 Licensing & Renewals > Real Estate Appraisal > Criminal Record Check
What is a Certified Criminal Record Check?
A Certified Criminal Record Check (CCRC) is a ‘certified’ fingerprint-based criminal record search for non-criminal purposes conducted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Ottawa where fingerprints are compared against the central repository of Canadian criminal records held by the RCMP.
Who is required to submit a CCRC?
Applicants are required by RECA to submit a CCRC if they are:
- First-time applicants in Alberta;
- Real estate or mortgage brokerage professionals who have not been registered with an Alberta brokerage in the past 12 months; or,
- Appraisal professionals who have not been licensed in Alberta in the past 12 months.
Why does RECA require a CCRC?
RECA’s mandate is to protect the public, the reputation of the profession and to protect against and suppress mortgage fraud. RECA requires a CCRC in order to confirm an applicant’s identity and background information. An applicant’s past criminal conviction may indicate that he or she is not of good character, may place the public at risk, harm the integrity of the profession and bring the integrity of other industry professionals into disrepute.
What are the CCRC requirements?
An applicant must provide RECA with an original and current CCRC (it must be dated within the last 6 months). The CCRC must also reflect an applicant’s legal name and birthdate.
How do you obtain a CCRC?
To obtain a CCRC, you must go to a police office or accredited private fingerprinting agency that will forward your fingerprints to the RCMP Civil Fingerprint Screening Services in Ottawa.
How long does it take to get a CCRC?
CCRCs may take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months and this depends on whether:
- Your fingerprints are submitted electronically or in paper-based format;
- Your fingerprints resemble those of a person with a criminal record; or,
- You have a criminal record.
Fingerprints submitted electronically are processed more quickly, taking about 3 weeks to receive the completed CCRC. Paper-based fingerprint submissions require more time to process, taking up to 180 days to receive the completed CCRC. If you have a criminal record, the RCMP will process your CCRC manually regardless of how you submitted your fingerprints.
What can I do to reduce delays?
RECA must receive your CCRC before it can issue you an authorization. To avoid delays in obtaining your CCRC, use the following strategies:
- Apply for your CCRC before completing your pre-licensing education. Be sure that your CCRC is not more than 6 months old at the time you apply to RECA for your licence.
- Have your fingerprints electronically submitted to Ottawa.
- Provide a Third-Party Waiver of Consent so the RCMP can release your CCRC directly to RECA.
- Make sure your name and birthdate in the CCRC matches the information provided to RECA. RECA will not accept CCRCs if the CCRC information does not match the applicant’s information.
If you have a criminal record, you will be required to provide RECA with additional information. Collect this information in advance and submit it with your licence application. Providing this information will reduce the time required to process an authorization. The additional information required will include a:
- Copy of the police report;
- Your sworn statement regarding the circumstances of the conviction(s);
- Copy of the court documents including the sentencing report; and,
- Copy of any prohibition report, if applicable.
How do I ensure my fingerprints are submitted electronically?
Go to an accredited private fingerprinting agency office, such as the following:
- Canadian Corps of Commissionaires (Lethbridge, Red Deer, Edmonton, Calgary)
- L-1 Identity Solutions (Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray)
- Bev Orr, Mobile e-Fingerprint Service, (Calgary, Airdrie) (403) 650-3585, www.efingerprinting.ca
- Legal Ease Document Service (Calgary) (403) 453-2100, www.legaleasedocs.com
Accredited private fingerprinting agencies submit your fingerprints electronically to the RCMP on your behalf. The fees for electronic fingerprint submission vary and must be paid by the applicant at the time the service is performed.
If you do not provide a completed Third Party Waiver of Consent to the RCMP along with your fingerprints, you must forward your CCRC to RECA once you receive it from the RCMP.
What if I am not able to or do not want to submit my fingerprints electronically?
Go to your local police station or RCMP detachment to obtain a full set of fingerprints using Form C-216C. The RCMP and local police may charge fingerprinting fees that must be paid by the applicant at the time this service is performed.
Send the original completed Form C-216C, completed Third Party Waiver of Consent form (optional) and the $25 processing fee by certified cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General for Canada to one of the addresses below:
| Send by mail to:
Director, Canadian Criminal Real Time
Identification Services, RCMP,
NPS Building, 1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R1 |
Send by courier to:
The Director, Canadian Criminal Real Time
Identification Services, RCMP,
NPS Building, Loading Dock #1,
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R1 |
If you do not complete a Third Party Waiver of Consent, you must forward your CCRC to RECA once you receive it.
How do I know that RECA has received my CCRC?
The absence of a CCRC prevents RECA from processing your licensing application, which affects your ability to enter your chosen profession. To enable you to enter your chosen profession as soon as possible, RECA will send you an email notification advising you once your CCRC has been received. Such email notifications will be sent within one business day of RECA receiving your CCRC. You may then make application to become licensed with RECA.
As RECA will acknowledge receipt of and process your CCRC within one business day, you do not need to call RECA to find out whether your CCRC has been received. Remember, though, that CCRCs are provided by the RCMP and as such, RECA is not be able to provide any explanations for RCMP processing delays. The best way to minimize CCRC processing delays that could delay your entry to the profession is to plan ahead and apply for your CCRC before your licensing education is completed; however, as CCRCs are only valid for six months ensure you do not obtain your CCRC more than six months in advance of when you intend to make application to RECA for licensing.
Can I get an authorization if I have a criminal record?
A criminal record does not necessarily prohibit you from becoming authorized, as each applicant is evaluated on his or her own merits. If you have a criminal record, RECA requires the following documentation:
- Copy of the police report;
- Your sworn statement regarding the circumstances of the conviction(s);
- Copy of the court documents including the sentencing report; and,
- Copy of any prohibition report if applicable.
Additionally, RECA may request further information. Based on the information RECA receives, RECA’s Executive Director will determine your suitability for an authorization.
If you have a criminal record you may ask RECA for a Suitability Review prior to making an application for licensing. This allows you to know in advance if you are able to become authorized before enrolling in the licensing education. For more information on a Suitability Review, click here.
What happens to my fingerprints and my CCRC?
RECA is responsible for verifying the identity and background information of applicants to ensure only competent, ethical individuals are licensed. Therefore, applicants consent to the collection of a CCRC by RECA. RECA uses a CCRC only for determining whether the applicant is suitable for an authorization pursuant to the Real Estate Act. Your fingerprints are disposed of by RECA and the CCRC is held in confidence by RECA in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act and RECA’s Privacy Policy. For more information on RECA’s Privacy Policy, contact RECA’s Privacy Officer.
What if I am applying from outside Canada?
If you are applying for a licence from outside of Canada, you require a national criminal record check from the country where you reside in addition to a CCRC. For example, if you currently reside in Montana and are applying to be licensed in Alberta, you are required to provide a Federal Criminal Record Check from the FBI and a CCRC from the RCMP. If you have any questions, contact a RECA Information Officer at info@reca.ca.
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