As you may be aware, health care providers such as Hospitals, Long Term Care facilities, Public Health Units, Retirement homes, School Boards, Community Nursing agencies, Daycare facilities, etc. all require their service providers to be screened for a vulnerable sector police check to minimize the risk to their vulnerable patients, students and clients. College and university students completing placements in Ontario agencies and facilities are considered service providers and as such must undergo a current Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check at their local police service using the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database before they can begin their placements.
This is normally an annual requirement for your participation in placements for your program; however, some agencies require updated police clearances to be obtained every six months. Failure to obtain a clear vulnerable sector police clearance will prevent students from starting their placement and may impede or prevent the successful completion of the placement course and the program. The costs and completion of this police clearance are the student's responsibility.
Information and forms for police agencies:
When you use a local police agency, you will require a letter to explain the need for police clearance for vulnerable populations (please see the end of this document). Please refer to your local police agency website for the process of obtaining the vulnerable sector police check. Some agencies require an online application and others may accept a hard copy application. Depending on where you live, police clearances can take from two weeks to three months to obtain. Please contact your local police agency or OPP station to determine the standard wait time to obtain your police clearance and be sure to submit your forms in adequate time to obtain your police clearance in advance of your required dates for non-medical clearance.
Windsor Residents*:
No letter is required for Windsor Police Services. Please note that the type of clearance required is a vulnerable sector check.
*NOTE: No letter is required for Windsor Police Services. Please note that the type of clearance required is a vulnerable sector check. Applicants under the age of 18 will no longer be provided with a police record check
For students obtaining their police clearance via the LaSalle Police Service, you must download and complete the following form as instructed to take to the station:
For students obtaining their police clearance in Sarnia, you must download and complete the following letter and form to take to the police station:
For students obtaining their police clearance via the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) (such as Tecumseh, etc.), you must download and complete the form below as instructed. We no longer accept walk-ins to offices with the OPP for record checks. They will need to access our website.
- OPP Police Clearance Acceptable Identification
- OPP Clearance Form
- OPP Clearance Letter (General)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Advanced Medical Esthetics Practitioner)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Cardiovascular Technology)
- OPP Clearance Letter (CYC)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Dental Assisting - Level I & II)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Dental Hygiene)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Diagnostic Medical Sonography)
- OPP Clearance Letter (ECE)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Fitness & Health Promotion)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Medical Laboratory Science)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Medical Laboratory Technician)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Nursing)
- OPP Clearance Letter (OTA/PTA)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Paramedic)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Pharmacy Technician)
- OPP Clearance Letter (Respiratory Therapy)
- OPP Clearance Letter (SSWG)
For students obtaining their police clearance in Amherstburg, you must download and complete the following form to take to the Police Station:
For students obtaining their police clearance via the Chatham-Kent Police Services, you must download and complete the following letter and apply online at the link below:
- Chatham-Kent Police Services letter
- Visit: https://www.policesolutions.ca/checks/services/chathamkent/index.php?page=pvsc to complete the online application.
For students obtaining their police clearance in London, you must download and complete the following letter and form to take to the police station:
For students obtaining their police clearance in Hamilton, you must download and complete the following letter and form to take to the Police Station:
For students obtaining their police clearance in Peel Region, you must download and complete the following letter to take to the police station. The applicant must be a resident of Mississauga or Brampton. (Residents of Caledon must contact Caledon East OPP). Proof of address must be produced. Vulnerable Sector Check forms are available in the lobby of Peel Regional Police Headquarters.
For Toronto Police Services: please email either cprimeau@stclaircollege.ca or jsharrow@stclaircollege.ca with your name, student number and police station to which you will be going. We will then contact you with further instructions on how to obtain your police clearance.
Important information for police clearances regarding the fingerprinting screen:
The RCMP has added additional safeguards for the vulnerable sector enhanced screening process. Some of you may be asked to arrange a fingerprinting screen when you receive your initial response to the police clearance. If you are in this situation, please enclose your most recent police clearance (if you have one) and the documentation showing that you are going through this fingerprinting when you bring your envelope of non-medical paperwork for placement screening. This fingerprinting process may take additional weeks to obtain.
Students are expected to take responsibility for meeting all of the placement policy requirements and for conforming to any additional agency-specific policies. Students may be denied access to a placement site if they fail to be cleared for the placement. The School of Nursing, Health Sciences, Community Studies or Academic Studies are not responsible for providing an alternative placement experience for students who do not meet these requirements.
If you have any questions, please contact SynergySupport@stclaircollege.ca.