How to get the OACP Certificate
How the OACP Certificate works for Ontario police constable applicants: who needs it, the Part A, B and C steps, the cost, proctoring, results and how long it lasts. Every fact links to the official OACP site or Ontario law.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
- No sign-up
- Every answer explained
- Independent · not a government site
- 6 steps
- Official sources only
- Checked October 18, 2026
The OACP Certificate is the pre-screening certificate that police services taking part in the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police's Constable Selection System ask applicants to hold. You buy a testing package, complete forms and two online tests in one proctored session, and receive a certificate you can use when you apply.
This guide walks through each step, what it costs and how long the certificate lasts. Each step links to the official OACP page or to Ontario's Community Safety and Policing Act. Requirements and fees can change, so confirm them on oacpcertificate.ca before you pay.
Step by step
Check that you meet the requirements
Read the OACP's requirements page before you buy anything. Ontario law sets the basic conditions for appointment as a police officer, and the OACP adds practical ones such as a full Ontario driver's licence, first aid and CPR, and background checks.
Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Becoming a Police OfficerConfirm your police service uses the certificate
Only police services that take part in the OACP's assessment and selection program require the certificate, so check with the service you want to join before paying.
Source: OACP Certificate Testing — HomeBuy the OACP Certificate package
First-time applicants buy the OACP Certificate package; returning applicants who have waited the full waiting period buy the re-testing package. You should receive your instruction email within one business day.
Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Start Your CareerComplete Part A
Sign the applicant code of conduct and the consent form electronically, and start your fitness log and medical examination package. You give the fitness log and medical package to the police service later, once you have the certificate.
Source: OACP Certificate Testing — HomeBook and take Parts B and C
After your forms are accepted, create an eProctor account and book a live online session. You show ID, take the SSPO (Part B) and then the personality assessment (Part C) in the same session.
Source: OACP Certificate Testing — HomeReceive your certificate and apply
After your tests are done and the proctoring footage is cleared, the certificate is emailed to you, usually within 7 to 10 business days. You can then apply to participating police services.
Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Home
Who can get it
- To be appointed a police officer in Ontario you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, physically and mentally able to do the job safely, and of good character. Source: Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, s. 83
- You must have a secondary school diploma or equivalent, or a qualifying university or college degree or diploma. Source: Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019, s. 83
- The OACP also lists a valid Ontario driver's licence with full privileges and no more than six demerit points, Standard First Aid and Level C CPR by the time an offer is made, and passing security, background, credit and reference checks. Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Becoming a Police Officer
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| OACP Certificate package (first-time applicants) | $250 before taxes | Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Start Your Career |
| Re-testing package (returning applicants) | $250 before taxes | Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Start Your Career |
| Missed test without cancelling at least a day ahead | $50 no-show fee | Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Terms of Service |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
Online, in a scheduled live session watched by an eProctor Canada invigilator. You book the session yourself after your Part A forms are accepted. Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Home
What to bring or have ready
- Government ID to show the invigilator at the start of your session. Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Home
- A computer that meets eProctor's requirements; the OACP warns that some Apple Mac users must follow special instructions in the Part A email to avoid problems. Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Home
After you pass
Your certificate is emailed to you and you can start applying to participating police services. Your fitness log and medical examination package go to the police service you apply to, which runs its own further steps. Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Home
Validity and renewal
The certificate is valid for one year. To test again you buy the re-testing package after the full 10-month waiting period, whether your previous certificate is still valid or has expired. Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Start Your Career
Common mistakes
- Paying before checking whether your chosen police service requires the OACP Certificate at all. Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Home
- Missing a booked session without cancelling at least 24 hours ahead, which brings a no-show fee and blocks refunds. Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Terms of Service
- Ignoring the Apple Mac instructions in the Part A email and running into technical problems during the proctored test. Source: OACP Certificate Testing — Home
- Buying the package before checking the legal requirements, such as age, status and education, that every applicant must meet.
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- OACP practice tests137 original practice questions with explanations
- OACP practice test (printable PDF)50 OACP-style practice questions on spelling, grammar, vocabulary, report writing and police problem solving, with a separate answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.
- OACP study guideFree OACP study guide: 93 short notes on the certificate process, police requirements, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, report writing and reasoning, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- OACP Mock Exam 1 – 74 QuestionsTimed practice · 35 minutes · answers explained
- OACP exam simulator74 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
We last checked the official pages on October 18, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get the OACP Certificate: common questions
How long does it take to get the OACP Certificate?
You get your instruction email within about one business day of paying. After you complete the online tests and your proctoring footage is cleared, the certificate usually arrives in 7 to 10 business days.
Can I get a refund?
Only if you have not done any testing and you ask within 180 days of purchase, and a $50 administrative fee applies. Missing a session without at least 24 hours' notice also rules out a refund.
Is there financial help with the cost?
Yes. The OACP and TNT Justice Consultants offer financial assistance and deferred payment for candidates facing financial hardship, and partner with employment centres that provide other supports.
Can I ask for an accommodation?
Yes. The OACP says it is committed to the Ontario Human Rights Code and will provide supports for applicants with accessibility or accommodation needs; contact its support email before you book.
Keep practising
- OACP practice test (printable PDF)50 OACP-style practice questions on spelling, grammar, vocabulary, report writing and police problem solving, with a separate answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.
- OACP study guide
- OACP Mock Exam 1 – 74 QuestionsTimed practice · 35 minutes · answers explained
- OACP Practice Test 125 questions with explanations
- OACP Practice Test 225 questions with explanations
- OACP Practice Test 325 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- The OACP Certificate and police requirementsHow the OACP Certificate works in Ontario (Part A forms, Part B SSPO, Part C personality assessment), and the legal and practical requirements to be appointed a police officer under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019.
- Spelling for incident reportsSpot the correctly spelled word in report-style sentences: double letters, -ance and -ence endings, i-before-e exceptions, silent letters and Canadian spellings such as licence and offence.
- VocabularyThe meaning of words that come up in reports and police work, synonyms and antonyms, and choosing the word that fits a sentence.
- Grammar and punctuationSubject-verb agreement, verb tense, clear pronouns, apostrophes, comma splices, fragments and commonly confused words, all in report-style sentences.
- Writing a clear incident reportChoosing facts over opinions, putting events in order, writing specific and concise descriptions and attributing what each person said.
- Deductive reasoningDrawing conclusions that must follow from stated facts and rules: if-then statements, all and some statements, ordering and seating puzzles.
- Inductive reasoning and patternsFinding the rule in number and letter series, analogies and odd-one-out sets, then applying it to the next case.
- Police-style scenariosApplying a stated procedure, matching witness descriptions, tracking directions on a map described in words and working with schedules.
- Numerical reasoning without a calculatorTimes, distances, speeds, averages, percentages and rates in practical police-style problems, worked by hand.