Police and Public Safety Foundations
How To Apply
Program Details
- Program Code1250
- Credential NamePolice Foundations
- Credential TypeOntario College Diploma
- SchoolSchool of Community Care and Public Safety
- Program TypePost-secondary program
- Program Length2 years/ 4 semesters
- Delivery ModeIn class
- LocationProgress Campus
- EmailPublicSafetyandCommunityCare@centennialcollege.ca
- Telephone416-289-5000
- Technology Requirements
Program Availability
- Program Overview
- Courses
- Career Options and Education Pathways
- Admission Requirements
- How to Apply
- Tuition and Fees
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
- Advising Services
- Indigenous Studies
Centennial College's Police and Public Safety Foundations program is geared towards those who have an interest in police, security and investigation-related occupations in both the public and private sectors.
In this two-year diploma program, you'll take Police and Public safety Foundations courses in the School of Community and Health Studies that will cover:
- Current laws
- Investigative techniques
- Conflict resolution techniques
- Criminal proceedings
- Community policing principles
- Physical fitness
- Emergency Management and Public Safety
- Open Source Internet Investigation
- Security Officer certified training
- Private Investigators certified training
The time you'll spend in the Police and Public Safety Foundations courses will result in the ability to communicate efficiently, act as a problem-solver, work effectively in teams and help people in the community.
Program Overview
Centennial College's Police and Public Safety Foundations program is geared towards those who have an interest in police, security and investigation-related occupations in both the public and private sectors.
In this two-year diploma program, you'll take Police and Public safety Foundations courses in the School of Community and Health Studies that will cover:
- Current laws
- Investigative techniques
- Conflict resolution techniques
- Criminal proceedings
- Community policing principles
- Physical fitness
- Emergency Management and Public Safety
- Open Source Internet Investigation
- Security Officer certified training
- Private Investigators certified training
The time you'll spend in the Police and Public Safety Foundations courses will result in the ability to communicate efficiently, act as a problem-solver, work effectively in teams and help people in the community.
Courses
Career Options and Education Pathways
Program Highlights
- The Police Foundations program will consist of intense training, equivalent to a paramilitary environment, which will help you to develop discipline and deportment.
- Courses will be based on real-life experiences and case studies that incorporate a fundamental perspective on life.
- We proudly offer the only police foundations program in the province approved as a security guard trainer. Graduates will have the option to write the Ontario security guard license test. This will include the certification training required to complete the Level C First Aid.
- We proudly offer the only police foundations program in the province approved as a private investigator certified trainer. Graduates will have the option to write the Ontario private investigator license test.
- International students graduating from the Police Foundations program are eligible for work permits to be a province of Ontario correctional officer.
Once you complete your Police Foundations courses, you'll be able to:
- Document, prepare and assist in the presentation of court cases in compliance with criminal and provincial law, rules of evidence, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
- Assess the use of police powers;
- Initiate, promote and facilitate partnerships to meet community policing and security needs;
- Assess the relationship of policing services to other participants in the criminal justice system and other community service agencies;
- Make sound decisions based on an evaluation of situations;
- Cope with stress and optimize physical fitness and wellness;
- Apply fundamental concepts of political science, law, and legislative policy making and public administration to the provision of police services;
- Assess information-gathering skills used in basic investigative techniques;
- Assess crisis intervention strategies;
- Develop strategies to assist victims of crime.
Upon completing their fourth semester, students will be able to take a case from investigation through presentation in Court. Students will be able to think critically about social justice issues and the implications of their actions through IPE (Inter-professional education) experiences. They will experience all components of the physical fitness tests currently used by police and military services while learning about the importance of personal fitness and life-long wellness.. They will understand how to deal with crisis situations involving the public or themselves. Students will be prepared to engage in private or public sector policing, investigations and security.
Career Outlook
- Police officer
- Special Constable
- Customs and excise officer
- Security officer
- By-law officer
- Private Investigator
- Ministry of the Environment officer
- Military police
- Corrections officer
- Insurance Investigator
Education Pathways
Graduates of this diploma program have the opportunity to apply learning achieved at Centennial College for credits toward further study at the degree level.
Listed below are institutions offering credits for this program. Please note that each receiving institution has minimum admission requirements in order to qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the institution.
| Insitution | Degree |
|---|---|
| Algoma University | Bachelor of Science in multiple majors |
| Bachelor of Arts - Law and Justice (General or Honours) | |
| Honours Bachelor of Arts in Multiple majors | |
| Algonquin College | Honours Bachelor of Public Safety (Co-op) |
| Athabasca University | Bachelor of Commerce Post Diploma with or without major |
| Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations Post Diploma (3-year) | |
| Bachelor of Management Post Diploma (3-year) | |
| Brock University | Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science |
| Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology | |
| Carleton University | Bachelor of Arts in Criminology |
| Honours Bachelor of Arts in Multiple majors | |
| Conestoga College | Honours Bachelor of Community and Criminal Justice |
| Georgian College | Bachelor of Human Services in Police Studies |
| Griffith University | Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice |
| Humber Polytechnic | Bachelor of Social Science in Criminal Justice |
| Lakehead University | Bachelor or Honours Degree in Multiple majors |
| Honours Bachelor of Arts - Sociology major | |
| Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science - Criminology major | |
| Laurentian University | Honours Bachelor of Arts - Multiple majors (some programs offered in French) |
| Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Law and Justice | |
| Nipissing University | Bachelor or Honours Bachelor of Arts in Multiple majors |
| Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Criminal Justice | |
| Ontario Tech University | Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies |
| Bachelor of Arts Majors: Political Science; Legal Studies; Psychology; Criminology and Justice |
|
| Facilitating Adult Learning with Technology (undergraduate diploma) | |
| Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Bridge) | |
| Royal Roads University | Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies |
| Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies | |
| Seneca Polytechnic | Honours Bachelor of Crime and Intelligence Analysis |
| Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies | |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies |
| Trent University | Honours Bachelor of Arts in Policing and Community Well-Being |
| Honours Bachelor of Arts with Joint Major in Forensic Science | |
| Honours Bachelor of Science Joint Major in Forensic Science | |
| Guelph-Humber, University of | Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Justice Studies |
| University of New Brunswick | Bachelor of Applied Management |
| University of Ottawa | Honours Bachelor of Commerce for non-business related program |
| University of Windsor | Bachelor of Arts Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (3-year) |
| Bachelor of Arts in Forensics - Applied Forensic Science Stream | |
| Wilfrid Laurier University | Honours Bachelor degree in multiple majors |
| York University | Bachelor of Arts in multiple majors |
| Honours Bachelor Degree in Multiple majors |
Visit our search page at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/ for more information on pathways and transfer credits.
You can use this Education Pathways Checklist as a guide to help with your education journey.
For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please visit ONTransfer.
Accreditation
The Police and Public Safety Foundations program have received Ministry of Solicitor General accreditation as a recognized trainer for both the Security Officer Certified Training course and the Private Investigator Certified Training Course. Students in the program successfully completing both of these courses will be eligible to write their provincial exam and be licenced security officers and private investigators within the province of Ontario upon successfully passing the exam(s). This being a mandatory requirement for either of these two professions in the province of Ontario.
Areas of Employment
- Law enforcement including police services
- Private sector policing
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Armed forces
- Loss prevention
- Corporate security
- Corrections officers
- Customs and excise officers
- Investigators in wide and varied fields such as animal cruelty, by-law enforcement and the Canadian military (especially military police), municipal, provincial, federal and Aboriginal policing services, private and university policing, investigation, evidence and criminal investigations, Internet crime computer forensics
- Special constable positions such as Metrolinx, TTC, University Campus Safety.
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take the Centennial English Admission Test
Additional Requirements
Standard Policing Requirements
After admission, while attending the program:
- You are required to wear a uniform similar to ones commonly worn by both public and private police organizations. You are expected to wear the uniform in the prescribed manner and to assume the costs for your uniform.
- In addition to wearing a uniform, you will be required to maintain certain appearance standards as imposed by local police services on new recruits for hiring and entry-level positions. This includes neatness in wearing the uniform, allowable standards of hairstyle and limited use of jewelry and accessories. More details can be obtained by calling the number below.
- You are advised that some Police Foundations program experiences may require a criminal reference check. Certain criminal convictions may disallow participation in these experiences and will require the completion of an alternative assignment.
Any questions regarding criminal reference checks may be directed to the program coordinator by calling 416-289-5303.
How to Apply
1. Apply Online
If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please work with an Employment Ontario service provider. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.
If you have previously attended a full time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $150 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
2. Submit Documents
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS).
For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.
3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)
Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.
Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Tuition and Fees
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2025.
| Student | Tuition (2 Semesters) | Ancillary Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | $2,721.00 | $1,485.08 | $4,206.08 |
| International | $17,148.00 | $1,983.03 | $19,131.03 |
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.
- Complete all tasks in compliance with pertinent legislation, as well as policing standards, regulations and guidelines.
- Analyze all relevant information and make effective and legally defensible decisions in accordance with ethical and professional standards.
- Be accountable for one’s actions when carrying out all tasks.
- Develop and implement ongoing effective strategies for personal and professional development.
- Ensure the respect of human rights and freedoms in all interactions.
- Work co-operatively in multidisciplinary teams to achieve mutual goals.
- Collaborate in the development and implementation of community policing strategies.
- Monitor, evaluate and document behaviours, situations and events accurately and discreetly in compliance with legal, professional, ethical and organizational requirements.
- Mitigate risks and maintain order by applying effective strategies in crisis, conflict and emergency situations.
- Take positive actions to help crime victims.
- Conduct investigations by collecting, documenting, preserving and presenting admissible evidence.
Advising Services
- Personality TestSTARTMatch your personality to a career
- Career ExplorerLEARN MOREExplore your future career
Mahmoud Gholamali, Police Foundations Graduate - now a police officer with the Toronto Police Service.As a former student in the Police Foundations Program at Centennial College, and a recent graduate of Ontario Police College, the skills and life lessons that I acquired while in this program enabled me to succeed in my policing career.
From the guidance of professors that have a background in policing, to the hands-on courses taught that parallel the law enforcement field and to the lessons learnt in discipline, dress and deportment, any student would be motivated to learn under these professionals and to strive for a future in law enforcement.
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