Police Vulnerable Sector Screening

Ottawa

Residents of Ottawa can apply for a Vulnerable Sector Check (Level 3) online through the Ottawa Police Service's online registration system without having to appear in person.

It is advised that you select electronic delivery of your VSS document. Once you have it, you must submit the original email from the Ottawa Police Service to your clinical placement risk management advisor (along with any results attached).

For the police service to verify your identity, you will need to schedule an appointment to apply in person if you are unable to pass the online identification process. Obtaining your VSS under these circumstances may take more than a month.

*When applying, you must select "other" (not "volunteer") as your reason of request.

Further details can be found on the Ottawa Police Service website.

Other Ontario regions

Many Ontario Police services (such as Cornwall, Durham, Hamilton, Niagara, Toronto, York) will require a letter on uOttawa letterhead to apply for a VSS.

Please request the letter from your clinical placement risk management advisor by emailwith the following information:

• Full name, including any middle names or initials
• Date of birth
• Program of study
• Student number
• Name of the OPP detachment, or police service you are requesting the VSS from

Your advisor will send you the VSS request letter on University of Ottawa letterhead that you will need to provide to the police service.

Gatineau

New applications may take six to eight weeks and renewals may take up to four weeks. Please apply with these timeframes in mind.

Applications must be filled out and signed by hand, not electronically.

Instructions

1. Email your advisor to obtain an application form.
2. Only fill out sections 3 and 5 of the form and provide two pieces of valid government-issued identification. One piece of identification must include a photo as well as your name, date of birth and Gatineau address. (e.g. driver’s license, passport or Québec health card) 

   • Section 3: Fill out this section completely. Write University of Ottawa student and the name of your program (e.g. physiotherapy, nursing, human kinetics etc.) in the “Employment” field.  You must list all addresses of your last five years of residency, including postal codes and unit/apartment numbers.

   • Section 5: please sign and date section 5 by hand. Do not sign or date electronically or your application will be denied by the Gatineau police.  

3. Send your advisor the scanned completed form with the two pieces of id. Ensure that all your scanned documents are clear and not blurry.

Montreal

You can complete a VSS directly with the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)

Your police check must cover your last five years of residency. This includes a VSS or equivalent for every country in which you have lived for a period of six consecutive months or longer during the last five years.

Therefore, if you currently live or have lived overseas during the last five years, you must provide your clinical placement risk management advisor with the name of the country or countries visited, including the exact dates (from month/year to month/year), to determine your police check requirements.

For more information, please visit: Immigration and Citizenship Canada - How to get a police certificate

If the document obtained is not in English or French, you will need to provide a notarized translation (in French or English) of your VSS along with the original copy. Both documents must be mailed or delivered in person to your clinical placement risk management advisor:

• By mail
  Attention to: [your specific program clinical placement risk management advisor]
  Faculty of Health Sciences
  200 Lees Avenue, room 513
  Ottawa ON K1S 5S9
  Canada
  *Please send as registered mail to ensure delivery. If lost, you will be required to obtain new documents again.

• Delivered in person
  Both documents must be mailed or dropped off in person to the attention of your clinical placement risk management advisorat theFaculty of Health Sciences office located on the 2nd floor of the Minto building (801 King Edward Ave., N204).
  *We strongly recommend you keep a copy for your records.