CBSA Officer Trainee - Developmental Program

Important messages

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

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Great care is taken to ensure the right people are chosen to become an officer. The foundation of a career with the CBSA is built by ensuring people have the right qualifications and are provided with the knowledge and training to work in an armed law enforcement environment. To become a Border Services Officer (BSO), recruits must successfully complete a training program, as well as a developmental program as an officer trainee. After approximately two years within the training and development programs, successful officer trainees embark on their career as a BSO with the CBSA.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

We strongly encourage you to complete the self-assessment questionnaire which will give you a better idea of the role, requirements, abilities and expectations related to a career as a CBSA officer trainee and ultimately, a Border Services Officer.

There are three basic requirements you must possess and a personal decision point about mobility you must agree to before you apply. You are expected to acquire these requirements on your own time and at your own expense. Only applicants who acknowledge that they meet these basic requirements will be considered for the selection process.

You must be prepared to provide original documentation and a copy of the original at any time during the selection process as proof that you have successfully completed/possess these three basic requirements.

Basic Requirements:

1. A secondary school education.
2. Successful completion of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) and pass the tests. Please visit the Canadian Firearms Program website for further information.
3.Possess and maintain a valid driver's license that allows the holder to drive a motor vehicle in Canada.

Personal Decision Point:

Candidates must accept an assigned posting anywhere in Canada.

When you apply to the CBSA officer trainee (developmental) selection process, you need to be aware that you are volunteering for, and committing to, service anywhere in Canada that the CBSA needs you, including rural and remote areas. You need to fully understand and embrace the commitment you are making. The CBSA is very serious about mobility as a condition of employment. A variety of ports of entry will be available and a process is in place to allow you to indicate some preference; however, it is likely you will be assigned to an area of Canada that is totally new to you. Please consult the Directory of CBSA Offices for information regarding potential postings.

Your application in this inventory will be active for 90 days. A notice that your application is about to expire will be posted to the My jobs menu of your account 14 days before the end of your active period. If you do not take action, your application will no longer be active and therefore no longer considered for this inventory. Should your application become inactive while the process is still open, a notice will be posted to your account indicating that your application has expired; you may select the link Update my Inventory Status to reaffirm your interest.

Please ensure that your information is updated and remains current in your PSRS Applicant Account.

Intent of the process

The CBSA will periodically access the applications received and contact applicants selected for further assessment. This is an ongoing inventory of applicants used to create pools of partially assessed candidates. Once candidates are selected for the CBSA Officer Induction Training Program, they become recruits and must successfully complete the online phase and then attend an 18-week in residence phase at the CBSA College in Rigaud, Quebec.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

A secondary school diploma.

Note: A diploma or degree from a recognized post-secondary institution may be acceptable.

Note: Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website at http://www.cicic.ca/ for further information.

Note: Equivalencies granted by provincial and territorial authorities (e.g. General Education Development (GED) which is a secondary school equivalent) must always be accepted as equivalent to the respective education level.

Note: Candidates who meet the following criteria must always be accepted as meeting the prescribed secondary school diploma requirement for the FB Group only: (a) Those who were converted on an indeterminate basis to a Border Services (FB) position; or (b) Those who were appointed or deployed on an indeterminate basis to a Border Services (FB) position and already have attained a satisfactory score on the PSC approved as an alternative to a secondary school diploma; or (c) Those who were appointed or deployed on an indeterminate basis to a Border Services (FB) position via an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Graduation with a minimum two-year college diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution.

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution. A degree is a baccalaureate or higher level degree, as established by educational authorities.

Degree equivalency

Recent experience carrying out duties associated with the Student Border Services Officer job within the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP).

Note: Recent experience is defined as having performed the duties for a period of at least one full FSWEP summer term within the last two years.

Successful completion of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) and pass the tests. Please visit the following website for further information: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/safe_sur/index-eng.htm

Possess and maintain a valid driver's license that allows the holder to drive a motor vehicle in Canada.

Accept an assigned posting anywhere in Canada.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative (BBB/BBB)
English Essential
French Essential (a limited number of French essential positions will be staffed)

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

Behavioral Competencies:
- Analytical Thinking
- Client Service Orientation
- Decisiveness
- Dealing with Difficult Situations
- Effective Interactive Communication
- Judgement
- Personal Integrity
- Values and Ethics

Technical Competencies:
- Writing Skills
- Reasoning Skills

Successful completion of a physical abilities standard as established by the CBSA.

Successful completion of the CBSA Officer Induction Training Program.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in one of the following: Law, Law Enforcement, Policing, Criminology or Law and Security or specialization in a field relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience working in a law enforcement environment relevant to the position and/or related experience working in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Placement of affected Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employees.

Conditions of employment

Successful completion of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) and pass the tests.

Possess and maintain a valid driver's license that allows the holder to drive a motor vehicle in Canada.

Possess and maintain a valid Standard First Aid Certificate from a qualified provider approved by any province or territory in Canada, and as defined in Part XVI of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

Obtain and maintain a secret security clearance as per CBSA Security Standards.

Carry, use and maintain CBSA-issued defensive equipment, in accordance with the CBSA's policies and directives. (The duties of a CBSA officer trainee will require you to carry and use a duty firearm as well as other defensive equipment such as oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray and a baton in accordance with the CBSA's policies and directives. You must meet and maintain the medical, behavioral, psychological and physical requirements and to re-certify in the use and maintenance of the duty firearm and defensive equipment.)

Work various shifts on rotation, weekends as well as statutory holidays.

Wear and maintain a uniform as per the CBSA Uniform Policy and Standards of Appearance.

Work overtime as required.

Operate a government vehicle.

Travel as requested (in Canada, Continental USA and/or International).

Undergo a medical examination for isolated posts.

Obtain and maintain a Transportation Security Clearance as required.

Accept an assigned posting anywhere in Canada.

Other information

Persons entitled to a priority for appointment pursuant to the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) or the Public Service Employment Regulations (PSER) MUST self-refer when applying to the CBSA Officer Trainee Developmental Program via email to . For more information that describes the types of priorities of the PSEA and the PSER and additional details about each priority type, please visit the following website: http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/prad-adpr/guide/prt1-eng.htm#overview1.1

Candidates must demonstrate how they meet the education requirement under essential qualifications. The initial screening of this requirement is done electronically as soon as the candidate submits his/her application online. Failure to demonstrate that this requirement is met will result in the candidate being automatically screened out by the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS).

Candidates with recent experience carrying out the duties associated with the student border services officer job within the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) may be considered for the Initiative to Recognize SBSO Experience in the Officer Induction Model. Eligible candidates will be contacted directly by email.

Candidates will be required to pay for their own travel expenses when attending the required tests, interview(s), physical abilities, medical, and psychological assessments, as well as expenses related to meeting some operational requirements and conditions of employment.

The assessment of candidates may take the form of one or more of the following: written examinations, interviews, practical exercises, role-plays, behavior-based questions, and/or situational exercises.

A top down selection and/or random selection may be applied at any stage of the selection process.

The CBSA is committed to increasing its ability to provide service in both official languages across the country.

Candidates are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of their choice and are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Candidates who are selected for the CBSA Officer Induction Training Program and become recruits are trained through an online phase, and then attend 18-weeks of in residence training at the CBSA College in Rigaud, Quebec. During the in-residence potion of training at the CBSA College, recruits will receive a weekly allowance plus accommodations, meals, and travel as authorized by the CBSA. There will be NO salary paid until the recruit successfully completes all the required evaluations and accepts an offer of employment as an officer trainee. For more information please visit the Become a CBSA Officer web pages on the CBSA website.

Inquiries pertaining to this ongoing selection process may be sent via email to: .

Please note that the CBSA only accepts online applications via the www.jobs.gc.ca. If you do not have Internet access in your home or through friends, relatives or neighbours, here are some suggested locations: campus career centres, libraries, community centres, Internet cafés, Canada/Student Employment Centres, and Public Service Commission (PSC) regional offices. You may also call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232), or TTY 1 800 926-9105, for information on the nearest public Internet access location.

Persons with a disability preventing them from applying online should contact their respective Public Service Commission Regional Office or use the following toll free number: 1 800 645-5605. It is your responsibility to advise the CBSA official of your accommodation needs at the commencement and at each stage of the assessment process as the type of accommodation might change depending on the nature of the assessment.

COMMUNICATION FOR THIS INVENTORY will be sent by email and through your Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) account. Candidates must check their email accounts and/or PSRS account frequently as there may be new communication regarding this inventory or a deadline for response. Responses provided after the indicated deadline may not be accepted. Candidates must include in their application a valid email address that is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users; some email systems block these types of email. Ensure to check/view your spam folder regularly. The CBSA is not responsible for any incorrect or incomplete application information. Errors in your profile and/or failure to update your contact information may result in no further consideration of your application.

To apply online, please click on the "Apply Now"

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.