What Happens If You Get Deferred by the RCMP?

An RCMP deferral means you did not meet the required standard at this time — but it is not a permanent rejection. The waiting period depends on where you were deferred: OEA deferrals typically require a minimum of 3 months, while later-stage deferrals can range from 6 months to several years. Candidates who use that time for structured preparation frequently pass on their next attempt.

Getting a deferral from the RCMP is discouraging — especially when you've been working toward this goal for months. But here's the important truth: a deferral is not a permanent rejection. For many candidates, it's a detour, not a dead end. The key is understanding what happened and what to do next.

The RCMP doesn't always explain exactly why you were deferred. That ambiguity frustrates people, but it's intentional — the assessment criteria are protected. What we do know comes from patterns across thousands of applicants. Here's a practical breakdown.

3 Types of RCMP Deferrals

1. Short-term deferral (typically 3–6 months) — OEA deferrals typically require a minimum 3-month wait before reapplying. Other early-stage deferrals may be 6 months depending on the reason. This is the most recoverable type of deferral, and structured preparation before reapplying makes a real difference.
2. Long-term deferral (12–24+ months) — Issued after the suitability interview, psychological assessment, or background investigation. These deferrals reflect more substantive concerns — either about your profile, your history, or information that surfaced during the investigation. They're harder to reverse, but not impossible.
3. Indefinite deferral — Rare, but it happens. Usually reserved for serious integrity or criminal history issues. If you receive an indefinite deferral, seek specific legal or professional guidance before attempting to reapply.

5 Things That Get Candidates Deferred

1. Poor OEA performance — Scoring below threshold in spatial reasoning, memory, or numerical sections is the most common reason for early-stage deferrals. These are fixable with preparation — the skills are trainable. Candidates who are deferred here and come back after structured practice often pass on the second attempt.
2. Workstyle profile flags — A personality profile that scores high on impulsivity, individualism, or low service orientation can defer a candidate even if their cognitive scores were strong. This is why self-reflection before the test matters — not to manipulate the result, but to approach it with genuine clarity.
3. Psychological assessment concerns — The psych eval is designed to surface mental health considerations, emotional regulation issues, or personality factors that may affect performance under the extreme stress of police work. A deferral here often comes with a recommendation to address specific areas before reapplying.
4. Inconsistencies in your background paperwork — If what your references say doesn't match what you wrote, or if your employment history has unexplained gaps, the background investigator will flag it. The RCMP isn't necessarily looking to exclude you — but they need the story to be consistent and complete.
5. Undisclosed history — Drug use, criminal associations, financial issues, or past conduct that wasn't disclosed in your application forms can result in deferral even if the underlying issue would have been manageable if disclosed upfront. Honesty at the forms stage is non-negotiable.

What to Do After a Deferral

1. Don't assume the worst — Many successful RCMP officers were deferred on a first attempt. The process is designed to be thorough, and early deferrals are often a signal to prepare more, not a judgment of your worth as a person or candidate.
2. Identify what stage you were deferred at — The earlier the deferral, the more likely it's about preparation rather than fundamental suitability. OEA deferrals, in particular, are highly responsive to targeted practice.
3. Use the deferral period intentionally — If you have 6–12 months before you can reapply, treat that time as a development window. Address whatever the signal was: improve cognitive skills, strengthen your fitness, get counselling if the psych eval raised concerns, or clean up financial issues.
4. Be more prepared on the OEA, not just more hopeful — The biggest mistake candidates make on a second attempt is assuming familiarity with the test will carry them. Familiarity helps, but it doesn't replace structured preparation. Come back with a plan.

A deferral is the RCMP's way of saying "not yet" — not "never." The candidates who succeed after a deferral are the ones who used the time to actually improve, not just wait it out.

If your deferral came at the OEA stage, our practice tests are specifically designed to help you close the gap before your next attempt. No account required to start.