Ontario Special Constable Association

If you are looking for an exciting, varied and rewarding career in law enforcement where you will be able to serve your community and contribute to public safety then becoming a Special Constable might be the career choice for you.

Special Constables are sworn Peace Officers, and perform a vital role in public safety and serve their communities in a variety of agencies across Ontario.

Some Special Constables work for Police services, Ministries, and other agencies throughout the provincial government as well as the federal government, conservation authorities, universities, colleges, and crown corporations.

Currently, there are approximately more than 3,000 Special Constables in Ontario and they work for a variety of different agencies throughout the province.

Special Constables are employed in the following sectors.

1. Public transit.

2. University and College campuses.

3. Community housing.

4. Police services employ Special Constables in various roles including court security, scenes of crime examination, community engagement, prisoner transportation, and more.

5. Government security services and ministries.

The minimum requirements for becoming a Special Constable are defined under Section 92 Community Safety and Policing Act. *

To become a Special Constable you must meet the following requirements.

Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada
At least 18 years of age
Physically and mentally able to perform the duties of the position
Be of good moral character and habits
Have a secondary school diploma
Able to pass a security clearance, background investigations (often including credit and reference checks)
Have no criminal record for which a pardon has not been granted

*THIS ACT IS NOT YET IN FORCE. It comes into force (except s. 100) on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

IMPORTANT: Many Special Constable agencies also require their candidates to be in possession of a valid OACP certificate in order to be able to apply.

The duties of a Special Constable are demanding, both physically and mentally and usually require shift work and the requirement to work on weekends and holidays throughout the year.

A career as a Special Constable requires a high level of dedication and commitment to public service and the safety and well being of the community.

Are you ready to make a difference and serve your community as a Special Constable?

Many of the individual agencies employing Special Constables in Ontario have additional requirements over and above the minimum requirements set out in the Comprehensive Ontario Police Service Act.

Many agencies require applicants to Special Constable positions to be in possession of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Certificate.

The OACP certificate system requires potential applicants to commence a pre-screening process prior to being able to apply to be a Special Constable.

The OACP certification process for Special Constables is the same as the process required for Police Constable applicants.

Please note that some Special Constable agencies do not require an OACP certificate. It is important that you check with the agency that you intend to apply with to find out whether an OACP certificate is a requirement for the particular position you are interested in, or whether they have any additional recruitment requirements.

The OSCA board of directors wishes you every success in your future career and journey into public service. We look forward to being able to serve you once you become a Special Constable and a member of the Ontario Special Constable Association.

Many Ontario Special Constable agencies and Police Services are currently recruiting for Special Constables including the following agencies:

Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Community Safety Unit.

Toronto Transit Commission, Transit Enforcement Unit

Peel Regional Police

In addition to the above listings, many other Special Constable agencies and Police Services are currently recruiting for Special Contables, be sure to check with the departments that you are interested in to enquire about current career opportunities if you do not see them listed above.

If your agency is currently recruiting for Special Constables and you would like your job vacancies listed here please contact us at web-administrator@specialconstables.ca