Police Recruiting

The Recruiting Process for Police Officers

The Medicine Hat Police Service Recruitment process is a fair and equitable competition that results in the most suitable candidates being offered employment. Commencing with the application process, the duration of the selection process may last several months.

The selection process consists of a number of steps. Failure to meet the minimum requirements of any step will result in the disqualification of the applicant from further consideration for the duration of the selection process.

The Medicine Hat Police Service Recruitment Committee conducts an extensive investigation. Applicants are assessed throughout the selection process in an effort to ensure that only qualified candidates will be offered employment.
Applicants will be advised at the end of each stage as to whether they will be continuing in the process.

The amount of time required to complete all stages will vary. The Medicine Hat Police Service has implemented a staffing plan, which has identified the immediate need of recruitment of Police officers.

Applicants who have completed the entire process will be presented to the Medicine Hat Police Service Office of the Chief for their review and approval. These applicants will be designated as a pool of qualified recruit candidates.

Given the fact of the competitive nature of the process, applicants are not given specific counseling or advice on how to improve their chances in the future. The Medicine Hat Police Service is under no obligation to provide feedback to applicants.

STEP 1 - Application and Document Review
Do not submit your application if you are not at least three years clear of any detected or undetected criminal activity, including, illegal drugs.

Applications that do not contain all completed documents will be considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

Employment applications are screened to ensure completeness and that minimum qualifications have been met. If these requirements are met, the applicant may be scheduled to write the Police Applicant Tests.

Preliminary security and background checks will be completed on receipt of applications at the discretion of the Recruiting Unit.

Applications may be rejected at this stage even though basic qualifications have been met.

The Application package must include the following:

• Completed Application Form and included documents
• Completed Personal Disclosure Form

This Personal Disclosure Form covers every aspect of your life. The questions cover any detected or non-detected criminal activity committed by an applicant. The Medicine Hat Police Service is aware that people make mistakes, mature at different rates and change their behaviour from childhood to adult life.

Full disclosure must be made during this stage; any discrepancy between this document and the following polygraph examination may result in a lifetime deferral from the Medicine Hat Police Service.

• $106 non-refundable application fee has now been waived

Please mail or courier your application to:
Recruiting Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
884 - 2 Street SE
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8H2

STEP 2 - Preliminary Review
A review of qualifications of each candidate by the Recruitment Committee will be conducted.

STEP 3 - Written and Physical Testing
A police officer must have a high degree of personal judgment as well as a high level of integrity. In addition, a good memory, intelligence, sound judgment, maturity, common sense and the ability to communicate using these qualities is essential. The Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Test will determine your competencies in these areas.

The Canadian Adult Achievement Test (CAAT) is designed to assess one's ability to communicate in writing. The (WCT) Written Communications Test will no longer be given.

Applicants who have submitted applications packages meeting all minimum qualifications will be advised of upcoming written testing dates and location. The Medicine Hat Police Service uses two written tests in the recruiting process:

• Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Test (APCAT)
  

  The APCAT is a two hour and 15 minute multiple-choice exam designed to test the applicant's cognitive abilities. No pre-study material will be provided. Applicants are given 30 minutes to study the material immediately prior to the exam.View sample APCAT test - 259kb PDF format

• Alberta Communication Test (ACT)
  

  This test will take approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes to complete. It is designed to assess one's ability to communicate in writing. It is a multiple-choice test covering three areas: (1) reading vocabulary; (2) spelling; and (3) English grammar. The (WCT) Written Communications Test will no longer be given.

• Testing Results
  

  Applicants will be notified of the testing results and successful applicants will be advised of the next step in recruiting.

Applicants who write the APCAT or ACT and are unsuccessful will not be considered for re-testing for three months from the date of testing.

Applicants who have successfully completed the APCAT and/or Written Communications Test with the Medicine Hat Police Service or other Police Service may be exempt from this step of the application, but will still be required to complete the Physical Testing component. Please indicate if you have been successful in your application document.

Alberta Physical Readiness Evaluation (A-PREP) for Police
Effective January 1, 2010, all municipal police agencies in the Province of Alberta will require police applicants to successfully complete the Alberta Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police (A-PREP) test. The Medicine Hat Police Service will no longer offer PARE Testing.

View more information and video about A-Prep

STEP 4 - Personal Disclosure Interview
One sworn member of the Medicine Hat Police Service will interview the applicant. The interview will be approximately one hour in length. A further interview may take place if required.

STEP 5 - Behavioural Descriptive Interview
Five sworn members of the Medicine Hat Police Service will interview the applicant. The interview will be approximately one hour in length and will follow the Behavioural Descriptive Interview format. A further interview may take place if required.

STEP 6 - Psychological Testing and Polygraph Examination
A psychologist approved by the Medicine Hat Police Service will evaluate three completed psychological tests. Results will not be disclosed to the applicant.

A Polygraph examination forms a part of the recruitment process. A certified Polygraph examiner will administer the Polygraph exam and candidates will be advised of location and time of testing. Medical Examination Form to be completed on attendance at Step 4 or 5.

STEP 7 - Variance of Stages
The recruitment Team may deem it necessary to alter the stages of recruitment testing to accommodate the completion of examinations in a timely fashion. This may be required to facilitate the candidates, members of the Recruitment Team or other circumstances, which may arise during the recruitment process. Applicants usually complete Steps 4 and 5 over a two-day period to accommodate those who are required to travel to Medicine Hat.

STEP 8 - Background Investigation
A thorough background investigation will be completed on applicants who continue in the process. This will include, but not limited to:

• Reference and credit checks
• Criminal history and Police Information checks

Results of Medicine Hat Police Service investigations will not be disclosed and remain the sole property of the Medicine Hat Police Service.

STEP 9 - Occupational Medical
Potential candidates must complete an occupational medical. An Occupational Health Physician must approve each applicant.

STEP 10 - Selection and Recommendations Made to the Police Commission for Ratification
Applicants do not attend this stage. The Recruitment Committee reviews all files in the process and selects the most suitable and best qualified applicants. Applicants are advised by letter if they are successful or unsuccessful in the process.

Contact the Recruiting Team

Contact: MHPSRecruits@mhps.ca