How to become a commissioned police officer and related occupations in public protection services
Official title: Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services
Also called: Police chief, Police captain, Chief of police, Police inspector, Police lieutenant, Deputy police chief, Harbour police chief, Railway police chief, District police chief, Police superintendent, Deputy chief of police, Police force inspector
Commissioned police officers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate police force administration and police activities such as maintaining law and order and detecting and preventing crime. They are employed by municipal, provincial and federal governments. This unit group includes officers from the rank of staff sergeant to police commissioner. Commissioned officers in the railway police, deputy chief coroners, and deputy chief medical examiners are also included in this unit group.
Main tasks
- Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of a police force or division of a police force
- Develop and implement police force policies and procedures
- Oversee police investigations and ensure that procedures are conducted in accordance with laws and regulations
- Assess performance of subordinates and authorize promotions, transfers and disciplinary actions
- Coordinate and monitor budget and departmental resources
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is required. A university degree in the social sciences or in business administration is usually required. Several years of experience as a police officer is required.
Ways in
- University: Law & Justice degrees, Offered by 15 universities in Canada
- University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 17 universities in Canada
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $134,063 a year The middle half earn $112,496 to $153,407.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a commissioned police officer and related occupations in public protection services?
Completion of secondary school is required. A university degree in the social sciences or in business administration is usually required. Several years of experience as a police officer is required.
How much does a commissioned police officer and related occupations in public protection services earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $134,063 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $112,496 to $153,407.
Do you need a degree to become a commissioned police officer and related occupations in public protection services?
Not always. 41% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Law & Justice degrees; Business & Commerce degrees.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03