 Licensing & Renewals > Criminal Record Check
If you are a first-time applicant in Alberta, you must provide to RECA a current (dated within the last 6 months) original certified criminal record check (CCRC)* in your legal name in a form and manner prescribed by the executive director (section 20(1)(d) of the Real Estate Act Rules).
A 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.
If you are applying from outside of Canada, please contact a RECA information officer for further information on the criminal record check requirement.
To obtain a CCRC, you must provide your fingerprints to the RCMP Civil Fingerprint Screening Services in Ottawa. Fingerprints can be submitted to the RCMP electronically or in paper-based format. A CCRC can take up to six months to process depending on how you submit your fingerprints and whether or not you have a criminal record; this can delay approval of your authorization with RECA. To improve the efficiency of providing the CCRC to RECA, you may opt to submit a “Third-Party Waiver of Consent,” which authorizes the RCMP to release your CCRC directly to RECA. Your fingerprints are not retained by RECA, private fingerprinting firms, the local police or the RCMP.
- If you do not have a criminal record: electronically-submitted fingerprints are typically processed by the RCMP within 72 hours (allow 2 to 3 weeks for the completed CCRC to be returned by mail). Paper-based fingerprint submissions require a great deal of manual processing and it is not uncommon for a criminal record verification using paper-based fingerprint submissions to take up to 180 days to complete.
- If you have a criminal record: your CCRC will be processed manually regardless of how your fingerprints are submitted to the RCMP.
Electronic Fingerprint Submissions
Step 1
Attend at an accredited private fingerprinting agency, such as:
- Canadian Corps of Commissionaires (offices located in Lethbridge, Red Deer, Edmonton, Calgary)
- L-1 Identity Solutions (offices located in Edmonton and Calgary)
The agency will complete and submit your fingerprints to the RCMP electronically on your behalf. Note: Fees for electronic fingerprint submission vary and must be paid by the applicant at the time services are performed.
Step 2
Retain a copy of the NIST form, which is the receipt of your electronic fingerprint submission.
Step 3 (Optional)
Complete a “Third Party Waiver of Consent” form at the agency, which authorizes the RCMP in Ottawa to send your CCRC directly to RECA. If you do not complete a Third Party Waiver of Consent, you must forward your CCRC to RECA once you receive it.
Paper-Based Fingerprinting Submissions
Step 1
Attend at your local police station or RCMP detachment to obtain a full set of fingerprints using Form C-216C. Note: Fees for fingerprinting vary and must be paid by the applicant at the time services are performed.
Step 2 (Optional)
Complete a “Third Party Waiver of Consent” form, which authorizes the RCMP in Ottawa to send your CCRC directly to RECA. If you do not complete a Third Party Waiver of Consent, you must forward your CCRC to RECA once you receive it.
Step 3
Photocopy the completed Form C-216C (fingerprint form) and retain the photocopy.
Step 4
Send the original completed Form C-216C, completed “Third Party Waiver of Consent” form (optional) and $25 processing fee by certified cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General for Canada to one of the addresses below:
By Mail:
The Director
Canadian Criminal Real Time
Identification Services
RCMP, NPS Building
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R2
By Courier:
The Director
Canadian Criminal Real Time
Identification Services
RCMP, NPS Building, Loading Dock #1
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R2
Step 5
Retain a copy of your postal receipt or courier slip.
Applying For Licence and Registration Prior to the Return of Your CCRC
If you submitted your fingerprints to the RCMP electronically, and have met all other requirements, and wish to apply for licence and registration prior to receiving your CCRC, you must provide RECA with the following documentation:
- An original copy of a criminal record check based on your name and date of birth, which you can obtain from your local police department. This document is completely separate from a CCRC; and,
- A copy of the receipt of your electronic fingerprint submission (NIST form).
If you submitted your fingerprints to the RCMP in a paper-based format and have met all other requirements and wish to apply for licence and registration prior to receiving your CCRC, you must provide RECA with the following documentation:
- An original copy of a criminal record check based on your name and date of birth, which you can obtain from your local police department. This document is completely separate from a CCRC;
- A copy of your fingerprints (completed Form C-216C); and,
- Proof you have sent your Form C-216C to the RCMP Civil Fingerprint Screening Services in Ottawa, such as a postal receipt or courier slip.
In the event that RECA grants you an authorization prior to receipt of a CCRC, that authorization will be issued on the condition that your CCRC be provided to RECA within a specified time period. Failure to meet this condition may result in suspension or cancellation of your licence [section 38(i) of the Real Estate Act Rules].
Applicant With a Criminal Record
Each applicant with a criminal record is evaluated on his or her own merits and having a criminal record does not necessarily disqualify an individual from being authorized. When a criminal record exists, RECA requires additional documentation [section 20(2)(a) and (b) of the Real Estate Act Rules]. After review of the information provided, the executive director will determine the individual’s suitability for licensing.
The executive director may suspend or cancel the licence of any industry member when, subsequent to issuing the licence, the executive director receives notice or information that, in the executive director's opinion, establishes the applicant provided false or misleading information to the executive director in the process of applying for a licence [section 38(a) of the Real Estate Act Rules].
Collection, Use, Disclosure & Retention Policy
As the regulator, RECA has a responsibility to verify the identity and background information of individuals who apply for a licence and/or registration to ensure only competent, ethical practitioners are licensed. Those who apply for a licence consent to the collection of a CCRC by RECA.
RECA uses CCRC information only for the purpose of determining suitability for licensing under the Real Estate Act. The CCRC is held in confidence by RECA and is not disclosed to other parties.
RECA’s Privacy Policy, Practices & Procedures as well as the Real Estate Act Rules are available online at www.reca.ca.
For more information about the policies above, please contact an information officer at RECA.
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