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Types of sheriffs
Sheriffs are dedicated to promoting safe and resilient communities. They perform a wide range of activities in collaboration with other law enforcement and policing partners in Alberta.
There are 5 types of sheriffs in the province:
- law courts / legislature – transport inmates and ensure the safety of those in courthouses and at the legislature
- communications – track sheriff units across the province; monitor surveillance equipment and inform response agencies of emergencies
- surveillance – gather evidence of criminal activity and investigate specific property-related complaints
- traffic – enforce traffic safety laws, investigate collisions and conduct commercial vehicle inspections
- fish and wildlife – responsible for wildlife and fisheries enforcement work in the province (learn how to become a fish and wildlife officer)
Contact the Alberta Sheriffs branch
What is in it for you
Many people from across Canada and around the world choose to live and work in Alberta each year.
As a sheriff, you get:
- a pension, excellent benefits and job security
- provincewide career opportunities
- a rewarding, challenging and dynamic work environment
- to be part of a team with a high level of professionalism
- paid training opportunities
- promotion opportunities
Videos
Job descriptions
Law Courts Sheriff / Legislature Sheriff
- provide a safe and secure setting for all people in and around the province's courthouses (law courts sheriff)
- deliver a safe and secure setting for all people in and around the Alberta legislature building (legislature staff)
- manage, handle and transport inmates (law courts sheriff)
- assist police in maintaining a safe and secure setting at major public events
When they're hired into this position, many recruits begin with an entry-level job description.
Experienced sheriffs can apply and compete for positions in other sections of the branch such as Sheriff Highway Patrol and the SCAN unit. As these positions are highly sought, internal applicants are required to have a specific skillset to be successful.
Law Courts Sergeant
- oversee their unit's participation in the inmate escort and court security program
- supervise law courts sheriffs
- oversee the inter-jurisdictional transfer of inmates
- provide police support at major public events
Communications Officer
- monitor local and off-site security surveillance equipment
- advise response agencies and their personnel of emergencies
- document sheriff locations and activities
- maintain records and incident reports
Surveillance Sheriff
- assist other law enforcement agencies in surveillance activities
- investigate people of interest
- identify, document, collect and process physical evidence
- investigate complaints with respect to the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act
Traffic Sheriff
- enforce traffic safety
- investigate collisions
- conduct commercial vehicle inspections and enforcement
- provide educational presentations
- apprehend people wanted on warrants
Traffic Sergeant
- oversee their unit's participation in the traffic enforcement program
- oversee their unit's participation in traffic safety initiatives
- supervise traffic sheriffs
- collaborate with stakeholders, clients and other enforcement agencies
Job requirements
Qualifications
Communications Officer
- one-year certificate in a related field
OR - one-year combined of directly related education or experience, or both
Law Courts Sheriff / Legislature Sheriff (both entry level)
- 2-year diploma or 4-year degree
OR - 2 years combined of directly related education or experience, or both
OR - journeyman with 1 year of related experience
Law Courts Sheriff / Legislature Sheriff / Surveillance Sheriff / Traffic Sheriff
- 2-year diploma in a related field plus 2 years of progressively responsible related experience
OR - 4 years combined of directly related education or experience, or both
OR - journeyman with 3 years of related experience
Law Courts Sergeant / Traffic Sergeant
- 2-year diploma in a related field plus 5 years of progressively responsible related experience
OR - 7 years combined of directly related education or experience, or both
OR - journeyman with 6 years of related experience
Requirements
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident or eligible to work in Canada
- valid Alberta Class 4 driver's licence (Class 5 for communications officer positions)
- current driver's abstract
- current standard first aid certificate
- current CPR certification (Level C) – for infants, children and adults
- current and clear criminal record check, including a vulnerable sector check
- proof of successful completion of the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) test – in 4 minutes 45 seconds or less in the last 3 months (does not apply to communications officer positions)
- eligible for appointment as a peace officer under the Peace Officer Act
Skills and abilities
- high degree of integrity and maturity
- sound judgment and common sense
- excellent verbal and written communication skills
- function effectively in a team environment
- confident problem-solving and decision-making skills
- strong leadership and role model abilities
- able to function effectively in a potentially hostile work environment
- basic computer proficiency and keyboarding skills
- able to accommodate shift work, which includes weekends and holidays
Medical
You must meet certain medical standards:
- major body systems – cardiovascular, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, respiratory
- vision – distance, near, horizontal, colour
- audiological (hearing)
- others – alcohol and drug or medications, immunization, psychological or psychiatric
Learn more: Medical Standards for Alberta Sheriffs Officer Recruits
PARE test
The Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) test does not apply to communications officer positions.
For all other positions, the PARE test is a key component of the recruiting process:
- the PARE test is designed to evaluate your level of physical fitness to ensure you're able to perform the duties of a sheriff
- medical consent is required from a physician before you will be permitted to participate in the PARE test
- you must provide proof of successful completion of the PARE test – in 4 minutes 45 seconds or less in the last 3 months
- find a PARE test centre near you and schedule a test (hint: Google “PARE test”)
- if you live outside Alberta, we will accept a successful PARE test from other provinces or territories
If you need help to schedule a PARE test, contact [email protected].
PARE test forms
Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. For help opening the forms, contact PDF form technical support.
For your scheduled PARE test, you must bring:
- a PARE Medical Consent form that is fully filled out and signed by a physician
- the PARE Consent and Test Record form
Recruiting process
There is a 5-step process to becoming a sheriff recruit:
Step 1. Submit resume
When we are hiring, apply for a sheriff position at the Government of Alberta jobs website.
After you submit your resume, if you meet the sheriff job requirements and are selected for an interview, we will:
- inform you by phone of your interview date and time
- tell you what documents to bring to your interview
- give you a time frame to gather your documents before your interview
Step 2. Interview
We meet with you for an in-person interview that is no more than one hour. You need to bring original copies of the following documents:
- proof of a successful PARE test (for all non-communication officer positions) or out-of-province equivalent
- original valid Alberta Class 4 driver’s licence (Class 5 for communications officer positions) or out-of-province equivalent
- current driver's abstract
- current standard first aid certificate
- current CPR certification (Level C) – for infants, children and adults
- current and clear criminal record check, including a vulnerable sector check
- 3 supervisor references – current or previous employers
- personal disclosure questionnaire
The interview panel is usually made up of a sergeant and an inspector. It may also include an additional sergeant or inspector.
You must be willing to work in one of several locations. Be ready to discuss which locations you prefer.
Before your in-person interview, we'll conduct a short questionnaire over the phone with you.
Step 3. References and academic verification
After your interview, we:
- check all your references
- verify your academic credentials
- do any other required checks / verifications
Step 4. Psychological test
You are required to take a pre-employment psychological assessment, arranged by and paid for by the ministry.
Step 5. Offer of employment
We will call you with a verbal offer of employment. If you accept it, we will send you an offer letter that includes your employment details:
- salary
- job classification
- work location
- training class start date
- benefit plan overview
In some cases, we may offer you a position as a pre-hire recruit. This position lets you do administrative work with us until the next training class starts – up to 10 weeks away.
Training
Our ministry's Sheriff Induction Training Program is paid, comprehensive and designed for you – the new sheriff recruit.
The program runs for 15 weeks at the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General Training Academy in Edmonton. The college's mission is to promote public safety and secure and resilient communities through the advancement of:
- professional standards
- delivery of quality training
- innovative program development
- educational leadership and operational accountability
We give you a structured learning environment that gets you job-ready and instils the pride and professionalism that comes with being a sheriff.
Classroom and field experience
Our instructors guide your professional development – in the classroom and field – through these subjects:
- subject control tactics (officer safety)
- emergency vehicle operation
- legal studies
- firearms
- physical conditioning
- ethics
- drill, ceremony
- gangs and intelligence
- verbal judo (tactical communications)
- fingerprinting
- DNA samples
- notebook and report writing
- fire hazards
- data entry systems
- mental health
- multiculturalism
- infectious diseases
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
- Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP)
During this training program, recruits are required to successfully complete the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE) test twice.
On-the-job training
After you successfully complete the Sheriff Induction Training Program, you're placed in the Sheriff Field Training Program for 9 months. This gives you vital operational experience.
Apply now
Thank you for your interest in a career with the Alberta Sheriffs.
To prepare for our next competition, make sure you will meet – or soon meet – our job requirements.
Contact
Connect with the Alberta Sheriffs branch:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Email: [email protected]
Note to media: The contact information above is for recruiting inquiries. Journalists with news organizations should direct their queries to the appropriate media spokespeople at: 780-644-3009 or by email at [email protected].
Address:
Alberta Sheriffs
Mezzanine Floor, Bowker Building
9833 109 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2E8
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