How to Apply

You must be able to work permanently in Canada. If you were born in Canada provide a photocopy of your birth certificate. If you were born outside of Canada, you can provide a photocopy of your citizenship card or papers of landing.

If you were not educated in Canada, have your education evaluated by:

International Credential Evaluation Services (ICES)
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2
Phone: 604.432.8800
Email: icesinfo@bcit.ca
Web: www.bcit.ca/ices

A driver’s licence abstract is a list of the tickets you have received in the past five years. All tickets listed on the abstract are counted. You can get a copy of your abstract from your local motor vehicle branch or on the ICBC website.

Applicants whose current record shows a cumulative total of more than nine (9) penalty points will not be accepted into the program.

A claims history letter is a record of all accidents in the past five years. You can obtain a copy from ICBC or from their website.

If you have moved to British Columbia from another province in the past five years, you must provide a letter from your insurance company as well as from ICBC.

Submit a photocopy of a basic First Aid with CPR-C or an Occupational Level One First Aid certificate.

Any business or academic college can test you (e.g. Douglas College, University of the Fraser Valley, Kwantlen University, Academy of Learning, Sprott Shaw).

The LPI is a test of your functional literacy. There are sittings throughout the year at various locations around the province. If you have successfully completed college or university courses you are not required to write the LPI.  Applicants are then required to submit transcripts or a copy of their degree. 

For registration, test and location information, contact the University of British Columbia at 604.822.4146 or visit their website:  www.lpitest.ca/

For a free initial assessment and counselling services for LPI candidates, please visit PeterMayor.ca. 

A Class 4 unrestricted driver’s licence is a condition of employment. You must have a Class 4 learner’s driver licence to apply and a full Class 4 unrestricted driver’s licence prior to the start of the nine week training program. Information about how to obtain your Class 4 licence can be found on the ICBC website.

You will be required to have a criminal record check done through your local RCMP or municipal Police. A copy of your fingerprints must also be sent to the RCMP Criminal Identification Section in Ottawa.

If you know you have a criminal record, it is best to apply for a pardon and wait for the pardon to be granted before you apply to the program. Check the RCMP website for this information.

You are responsible for the following application fees:

Visual standards for new hires

The following minimum visual acuity standards must be met by all applicants prior to hiring:

• uncorrected vision cannot be worse than 20/100 in each eye;
• corrected vision 20/20 with both eyes open, and one eye cannot be worse than 20/40;
• normal range of binocular function (field of view, depth perception); and

• normal *colour vision 

             * Normal colour vision is an occupational requirement and candidates will be given an individual assessment during the pre-placement medical examination.

Hearing standards for new hires

Adequate hearing acuity is necessary to hear accurately, localize sound, and discriminate voice in varying noise levels.

Unassisted hearing of no greater than 40 decibel loss in either ear averaged over frequencies 500 Hz., 1000 Hz., 2000 Hz., and 4000 Hz.

The wearing of a hearing aid in the worse ear to reach the 40 dB criteria is acceptable.

If your application and supporting documentation are determined to meet the minimum requirements, you will advance to a multi-stage selection process to determine your suitability for Sheriff Recruit Training.

The selection process includes:

1. Review of application: minimum requirements and preferred credentials
2. Criminal Records Check and Fingerprint Check.
3. Completion of Sheriff Officer Physical Assessment Test (SOPAT)
4. Completion of pre-entry questionnaire which begins the search into your lifestyle
5. Panel interview, including lifestyle and integrity questionnaire
6. Background check – employment and character reference check
7. Medical check

The screening process will take place in various locations across the province.

Sheriff Recruit Training is offered several times a year. Individuals who are selected as Recruits will be placed in the first training program in which space is available.

Deputy Sheriffs are employees of the BC Public Service. As such, you will receive a competitive compensation package that includes:

• Salary for deputy sheriffs range from $23 - $26* an hour for certified Deputy Sheriffs (DS R15)
• Three weeks annual vacation to start;
• Medical and dental benefits;
• Pension plan;
• Life insurance;
• Access to the BC Student Loan Forgiveness through the Pacific Leaders Program;
• Provision of uniform and other equipment.

Deputy Sheriffs work Monday to Friday, with typical hours of 8:30 to 4:30, although some variations may occur. Travel and occasional weekend work may be required.

* Effective January 1, 2009. Sheriff Recruits earn a training wage of $19.60 hours for ten weeks.