronto at this time. If you do require a scheduled stage 3 test after failing Stage 2 testing, please email us directly at support@oacpcertificate.ca and we will begin the process for you.

As an alternative, we also provide resources and supports for applicants who may change career path and apply towards other Law Enforcement/Special Constable positions that do not require a medical standard. If you like, please contact us at support@oacpcertificate.ca and we would be happy to provide more information.

19. How do I submit my consent and release of liability form and applicant code of conduct? 

The forms provided in the email package instructions authorize us to release your test scores to the services you wish to apply to, as well as outlining the rules of academic integrity that you will uphold when writing the test.

The required documents to complete the OACP Certificate process are only included in the email package you receive and may not be accepted if downloaded from anywhere else on the internet. The forms must be completed with either a handwritten or electronic signature and must be submitted as a PDF document. The witness signature does not have to be a guarantor; any friend or family member can sign the document as a witness. If you do not have access to a scanner, you may use compatible PDF reading software such as Adobe Acrobat that you can download for free to complete the forms. The fillable fields cannot be saved in the document when using a web browser nor do they offer an electronic signature digital timestamp.

Image files converted to PDF will not be accepted by our team. Information provided that is not requested (year of birth, SIN, etc.) will result in your forms being rejected. For more information on what is accepted by our team, we include a Form Submission Instructions document in the email package which goes into further detail on how to correctly submit your forms.

20. What happens if my power goes out or internet disconnects when writing the online tests?

This is a common concern we receive from applicants regarding our online testing system. Please note that the SIGMA online testing system has been designed to prevent loss of time and progress due to slow bandwidth. In instances of increased loading times for any reason, the Sigma assessments will adjust to provide extra time, ensuring academic fairness. In the event your exam disconnects during the exam, please send us an email to notify us of the situation, then you can log back into the system and resume where you left off. Be sure to log in with the same credentials used with Sigma for the assessment to resume where you left off. Starting a new test may result in a penalty against your certificate.

21. How long does it take to receive my certificate?

Once you receive the confirmation email your assessment results were successfully submitted, there is no further action required on your part. You can expect to receive a receipt confirming all components were successfully received in seven (7) business days from when you completed your exam. This will also detail when you will receive your certificate via email. Please note our hours of operation are Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays. Current processing times for certificates are posted on our website.

22. What is the difference between the OACP Certificate package and OACP Re-Testing package? 

If you hold an OACP Certificate issued from 2020 or later and at least ten months have passed from the most recent issuing date, please proceed to purchase the OACP Certificate Re-testing package from our website, regardless of if your certificate is still valid or expired.

The OACP Re-Testing package is streamlined from the full OACP Certificate process, however the contents and instructions remain identical as you are still required to submit your required documents (consent and release of liability form, applicant code of conduct, and your most recently issued OACP Certificate). Once we receive the necessary documents outlined in the email package instructions, you can log into your existing ProctorFree account (if applicable) in 24-48 hours after receiving our confirmation to write the Part B (SSPO) and Part C (ESQ2) online assessments. Please note, retesting applicants reusing the same email as last time may not receive the registration email from ProctorFree.

As a reminder, the Medical Examination package is valid for 2 years from the date signed by your practitioners for the vision and hearing components. If you have completed the Medical Package last year, you will not be required to complete it again this year.