How Long did it take????

[Jeepin]

I wrote the RPAT on March 17th/2003, got my results 3 months later, and am still waiting to get the application (almost 5 months). I've been calling the recruiting unit almost daily now and they finally said my application package is on its way. OH MY GOD! I'm beginning to go insane and am thinking about forgetting RCMP and going for VPD. Everytime I called the office, I was given half-assed excuses like, "the person handling your file is sick", "Our computer is frozen", "Our system is old and slow", "I'll have someone get back to you","you must send your questiuons in writing", "our printer ran out of ink", ...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!! I spoke to officers who told me their whole application process took 4 months and they were in depot, and there are the ones who took them up to 16 months to get shipped off.
How long has it been for you???Or if you've already been accepted, how long did it take???

[Impy]

Patience is a virtue.

[journey2cps-redux]

Welcome to the wonderful world of an RCMP applicant. ;D Patience is definetly a virtue when it comes to the force. I will be at 12 months since my info session in Aug, and my BGI "should" be starting in Aug. I have heard that in "K" division my BGI will take at least 6 months, then I still have to wait for my medical, dental, and psych evaluation. This is why the RCMP lose a lot of good canidates to municipal forces. I could put in an app to Calgary police, and probably be in training before the end of the year. However, I prefer the RCMP over municipal, for many reasons.
All I can say is DO NOT put your life on hold while waiting for the RCMP. Just go on with everyday life until it happens...or apply to municipal forces ;D

J2D

[therecruit1]

Jeepin,

Welcome to the world of a RCMP applicant. Its a long tedious and frustrating process but I'm sure its worth it in the end.

You really haven't even begun to wait yet. My timeline goes something like this;

RPAT- SEPT 20, 2001
RESULTS- OCT 17, 2001
GAVE UP HOPE- SUMMER 2002
RECEIVED APPLICATION PACKAGE- JAN 31, 2003 ;D
INTERVIEW- APR 2003
RECEIVED MEDICAL PACKAGE- JUNE 04, 2003
MEDICAL PACKAGE COMPLETED- JUNE 24, 2003
BI STARTED- JUNE 27

Now here I am still waiting patiently. Its a very long process for some, while relatively short for others.
I often considered applying elsewhere but its always been my dream to join the RCMP. If you don't care where you work in LE apply everywhere but if you want to be a Mountie stick with it.
You application seems to be moving quite fast so I would't give up hope yet. GOOD LUCK!

[journey2cps-redux]

Guess I should supply my timeline as well for another example... ;D

Aug 02 - info session
Sept 02 - RPAT
Nov 02 - results
Feb 03 - package
Apr 03 - PARE
July 03 - interview

Just waiting for my BGI to be started now...

On another note, when did people get their med package? I was told that I wouldn't receive it until after my BGI, but I see that some people are getting it before or just after their BGI starts?? Any input? Specifically looking for "K" applicants experiences, since every division is different.

[Guest from AB]

Jeepin,

Considering the point you are at in the process, you shouldn't be calling staffing for anything! Especially when they give you hints like "ask your questions in writing." The last thing you want to do is piss them off. Correct me if I am wrong, but it has only been 3 weeks since you received your test scores. I have buddies that waitied over a year from the time they received their test scores until their package arrived. Are you certain that you scored well enough to receive a package?

It took me 18 months from the time I wrote my RPAT to finding out that I was accepted. I feel guilty after looking a TheRecruit's timeline.

If you are having problems with the time involved in the RCMP process, please apply to other services as you will only grow more frustrated as you wait. I hear Lethbridge AB has a 2.5 month process. A friend took 9 months to get into Calgary.

[Jeepin]

It's actually been about three months since I recieved my score. And yes, I did score high and I was told that I have already been approved to recieve the package. Furthermore, I am very competitive since I am a university graduate, have military experience, been a varsity athlete at national and internation levels..blah, blah, ...Anyways. I'm kinda frustrated du to the fact that I was told that I was approved to recieve the package over a month ago, but it wasn't being printed out due to technical matters such as slow computers, no ink, people on vacation, etc...come on!...Either way, I'm submitting my VPD application today...

[Climb]

I agree with Guest from AB. It was 11 months before I received my application package after completing my RPAT. The reason why it took 11 months? I didn't score high enough originally to proceed in the process. At the time(March 2002 in Alberta) the cut-off for application packages was around 4.2. I scored 3.94. I didn't get my package until February of 2003.
I would also concur with Guest from AB. STOP calling the recruiters...you will put a strain on your relationship with them and possibly get a reputation as the pesky guy who is always calling. Applying to the RCMP and getting hired is a very long process. Patience, dedication, and commitment to see things through to the end are essentially - in the application process and I would imagine as a Police Officer.
Being positive and staying patient are two recurring themes in all the messages on this board.

[Maverick]

Jeepin, to quote you, "Furthermore, I am very competitive since I am a university graduate, have military experience, been a varsity athlete at national and international levels..blah, blah".........

I don't want to offend you, but guy, you sound a little full of yourself, you need to step back and realize that many of us are very qualified applicants and the process is the same for everyone. There are lots of peope on this board including myself, who are university grads or have military experience, or who are actually in law enforcement now in another area, so I am sorry to tell you that they won't be begging you to come joing the RCMP at this stage of the game. You're only at the very beginning stage....Relax, It takes a lot of patience to be a police officer and you seem to be lacking that very important skill. One more thought, you don't sound like your heart is really in it, so maybe you should be applying elsewhere like you suggested.

Just my 2 cents.....

[Hert5]

Good call Maverick,
If you can't take the heat now, just wait until you actually get into the job........you'll last a few years then go crazy, or join the highway patrol

[Marcus]

Jeepin,
The "university degree, military, varsity..." Having been to Depot, the degrees, diplomas, master degrees, and the odd PhD are a dime a dozen. This isn't the 70's where grade 12 was pretty cool, the last 15-20 years has seen a huge increase in universtiy educated cadets/members. As for the military, sure the experience can really make someone a better person, but their are also a lot of dough heads that have done a stint in the military. Not saying the military is a bad thing, but it doesn't put you in a special category. Don't varsity athletes drink a lot? OK, now I'm just being mean. My point is that your background is not unlike many many many other applicants.

[guest]

I'm confused, Jeepin....
You say you wrote the RPAT March 17/03 and got the results 3 months later which would be approx mid June.
Then you say it's been 3 months since you got the results which puts you somewhere in September.
Did you have a good summer?

It seems you lack the patience that this process requires. Which then leads me to question your commitment. If you lack commitment, depot may not be the place for you. You may want to re-evaluate the reasons behind your drive to be a cop - RCMP or otherwise.

[Jamaf]

Hay Jeepin
It sounds like you have a nice FAST file. Most of the people in my troop waited about 2 years on average to get in. One of the girls took 6 months and another one of the guys took 3 years. Me it was 17 months from the time I wrote my RPAT (June 2001 untill the time I got to depot Jan 5, 2003) Be patient with the process. Its long but worth it.

BTW it does sound like your pkg is right on target. I wrote in June and recieved my pkg in November.

[Jeepin]

What are you talking about!?? TWO years...
I wrote the RPAT in March and I got my package last week (~4 months). And The only reason it took this long was because I wrote the exam in a different province and my files didn't get sent over for two months. Believe me, If it takes someone two years to get in, they are not competitive enough to begin with and are being scraped from the bottom. I know this for a fact and I have spoken to frinds in recruiting and the superinetendent here and they all said the same thing that its all based on how competitive you are. I know people who took them five months from the time they wrote their RPAT until Depot. The ones who disagree can do it your way. I have nothing against you...And dont try to make me look like a bad guy by saying S#$%like "your heart is not into it" or "Re-evaluate your"reasons. Trust me gentlemen, I am not trying to sound arrogant or prove a point here, but things aren't as what you think. I have been preparing for this for the last eight years and I will see it to the end. I have done my homework and am very confident. I have a passion for the job and have been volunteering and doing auxulary work for a few years.
And who said "Having been to Depot, the degrees, diplomas, master degrees, and the odd PhD are a dime a dozen" Thats Bull. Go to any info session and you'll see out of every 100 people, only 5% might have a degree from a recognized University and maybe 3% of them get accepted. The rest are the ones who wait and wait and maybe they get lucky, thats why you say theyre a dime a dozen "in Depot"; furthermore, they are the ones who become the detectives, inspectors, and chiefs...Think what you will...and I wish you luck. Anyone who has served in the milatery or worked for the Federal government knows that these organizations almost enjoy wasting time, and they usually lose at the end. I will become an officer and will not dissapoint whichever agency that chooses me first. I know it can be a frustrating and long process, However, I have lived through an eight year war, disciplined and conditioned myself physically and mentally for many years, made it through military training, completed 4 years of university, come to peace with the deth of loved ones, and many other obstacles in my life. I will do just fine in this endevour as well. Good luck to all....

[Guest]

I really do hope that Jeepin and I (should we be accepted in the prestigious RCMP) do not end up at the same detachment. I could not stand to be in the same room as him.