ENPQ: the Nicolet police academy, to become a police officer

To become a police officer in Quebec, you have to go through the École nationale de police du Québec (Quebec's police academy), the ENPQ, in Nicolet. Its initial police patrol training program lasts at least 450 hours spread over 15 weeks, and its training fees total $12,562 in 2026-2027. This text applies to women and men police officers alike.

The role of the ENPQ under the Police Act

Section 7 of the Police Act (chapter P-13.1) establishes the École nationale de police du Québec. Section 8 makes it a legal person and a mandatary of the government. Section 10 gives it the mission of ensuring the relevance, quality and consistency of police training.

The same section 10 gives it exclusive responsibility for the initial training of police personnel that gives access to the practice of police patrol, investigation and police management. College training in Police Technology is the exception.

Section 115 of the Act sets the minimum conditions for hiring a police officer. The fourth is to hold the ENPQ police patrol diploma or to meet the equivalency standards set by regulation of the École.

The initial police patrol training program

The ENPQ writes that the program prepares the police recruit to intervene appropriately and effectively in the context of police operations. It lasts at least 450 hours, spread over 15 weeks.

Registered candidates must live on campus for the entire program.

The École takes in 9 cohorts of 108 students every year, or 972 police recruits per school year. It specifies that this number can vary according to the needs expressed by the Ministère de la Sécurité publique (Quebec's public security department) and the Government of Quebec.

Admission requirements

The ENPQ's "Step 1" page repeats the conditions of the Règlement sur le régime des études de l'École nationale de police du Québec. Among other things, the candidate must meet the following conditions.

• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be of good moral character
• Not have been found guilty of an act or omission that the Criminal Code describes as an offence
• Hold the DEC (college diploma) in Police Technology, or an AEC (attestation of college studies) in Police Technology with a promise of employment from a police force
• Hold a valid Class 5 or probationary Class 5 driver's licence
• Give their fingerprints to the École
• Have passed the prescribed medical examination
• Have passed the standardized physical abilities test
• Have taken the École's psychometric test and situational judgment test
• Have obtained the shooting certifications determined by the École

The deadline to apply is May 1 of each year. Places are allocated according to the ENPQ ranking score. The École writes that no priority is given to candidates who hold a promise of employment.

The required tests

The entrance tests

The entrance tests include two measuring instruments. The situational judgment test lasts 2 hours. The M-Pulse is a psychometric test of 455 questions, for which the École allows 50 to 90 minutes. The ENPQ writes that these two tests require no specific preparation.

The medical examination

The candidate is called by email to the medical examination prescribed by regulation. The examination must be passed within the 12 months before the start of training. The École asks you to allow 2 to 3 hours. The examination includes a screening test for drugs and other prohibited substances, from which cannabis has been removed. The visual acuity and hearing acuity standards in force date from July 15, 2024.

The standardized physical abilities test

The ENPQ physical test has an official name: épreuve standardisée d'aptitudes physiques, or ESAP-ENPQ Police 2017. It is a timed circuit. The candidate who passes the medical examination is called to it by email. The ESAP is valid for 12 months from the date it is passed. A candidate who fails is entitled to two retakes per application for admission.

Fees in 2026-2027

The following rates are in effect from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The ENPQ presents them as an indication and subject to change.

Source: ENPQ, "Frais 2026-2027" page. Admission fees and the medical examination are added to it.

Training fees are paid in 1 or 2 instalments. They do not include clothing, books and required items. Training fees for Indigenous cohorts are different and appear on the same page.

The École's other clients

The ENPQ also trains serving police officers and public security clients, including correctional services officers, highway safety officers, special constables and Société de transport de Montréal inspectors.

This text summarizes public documents. It is neither legal advice nor union advice.

Further reading

• How to become a police officer in Quebec: the path step by step
• Police Technology: the DEC, the CEGEPs and admission to become a police officer
• Sûreté du Québec: police officer recruitment, step by step
• RCMP police training: Depot Division in Regina and the physical test

Frequently asked questions

How long is the training at the Nicolet police academy?

The initial police patrol training program lasts at least 450 hours, spread over 15 weeks, according to the ENPQ. Candidates must live on campus for that entire period.

What are the physical tests to get into the police?

The ENPQ requires a single physical test for admission: the standardized physical abilities test, or ESAP-ENPQ Police 2017. It is a timed circuit, taken after passing the medical examination. Its result is valid for 12 months. It costs $152 in 2026-2027.

What are the tests to get into the police?

Admission to the ENPQ includes a 2-hour situational judgment test and a 455-question psychometric test, the M-Pulse. Added to these are the medical examination, the standardized physical abilities test and a prior shooting certification.

How do you prepare for the police physical test?

The ENPQ publishes its own preparation documents on the page for step 6 of admission. You will find an official ESAP video, a presentation of the circuit and a preparatory training plan. The École asks you to show up in excellent medical and physical condition, without injury. It forbids energy drinks before the test.

Are you paid during police academy training?

The ENPQ admission pages mention no salary paid by the École. The police recruit pays training fees of $12,562 in 2026-2027. The École states that the recruit may be eligible for the Government of Quebec's loans and bursaries program.

Where can I find police training in Nicolet?

The École nationale de police du Québec is located at 350, rue Marguerite-D'Youville, in Nicolet. Its main building is the former Séminaire de Nicolet. Under section 10 of the Police Act, it has exclusive responsibility for initial police patrol training in Quebec.

Sources

• Éditeur officiel du Québec, LégisQuébec, Police Act (chapter P-13.1), sections 7, 8, 10 and 115, up to date as of August 12, 2026
• École nationale de police du Québec, Programme de formation initiale, consulted on October 10, 2026
• École nationale de police du Québec, Étape 1, Satisfaire aux conditions d'admission, consulted on October 10, 2026
• École nationale de police du Québec, Étape 4, Effectuer les tests d'entrée, consulted on October 10, 2026
• École nationale de police du Québec, Étape 5, Effectuer son examen médical, consulted on October 10, 2026
• École nationale de police du Québec, Étape 6, Effectuer l'ESAP-ENPQ Police 2017, consulted on October 10, 2026
• École nationale de police du Québec, Contingentement, consulted on October 10, 2026
• École nationale de police du Québec, Frais 2026-2027, rates from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, consulted on October 10, 2026
• École nationale de police du Québec, L'École en un coup d'œil, consulted on October 10, 2026