All of those applying to be commissioned officers in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) must:
- Be Canadian citizens
- Meet age requirements
- Meet basic medical and physical standards
- Have no outstanding obligations to the judicial system, such as parole conditions
- Be willing to relocate
- Have completed Grade 12 and either have or be working towards a bachelor’s degree
All officers must complete a basic training course. These are conducted for most classifications at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS) in St. Jean, Quebec.
Most officers take courses in whichever of Canada’s two official languages they are not fluent. This takes place in the period between basic officer training and initial classification training. The only exception to this is for officers who are already fluently in French and English when they enrol.
Entry is competitive. There are various entry plans into the CAF and not all plans are always open. The CAF recruits candidates for certain classifications only as needed. When the CAF forecasts openings, it reviews applications on file and chooses candidates suitable for the entry plan in question.
The Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP) is for candidates who want to earn a degree at a military college or civilian university. The CAF pays students a salary while studying. If enrolled at a military college, room and board are deducted from their salary. If enrolled at a civilian university, students must pay living expenses out of their salary.
ROTP students also have mandatory summer employment with the CAF. This includes military training, as well as language training if they are not already bilingual in French and English. Graduates must serve in the CAF for at least 5 years after graduation (7 years for pilots) to repay their debt.
The Reserve Entry Training Plan (RETP) is for candidates who want the benefits of earning a degree at a military college and can do this at their own expense. Like ROTP students, RETP cadets must work for the CAF and take part in military and language training in the summer. Scholarships, bursaries, and cadetships are available. These students enjoy the prestige of military training without a mandatory period of service in the Regular Force after they graduate.
The Direct Entry Officer (DEO) is for candidates who already hold a university degree (undergraduate) for the classification (pilots or air combat) they wish to enter. After graduation, there is a 7-year mandatory period of service for pilots and a 4-year period for air combat systems officers.
The Specialty Programs provide paid education for specific careers that require graduate-level training:
- Medical Officer Training Plan (MOTP) for doctors
- Dental Officer Training Plan (DOTP) for dentists
- Physician Assistant Training Program (PATP) for physician assistants
- Nursing & Pharmacy for nurses and pharmacists
- Subsidized Education for Entry Level Masters (SEELM) for social workers, physiotherapists, or chaplains
The period of mandatory service under the Specialty Programs depends on how long the candidate’s training was subsidized. For example, they may have received assistance from the beginning or some point during their undergraduate education, or only after they enrolled in graduate-level training.
The Aboriginal Leadership Opportunities Year (ALOY) is a 1-year educational and leadership experience through the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston, Ontario. At the end of the year, students can choose to apply to RMC in a degree program under ROTP. Or they can apply to the CAF as a non-commissioned member. For details, visit the Canadian Forces Programs for Indigenous Peoples website.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
