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Wildlife officer in Quebec: role, training and salary

Wildlife officer or wildlife protection officer: peace officer status, admission, 19 weeks of training and a pay scale of $51,930 to $77,059.

November 5, 2026 · By the Agent Policier editorial team · Lire en français

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As of November 5, 2026, the latest pay scale published by the Conseil du trésor for the wildlife officer runs from $51,930 to $77,059 a year. These rates, in effect since October 2, 2022, come from the 2020-2023 collective agreement for wildlife protection officers. The official title is wildlife protection officer. This public servant has peace officer status. This text applies to women and men alike.

What is a wildlife officer

The Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (chapter C-61.1, up to date as of October 15, 2026) provides in section 3 that wildlife protection officers are appointed under the Public Service Act. Section 6 makes them peace officers for the exercise of their duties. Section 7 also makes every member of the Sûreté du Québec or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police an ex officio wildlife protection officer for the purposes of the Act. The Collège d'Alma names the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) as the employer.

The laws they enforce

Section 5 of the Act charges the officer with seeing to its application and, among others, that of the Loi sur les parcs, the Loi sur les espèces menacées ou vulnérables and the Loi sur la conservation du patrimoine naturel. According to the page Le travail des agents de protection de la faune (updated March 23, 2026), the officer has powers of inspection, investigation, arrest, search and seizure. The officer is subject to the Code de déontologie des policiers du Québec and a complaint must be filed within a year. This text is not legal advice. See our article on police ethics (in French).

The work day to day

Québec.ca describes a constant fight against poaching. Officers conduct investigations, inspect work done in fish habitat and watch for prohibited hunting of migratory birds. They protect threatened or vulnerable species across Quebec. They supervise wildlife protection assistants in wildlife reserves, national parks and outfitters. They also educate the public. A canine squad has existed since 1995.

Admission requirements

Québec.ca sets five conditions to apply.

Hold a secondary school diploma or a recognized equivalent attestation of studies
Have completed one year of postsecondary studies on wildlife, its habitats, the environment, forests, hunting, fishing, trapping and regulations, or make up for it with two years of relevant experience
Hold a class 4A licence (emergency vehicle) before being hired
Have a knowledge of French appropriate to the duties
Hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status

Selection includes a multiple-choice test, an interview, the physical abilities test at the Université de Montréal (about $115), a medical exam (about $480) and a security check paid for by the employer. The test and medical exam fees can be reimbursed at the end of training. The Collège d'Alma offers the 1,605-hour AEC "Protection de la faune". According to the college, you need this AEC and the training at the Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier centre to practise. Québec.ca also accepts two years of relevant experience in place of the year of postsecondary studies. The DEP 5179 Protection et exploitation de territoires fauniques is 1,320 hours long, according to Inforoute FPT.

Wildlife protection officer training

The paid training lasts about 19 weeks at the Centre de formation et de perfectionnement de la protection de la faune, in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier. It includes two weeks of upgrading in survival and first aid in remote areas, then about seventeen weeks of initial training. The officer then returns to their region to work in the field, with a mentor. This path differs from that of the ENPQ in Nicolet.

Wildlife officer salary

The 2020-2023 agreement has eight steps in the nominal class (class 10) and three in the principal class (class 5), for 40 hours a week. These are annual rates in effect from October 2, 2022.

Class	Step	Annual salary
10 (nominal)	1	$51,930
10 (nominal)	8	$71,257
5 (principal)	1	$70,193
5 (principal)	3	$77,059

These rates date from 2022 and the current job posting is the authority for the current rate. Since no more recent scale is readable, Job Bank gives a benchmark. For the occupation "fish and wildlife officer" (NOC 22113), broader than wildlife protection officer, the median hourly wage in Quebec is $33.46 (wages updated November 19, 2025).

Recruitment

Postings appear on the public service job platform.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you become a wildlife officer?

You need a secondary school diploma, one year of relevant postsecondary studies or two years of experience, a class 4A licence, French and Canadian citizenship or permanent residence. Next come the tests, the medical exam, the security check and about 19 weeks of paid training.

What is a wildlife officer's salary in Quebec?

The latest scale published by the Conseil du trésor runs from $51,930 to $77,059 a year, rates in effect since October 2, 2022. Job Bank shows a median hourly wage of $33.46 for fish and wildlife officers, based on wages updated November 19, 2025.

How do you reach a wildlife officer?

To report poaching, call SOS Braconnage at 1 800 463-2191, 24 hours a day. Note the nature of the facts, the date and the place. Do not touch any object at the scene.

What are the powers of a wildlife protection assistant?

Under section 8 of the Act, the assistant supports the officers. They do not exercise the powers of chapters II and III of the Code de procédure pénale, except the one in section 72.

Is a wildlife protection officer a police officer?

Section 6 makes the officer a peace officer for the exercise of their duties. They are subject to the Code de déontologie des policiers du Québec.

How long is wildlife protection officer training?

About 19 weeks, according to Québec.ca. Two weeks of upgrading come before about seventeen weeks of initial training in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier.