42100 Police officers (except commissioned)

What this occupation covers

Police officers maintain order and enforce laws and regulations. They respond to emergency calls, patrol public areas, regulate traffic, control crowds, arrest offenders and build community relationships. They are employed by municipal and federal governments and some provincial and regional governments.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 9 main duties for this code.

• Respond to emergency calls and complaints, execute search warrants and arrest criminal suspects
• Patrol assigned areas on foot, horseback, bicycle and motorized vehicles to maintain public safety and order and to enforce laws and regulations
• Prepare reports to record incidents and patrol activities and to provide testimony in courts of law
• Provide emergency assistance to victims of accidents, crimes and natural disasters
• Monitor traffic to ensure motorists observe traffic regulations and test persons suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
• Control crowds at public events and protests and monitor suspicious and violent behaviour
• Participate in crime prevention, public information, safety and community relations programs
• Perform daily administrative tasks in support of law enforcement activities, such as maintaining equipment and information files
• May assist police investigators in criminal investigations.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 9 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 43202 By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
• 40040 Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services
• 41310 Police investigators and other investigative occupations
• 64410 Security guards and related security service occupations
• 43200 Sheriffs and bailiffs

Excluded from this code

• By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers (See 43202 By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers)
• Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services (See 40040 Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services)
• Police investigators and other investigative occupations (See 41310 Police investigators and other investigative occupations)
• Private detective (See 64410 Security guards and related security service occupations)
• Sheriffs and bailiffs (See 43200 Sheriffs and bailiffs)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

bodyguard - police · canine-team member - police · community police officer · community relations officer - police · community services officer - police · constable · crime prevention constable · crime scene technician - police · desk officer - police · diversity and race relations officer - police · divisional diving supervisor - police · dog master - police · education relations officer - policing · ethnic relations officer - police · evidence technician - police · harbour police officer · harbour police sergeant · harbour policeman/woman · headquarters duty officer - police · highway patrol officer · highway patrolman/woman · identification officer - police · military policeman/woman - except commissioned · morality officer - police

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• Completion of a college program in police technology is required in Québec and usually required in other provinces and territories.
• A three- to six-month police training program is required.
• Physical agility, strength, fitness and vision requirements must be met, and psychological or other tests are also required.
• Specialized training or certification may be required for certain areas of policing.