Consider the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service for a Career in Policing
The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service (TNPS) is an independent, self-administered policing agency in the Province of Alberta, proudly serving the Tsuut’ina community since January, 2004. The Service polices an area of over 115 square miles and is poised to experience significant growth in the next five years.
Members of the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service are committed to delivering the most professional, efficient, and effective policing services to our community. Our officers are dedicated to an inclusive and comprehensive community policing model that enhances the lives and safety of the people we serve. As a result, we enjoy a strong and positive relationship with our community partners and together we ensure that the Tsuut’ina Nation continues to be a safe and vibrant place to live.
The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service is NOW HIRING experienced officers!
Are you the perfect candidate?
Learn more about requirements and the requirement process below.
Experienced Officer Opportunities
Are you a full time Canadian police officer currently serving with another police agency and are interested in a career with the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service? Experienced Officers must:
Meet all minimum requirements including the requirement of being a Canadian citizen, have landed Immigrant status or permanent resident status (living in Canada or the United States for three years).
Have a minimum of 2 years of policing experience.
Be currently employed and in good standing with a Canadian federal, provincial, municipal or First Nations police service whose training and minimum standards are equivalent to that of Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service. This excludes: Military Police, Sheriffs, Highway Patrol, Corrections, Bylaw, Transit Police, CBSA.
Complete and submit a full Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service application form
If you are a current serving member with another police agency and have questions about the experienced officer program, or you want more information, please contact the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service Recruiting Unit:
E-mail: careers@tsuutinapolice.com
Civilian Employment Opportunities
The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service prides itself on providing a wide range of opportunities for civilian employees who play a critical role in supporting front-line police officers. Some of these opportunities include:
Community Response Unit
Crime Prevention
Youth Outreach
Administrative Support
Operational Support
And more!
Currently there are no civilian opportunities. Check back in the near future!
Applicants can contact the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service using the following forms of communication:
In person at Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service
9905 Chiila Blvd.
Tsuut’ina Nation, Alberta
T3T 0E1
By Email
Minimum Requirements
To apply as a police officer of the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service, all applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
Grade 12 diploma or equivalent
Canadian citizen, landed immigrant status or permanent resident status (living in Canada or the United States for three years)
At least 18 years of age
Class 5 Driver’s license (non GDL) with no more than five demerit points
Meet medical/health and fitness standards
No unpardoned criminal convictions
No criminal charges pending before the courts
No criminal activity within the last three years both detected and undetected
One year clear of discharge date from a bankruptcy
You must be able to speak, write, read and understand English (you do not need to be bilingual)
You must also meet the medical, psychological and vision standards
You should expect to work shifts, including nights, evenings, weekends and holidays to accommodate the need for 24/7 policing
Please note that these requirements are a prerequisite and you must meet them to apply. Also, remember that having the minimum requirements allows you to apply, but does not necessarily mean you will be successful in the competitive hiring process. Some candidates may meet the minimum requirements but are not competitive, suitable or do not meet the core values of our organization.
Required Documents
You will need to provide the following documents during the application process:
Birth Certificate
Social Insurance Number
Drivers abstract along with a valid driver’s licence (issued by your provincial motor vehicle office)
A Resume
Secondary school diploma and transcript of marks from all educational institutions attended
If accepted as a recruit applicant, you will need the following certificate prior to attending a recognized training facility:
A valid standard first aid certificate, including CPR for infant, child and adult (valid for the duration of the training program) from an organization approved under the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
Be of Good Character
At several stages during the recruiting process, you will be made aware of the behaviour standards which will be expected of you throughout the application process and your career as a police officer of the Tsuut’ina Nation Police, should you be accepted and hired for training.
The training location for successful applicants will be in a recognized police training facility. You will be required to acknowledge your understanding of the expectations and responsibilities identified and that you will be held to account to these expectations throughout the application process, during training, and for the duration of your career, should you be hired.
As a police officer, you will have significant responsibility in building and maintaining the public trust by upholding the highest ethical standards while in the performance of your duties. Expectations regarding acceptable conduct will also apply to you while you are off-duty.
Application Process
A – Application Process
Please send the completed Application Form to careers@tsuutinapolice.com. Once a recruiter has verified your information and all documentation has been provided, you will be contacted.
Applications that are not complete will not be accepted.
Once an application is deemed complete, a Personal Disclosure Form will then be sent to prospective applicants for their completion by the Recruiting Unit.
Supplemental Vision Report Form
B – APCAT (Alberta Police Cognitive Abilities Test), ACT (Alberta Communications Test)
The APCAT and ACT are written on the same day. Applicants passing both the APCAT and the ACT will be selected to move on to the next phase.
The Alberta Police Cognitive Abilities Test (APCAT) is a job-related written examination. Applicants are given a pre-test booklet during the examination and are allowed to study it for 30 minutes. The pre-test booklet is then removed, and the test is administered over the next two hours and fifteen minutes.
Applicants may attempt the test a maximum of three (3) times.
The Alberta Communications Test (ACT) uses portions of the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess reading, vocabulary, spelling and English. The total amount of time required, including instructions and a break is one hour and thirty-five minutes.
Applicants may rewrite the ACT as often as they wish.
C – Alberta Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police (A-PREP)
The A-PREP has three separate components:
1) a screening component to ensure the applicant is medically suitable to undergo the test;
2) a series of job simulation tasks arranged in a Pursuit/Restraint Circuit; and
3) an assessment of aerobic fitness (the Aerobic Shuttle Run).
Before attempting the A-PREP, you will be required to have the APREP Medical Clearance Form completed by a physician.
The A-PREP test itself can only be administered by or on behalf of one of the four agencies licensed to conduct testing. The four licensed agencies are the Calgary Police Service, the Edmonton Police Service, the Lethbridge Regional Police Service and the Medicine Hat Police Service.
The A-PREP results are valid for six (6) months.
APREP Instructions for Applicants
D – Behavioral Descriptive Interview (BDI)
A Behavioural Descriptive Interview is based on the principle of “the best indicator of future behaviour is past behaviour”.
The BDI is a provincial standard covering identified behavioural competencies. It is focused on expected job competencies and is designed to eliminate bias from the selection process. BDI interviews require the answers to be in the STAR format: Situation; Task; Action; and, Result.
BDI Competencies addressed:
1. Adaptability/Decisiveness
The ability and confidence to vary between being flexible and holding firm on a decision, depending on what the situation requires, showing leadership by adjusting one’s approach to the demands of a particular task or by taking and maintaining a position in a self-assured manner.
2. Initiative/Perseverance
The ability to be willing to take action to address needs without being requested to do so, staying on task to completion, particularly in the face of obstacles or other trying circumstances.
3. Interpersonal Skills
The ability to work effectively with different people and teams of people by putting others at ease, acknowledging diverse opinions, addressing relevant concerns, minimizing conflict, promoting harmony, cooperating with others and working toward consensual solutions to achieve the group’s objectives.
4. Organizational Skills
The ability to identify and set priorities, to plan and effectively allocate appropriate resources, to attend to detail so that relevant issues are addressed and high-quality outcomes result.
5. Stress Management
The ability to work well under pressure or opposition, while maintaining effectiveness and self- control during any one or combination of stressors, including emotional strain, ambiguity, risk to self and fatigue.
6. Valuing Service and Diversity
The ability to be sensitive to client and community needs and perceptions by providing prompt, efficient and equitable service and involving clients and community in the resolution of problems that affect them.
When preparing for the BDI, we recommend applicants familiarize themselves with the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique. Each event description should include:
- a situation or task;
- a response (i.e. actions or feelings); and
- an outcome or results.
It is very important to prepare and practice responses to anticipated interview questions.
Document your examples or experiences that demonstrate the listed six competencies in a positive manner. The interviewer(s) will assess an applicant’s response to stressful conditions and how well the example provided demonstrates the competency.
E – Personal Disclosure Interview (PDI)
All municipal police services in the Province of Alberta conduct a Personal Disclosure Interview for the purposes of assessing the applicant’s overall competitiveness, organizational fit, and to assess the accuracy and completeness of disclosures supplied by an applicant in the Application and Personal Disclosure forms.
F – Polygraph
The polygraph is used for the purpose of information verification to check the accuracy and completeness of disclosures supplied by an applicant.
Polygraph Examination Consent Form
G – Psychological Testing
Candidates will undergo psychological tests, which are multiple choice and administered on-site. All Municipal Police Services in the Province of Alberta use the following psychometric evaluations:
- the Inwald Personality Inventory-2 (IPI-2) Assessment
- the 16PF (Personality Factors) Questionnaire
These tests are preceded and followed by a clinical interview by a registered psychologist.
A qualified registered psychologist administers and interprets the results of the tests.
Appointments for the psychological evaluation are scheduled by the Recruiting Unit.
H – Security Investigation
A background investigation will be conducted on applicants who continue in the process. The background investigation includes, but is not limited to:
- Criminal history and police information checks
- Reference checks
- Credit checks
I – Hiring Decision
All information collected in the previous stages of the selection process is reviewed and compared to the selection criteria. A summary report on the candidates is submitted to the Office of the Chief of Police for final selection. A conditional offer of employment may be made at this stage. The offer is conditional on medical clearance.
J – Pre-Employment Medical
A Pre-Employment medical examination will be conducted by the Tsuut’ina Nation’s healthcare provider, Rhythm Health. Once complete, they will determine your medical fitness to complete the duties of a Police Officer
If successful at all stages, an offer of employment may then be made.
Upcoming Information Sessions
Next one is coming soon.
Policing Requirements Workshops
Next one is coming soon.
Information sessions are held at the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service Headquarters located at
9905 Chiila Blvd. Tsuut’ina Nation, Alberta T3T 0E1
Please note that this is not an “open house “-style event but rather a presentation that starts promptly at the designated time.
Please allow yourself adequate time to arrive and find parking.
Please wait in the main lobby and you will be escorted to the Training Room.
Commonly asked Questions
Have more questions about the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service and the application process?
Please see some commonly asked questions listed below.
How does the new cannabis legislation effect employment with the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service?
Positions within TNPS that are classified as safety sensitive have a key and direct role in operations where impaired performance could result in a significant incident effecting the health and safety of employees or the public. Under the Police Service Regulations, a police officer shall not engage in 5(1)(b) “consumption or use of liquor or drugs in a manner that is prejudicial to duty” which includes not “reporting for duty, being on duty or standing by for duty while unfit to do so by reason of the use of alcohol or a drug” (s.5(1)(b)(iii)). As such, sworn members who are qualified to use firearms and are able to be operationally deployed, as well as sworn police recruits, are prohibited from using recreational cannabis on or off duty.
How can I prepare for the written testing?
You may wish to consult an external study guide, web resources or a tutor. You also may want to attend an English as a Second Language course before registering for testing, if you are concerned about your level of proficiency in spoken and written English.
How long does the application process take?
The time required to complete all stages of the selection process varies. It is also affected by your availability to attend scheduled appointments. You must be successful at each stage of the process in order to proceed to the next stage. On average, an application file with no identified issues of concern is normally completed within six months.
Does the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service accept international applications?
No, all applicants must have Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status and a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number. Applicants who have immigrated to Canada must have lived in Canada or the U.S. for a minimum of three years in order to have a successful security clearance.
Do you still use the P.A.R.E. test?
Effective January 1, 2010, all municipal police agencies in the Province of Alberta require police applicants to successfully complete the Alberta Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police (A-PREP) test. The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service will no longer offer PARE Testing.
What is A-PREP?
A-PREP is a test that measures an applicant’s physical ability and readiness to perform the duties of a patrol constable. An applicant is required to pass this test in order to proceed with the recruitment process.
What does A-PREP consist of?
A-PREP has three separate components: 1) a screening component to ensure the applicant is medically suitable to undergo the test; 2) a series of job simulation tasks arranged in a Pursuit/Restraint Circuit; and 3) an assessment of aerobic fitness (the Aerobic Shuttle Run).
Why is the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service switching to A-PREP?
Applicants to the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service are required to meet standards established by the Solicitor General and Public Security Minister. The police recruit selection standards are regularly reviewed to ensure that they accurately predict an applicant’s ability to perform the complex and challenging tasks required of police constables. Extensive research was conducted by fitness, policing and legal experts to establish an unbiased and valid test of an applicant’s physical ability to perform the job of a police constable. The Ontario PREP test was identified and customized to reflect the tasks required of Alberta police officers. The research included a comprehensive job analysis to identify the physical tasks required of a police constable to ensure personal and public safety; a comparison of the simulation tasks in A-PREP with actual policing tasks; and, the establishment of performance standards.
All of the research concluded that A-PREP is a bona-fide Occupational Requirement of a police constable.
Is A-PREP easier and/or more difficult than the PARE?
There are both similarities and differences with the A-PREP and PARE. The level of difficulty in successfully completing the test is dependent on the physical abilities of the applicant. The A- PREP has been adopted as the Alberta provincial recruit selection standard based on research demonstrating that it accurately predicts an applicant’s physical readiness to perform the job of police constable.
If I fail the A-PREP can I redo the test?
Yes. Applicants can register to re-do the A-PREP immediately. If an applicant fails on the second test there is a two (2) month waiting period before A-PREP can be attempted again and a two (2) month waiting period for each successive fail.
Where can I do the A-PREP?
The A-PREP test can only be administered by or on behalf of one of the four agencies licensed to conduct testing. The four licensed agencies are:
Medicine Hat Police Service; Calgary Police Service; Edmonton Police Service; and, the Lethbridge Regional Police Service
The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service will accept the results of an A-PREP test conducted by any of the above agencies.
How long is my A-Prep score valid for?
A-PREP test results are valid for six (6) months.
How do I ensure I am a competitive applicant?
A competitive applicant will display a strong balance between education, life experience, work experience and a demonstrated commitment towards community involvement.
Can I apply to the Tsuut‘ina Nation Police Service if I have been deferred from another police agency’s application process?
Yes, the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service makes all hiring decision based on our own selection process.
What if I do not meet the visual acuity standards on the application?
If any portion of the vision standard is not met, you must attach a letter from an eye professional stating your candidacy for one of the allowable corrective procedures listed on the form and the likelihood you will meet the standard following corrective surgery.
What if I have used drugs in the past, can I still apply?
All applicants must be a minimum of three years clear of any detected or undetected criminal activity. This includes past drug use. Our selection process is very thorough and includes several in-depth interviews, a polygraph examination and a background security investigation. It does not include a drug test. However, one of the criteria we evaluate candidates on is life experience. If you disclose any illegal activity, we will discuss it with you and determine whether it will preclude you from becoming a police officer with the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service.
Complete disclosure throughout the recruiting process is crucial to a successful application.
If I have been charged and convicted of a criminal code offence, can I still apply?
Yes, as long as a pardon for the offence has been granted. It can take up to two years to receive a pardon. A copy of the pardon must be included when you submit your application package.
If I haven’t found the answer to my question, what do I do now?
Remember that attention to detail and thoroughness are important skills to a police officer.
Please go back and review all the different areas of our website to ensure the information you are seeking is not there. If you still have a question, you can send us an email to: careers@tsuutinapolice.com