Certified Criminal Record Check (Fingerprint Based)

A Certified Criminal Record Check uses fingerprints to search the RCMP’s National Repository of Criminal Records, making it the most reliable method of confirming identity. It is processed through CCRTIS after fingerprints are taken at a police service or an RCMP accredited fingerprinting company. The results of the search will produce a Certified Criminal Record Product that includes criminal record information where the identity of the applicant has been verified by fingerprints.

Name Based Criminal Record Check (Basic)

A name based criminal record check determines whether a person has been charged or convicted of a crime by searching the RCMP’s Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), including the National Repository of Criminal Records. It may also involve queries of other national and local police databases to identify possible criminal history. This type of check is typically used for general employment or volunteer screening when a more detailed level of screening is not required.

Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC)

A Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) is a basic criminal record check plus an added search for record suspensions (pardons) related to sexually based offences; it is conducted only by your local Canadian police service and can proceed only if the position truly involves trust or authority over children or vulnerable persons under the Criminal Records Act. If the initial database query shows a possible identity match to protected records (the system compares limited identifiers so name changes don’t bypass the check), you may be asked to provide fingerprints—this is an identity confirmation safeguard and does not imply wrongdoing. VSCs are limited to organizations in Canada, and the results must remain in Canada.

This type of record check was created in 2000 to protect children and vulnerable persons and is governed by section 6.3(3) of the Criminal Records Act. Policies and procedures related to vulnerable sector checks can be found in the Dissemination of Criminal Record Information policy and the Ministerial Directive Concerning the Release of Criminal Record Information by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.