Criminal Background Check by Province

Fingerprinting Security Canada

One notable advantage of the RCMP’s data centralization is that HR professionals can now access national criminal background check data. While these checks are standardized nationwide, there are some provincial nuances to consider.

Explore our list of links to provincial criminal background check pages to learn how your company can benefit from provincial-level checks and understand the specific nuances that may apply to your province.

✅ Most provinces offer four types of criminal background checks:

✅ Name-Based Criminal Record Check (NBCRC):
A basic check for applicants seeking employment or volunteer opportunities in organizations that do not involve children or vulnerable adults. It uses names and birth dates to search the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) for a summary of criminal convictions and findings of guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act within the applicable disclosure period.

✅ Certified Criminal Record Check (CCRC):
Uses fingerprints when a name-based check cannot identify an individual solely by name and birth date. The fingerprint search in the National Criminal Record Repository is conducted by the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS).

✅ Police Information Check (PIC):
Used for employment or volunteer services that do not involve children or vulnerable adults. It reveals criminal convictions, pending charges, arrest warrants, and other court orders. This check can also be requested outside Canada by verifying identity with a local police force or the nearest consulate.

✅ Vulnerable Sector Police Check (PIC-VS):
Mandatory for those seeking employment or volunteer roles involving children or vulnerable adults. It includes criminal convictions, pending charges, court orders, non-convictions, and records where the applicant was a bona fide suspect in a confirmed offense. It does not include unsubstantiated allegations and is only valid within Canada.

While most provinces offer the four types of checks listed above, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador have specific differences.

✅ Ontario offers:

✅ Level 1: Police Criminal Record Check (PCRC):
A basic check for those seeking employment or volunteer roles that do not involve children or vulnerable adults, including a summary of criminal convictions and findings of guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act within the applicable disclosure period.

✅ Level 2: Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC):
Includes the PCRC and a search for entries and pending charges such as court orders, peace bonds, probation, prohibition orders, and absolute and conditional discharges.

✅ Level 3: Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVS):
For those seeking employment or volunteer roles involving children or vulnerable adults, including information from the CRJMC and PCRC, and charges resulting in findings of not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder and pardoned offenses authorized under the Criminal Records Act.

✅ Newfoundland and Labrador offer:

✅ Criminal Record Screening Certificate (CRSC):
Includes CPIC and/or local database criminal convictions, summary convictions within five years when identified, and findings of guilt under the Youth Criminal Justice Act within the applicable disclosure period.

✅ Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC):
For those seeking positions involving children or vulnerable adults, includes a check for convictions of sexual offenses listed in the Criminal Records Act and pardoned offenses.