Police Interviews in Canada

Are you considering a policing career in Canada? Passing your interviews is a crucial step in the selection process for police candidates. Police interviews are quite different from regular job interviews. Please don't underestimate the process. At Cognitive Results, we guide you through the preparation journey, ensuring you have the knowledge and support you need to succeed. Read on to learn about some of the different police interviews in Canada, including RCMP, Ontario Police, Vancouver Police, and CBSA with Cognitive Results.

The RCMP interview process involves several steps:

  • Preliminary Screening: Candidates submit an application and complete an online entrance exam.
  • Regular Member Selection Interview (RMSI): A behavioural and situational interview conducted by a recruiting officer. It assesses problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, communication, leadership, and flexibility/adaptability.
  • Polygraph Examination: Candidates undergo a polygraph test to verify the truthfulness of their application and interview responses.

The Ontario Police interview process includes the following steps:

  • OACP Certificate: Candidates must obtain an Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) certificate, involving written tests, physical tests, and vision and hearing assessments.
  • Essential Competency Interview (ECI): A structured interview assessing analytical thinking, self-confidence, communication, flexibility, relationship building, and valuing diversity.
  • Blended Interview: An interview which is unique to the police service that incorporates the ECI and LFI, as well as values-based behavioural and situational questions. This may replace the ECI and LFI, or the LFI may be held separately.
  • Local Focus Interview (LFI): Focuses on the candidate's knowledge of and connection to the community they wish to serve. It includes questions about community involvement, understanding local issues, and commitment to the community.
Cognitive Results coaching police applicants for their interviews in Canada

The VPD interview process involves these steps:

  • Initial Application and Screening: Candidates apply online and go through an initial screening process.
  • VPD Entrance Exam: Candidates must pass the entrance exam, which assesses various skills and knowledge areas relevant to policing.
  • Panel Interview: Conducted by a panel of VPD officers, it evaluates decision-making and problem-solving, integrity and ethics, communication skills, and community focus.
  • Behavioural Interview: A structured interview focusing on past experiences and behaviours that demonstrate the candidate's suitability for police work. Key areas assessed include adaptability and stress tolerance, teamwork and collaboration, and conflict resolution.

The CBSA interview process includes:

  • Officer Trainee Entrance Exam (OTEE): Candidates must pass the OTEE before proceeding to the interview stage.
  • Structured Interview: Assesses competencies relevant to border services, such as integrity and accountability, judgment and decision-making, interpersonal skills, and dealing with difficult situations.
  • Security Clearance: Candidates undergo a thorough security clearance process, including background checks and possibly a polygraph test.
Understanding the distinctions between these interview processes can help candidates better prepare:
Agency Steps Key Features
RCMP
  • Preliminary Screening
  • Regular Member Selection Interview (RMSI)
  • Polygraph Examination
  • Behavioural interview focusing on a broad range of competencies
  • Includes a polygraph test
Ontario Police
  • OACP Certificate
  • Essential Competency Interview (ECI)
  • Blended Interview
  • Local Focus Interview (LFI)
  • Standardized ECI
  • LFI emphasizes community engagement
Vancouver Police (VPD)
  • Initial Application and Screening
  • VPD Entrance Exam
  • Panel Interview
  • Behavioural Interview
  • Panel interview provides diverse perspective
  • Behavioural interview focuses on real-life examples
CBSA
  • Officer Trainee Entrance Exam (OTEE)
  • Structured Interview
  • Security Clearance
  • Interview tailored to border services challenges
  • Stringent security clearance process
For personalized coaching and preparation for these interviews, Cognitive Results has been helping candidates since 2005. We provide comprehensive support to ensure you are fully prepared for each step of the interview process.

"Thanks it went very well waiting on next steps. No surprises. Thank you so much. (Coaching client West coast service interview.)" March 20, 2025

"Hi Gillian, I wanted to thank you officially for all of your help through the XXX police process (West coast service). The ETHOS program was so thorough and raised my confidence. I landed an interview that you helped me prepare for with your excellent coaching. The coaching helped me with my delivery and answers but, more importantly, got me thinking and talking in the right ways to project my accurate answers with confidence. I can't recommend you enough! Thank you so much!" March 12, 2025

"Hi Gillian, I have some great news to share. I was successful in the interview for CBSA and will be moving to the next steps of the selection process. I had my interview Friday and I found out today. Thank you again for all your teaching they were extremely informative. I also passed along your website to ... I will continue to pass along your site to anyone I meet that can utilize the information. I don’t know when I’ll be doing the psych part yet but I will be studying." March 5, 2025

"Thank you for all of your help and support through this process! To recap I received my offer with XXX two weeks ago for the March intake at OPC. I know that all of the studying I did on your website has also prepared me for the next stage. Everything you teach is accurate and well worth the investment. I am glad I found you and got all of the guidance I needed along the way, including coaching. I will be recommending you in the future to other police applicants - you are the best!" February 16, 2025

"Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help and support. I have passed the (CBSA) exam with a good score. Sample exams were really helpful! (Client will be using the Interview Program and Coaching next.)" January 27, 2025

"Cognitive Results and Gillian were very helpful with the application process. The interview prep helped tremendously, having the video teaching along with the modules complement each other extremely well. The one-on-one coaching sessions were very helpful. Gillian took her time and I found the one-on-one coaching sessions prepared me well for my interview. Thank you again for all your help! " January 26, 2025

"Thank you! You've been the most help! I couldn't have done any of this without you. I'm so happy I reached out via email for help. (Client is all the way through and waiting for final papers to sign. Client had coaching for the interview and for the psych interview.)" January 7, 2025