Volunteer police checks, without the station visit
Volunteering somewhere that wants a police check? Get it online with MyCheck, usually in minutes, and share the certificate yourself.
Screening volunteers? Run criminal record and reference checks for volunteers, board members and staff on one account, at nonprofit rates.
- Minutes
- Most MyCheck results, often same day
- $39
- MyCheck Level 1, the check most volunteer roles ask for
- $4.50
- Volunteer reference check on the NGO Program
- 0
- Applications or minimums for nonprofits
Two ways in
Are you volunteering, or screening volunteers?
Get your own police check online
MyCheck is Credibled's personal criminal record check. You complete it from your phone, the result comes to you, and you decide who sees it.
- Level 1 for $39, Level 2 for $49, no extra fees
- Most checks complete in minutes, others usually within 4 hours
- Identity verification included, no appointment
Screen volunteers, board and staff on one account
Registered nonprofits get program rates automatically at sign-up. No application, no review and no minimum, whatever your volume.
- Reference checks at $4.50 per candidate, however many referees
- Criminal record checks, enhanced checks and credit checks on the same invoice
- Every consent and result in one audit trail
Which check do you need?
Three levels of police check, and who can run each one
Ontario's Police Record Checks Reform Act sets out three levels. Each one includes everything in the level before it. If the organization names a level, get that one.
| Level | What it adds | Usually asked for | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal record check MyCheck Level 1 |
Criminal convictions where no record suspension has been granted | Most volunteer roles | MyCheck, an employer's Credibled account, or your local police service |
| Criminal record and judicial matters check MyCheck Level 2 |
Outstanding charges, arrest warrants, absolute and conditional discharges, certain court orders | Board members, treasurers, roles of trust that don't involve vulnerable people | MyCheck, an employer's Credibled account, or your local police service |
| Vulnerable sector check | Findings of not criminally responsible, pardoned sexual offences, and some non-conviction information when a strict test is met | Roles in a position of trust or authority over children or vulnerable people | Your local police service only, or the BC Criminal Records Review Program in BC |
Levels and contents as described by the Government of Ontario. Rules elsewhere in Canada are similar but not identical. If a role involves children or vulnerable people, ask the organization whether a vulnerable sector check is required before ordering anything.
Straight answer
In Ontario, a volunteer police check can be free. Here's when to use which.
Since April 1, 2022, Ontario police services don't charge eligible volunteers for a criminal record check or a criminal record and judicial matters check. That free check comes from your local police service only, not from providers like Credibled. If it works for you, use it.
MyCheck is for when it doesn't: you need the result tonight, you can't get a letter in time, you're outside Ontario, or you're not eligible because the role is paid or for credit.
| Local police service (Ontario volunteer) | MyCheck by Credibled | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free for eligible volunteers. A vulnerable sector check still carries the police fee | $39 Level 1, $49 Level 2 |
| Who qualifies | Unpaid volunteers. An expense allowance or honorarium is fine; academic or court-ordered credit is not | Anyone who needs a Canadian criminal record check |
| What you need | Often a letter on the organization's letterhead confirming the role and the level of check | Government ID and a selfie |
| How you apply | Online or in person, depending on the police service | Online, from your phone |
| Timing | Set by each police service | Most complete in minutes, others usually within 4 hours |
| Vulnerable sector check | Yes, and only here | No |
Free volunteer checks: Government of Ontario, police record checks. Outside Ontario, fees and processes for volunteers vary by police service. A small number of MyCheck results need fingerprint confirmation in person, which takes longer.
For organizations
Match the check to the role, not to the title "volunteer"
A one-day event helper, a youth mentor and a treasurer are all volunteers, and they carry very different risks. Volunteer Canada's guidance is that screening obligations depend on the role, the people you serve and where you operate.
| Role | Common checks |
|---|---|
| Event and one-day volunteers | Reference check |
| Ongoing program volunteers | References, plus a criminal record check where the role warrants it |
| Volunteer drivers | Criminal record check, add a driver's record check |
| Board members and treasurers | Enhanced criminal check and references. A credit check where the role carries fiduciary duty |
| Roles with children or vulnerable people | Vulnerable sector check from the local police service, plus references on Credibled |
| Paid staff | The full catalogue, including employment and education verification |
The bigger picture
A police check is one step of ten
Volunteer Canada's 10 Steps of Screening put police checks at step 7, after the interview and references. A clean record says nothing about how someone behaves with the people you serve. References are where that shows up.
- Assessment
- Position assignment
- Recruitment
- Application
- Interview
- ReferencesOn Credibled
- Police checksOn Credibled, except VSC
- Orientation and training
- Support and supervision
- Follow-up and feedback
Reference checks
Volunteer references that someone actually checks
Volunteer referees are often friends, relatives or fellow members, and a coordinator who knows everyone socially is the least well placed to notice. Credibled flags it when a referee submits from the same IP address or device as the candidate, or from a personal email.
The alert doesn't block anything, because there are innocent explanations. You judge it, and your decision is logged. Reminders go out every 24 hours for up to 10 days, so nobody on your team has to chase referees.
More on reference checks- Program lead · Eastside Food Bank
- Referee 2 · Personal email
- Coach · Riverdale Soccer Club
Referee 2 completed the reference from a personal email address. Review before relying on it.
Decision logged to the audit trail with reviewer and timestamp.
When volunteers bring their own check
Point your volunteers to one place
Many organizations ask volunteers to arrange their own check. Send them to MyCheck and the result arrives as a PDF certificate they forward to you, the same document an employer receives when ordering through Credibled.
The volunteer
Completes it online, with no appointment, and decides who sees the result.
Your coordinator
Receives a certificate, not a phone call asking where the police station is.
Your program
Starts on schedule, not after the next appointment slot.
MyCheck does not issue vulnerable sector checks. Partnerships are set up individually, not self-serve. More about MyCheck
Straight answers
What we can't do, so you know upfront
We can't run a vulnerable sector check.
No third-party provider in Canada can. It comes only from the local police service, or the BC Criminal Records Review Program.
We can't make your check free.
Ontario's free volunteer checks come from police services only. MyCheck is a paid alternative for when speed or eligibility matters.
We don't decide who volunteers.
We report what we find. Whether it matters for the role is the organization's call, made within human rights law.
FAQ
Volunteer police check questions
01For volunteers
Is a police check free for volunteers in Ontario?
Yes, from your local police service, for a criminal record check or a criminal record and judicial matters check. You must be an unpaid volunteer, and the police service may ask for a letter from the organization. Vulnerable sector checks still carry the police fee, and checks from third-party providers like Credibled are not free.
Which police check do I need to volunteer?
Whatever the organization asks for. Most volunteer roles ask for a criminal record check, which is MyCheck Level 1. Roles in a position of trust or authority over children or vulnerable people usually need a vulnerable sector check, which only your local police service can issue.
How long does a volunteer police check take?
On MyCheck, most checks complete in minutes and others are usually back within 4 hours. A small number need fingerprint confirmation in person, which takes longer. Through a police service, timing is set by that police service.
Can I use MyCheck for volunteering?
Yes, for roles that ask for a criminal record check or a criminal record and judicial matters check. MyCheck does not issue vulnerable sector checks.
How do I share my result with the organization?
Your certificate comes to you, not the organization. Download it as a PDF and send it to them. Nothing is shared unless you share it.
How long is a volunteer police check valid?
A check doesn't expire. It reflects your record on the day it ran and doesn't update afterwards. Each organization decides how recent a check it will accept.
02For organizations
What checks should we run on volunteers?
Match the check to the role. Many organizations run a reference check on every volunteer and add a criminal record check where the role warrants it. Board members with signing authority commonly get an enhanced criminal check and references.
How much does volunteer screening cost on Credibled?
On the NGO Program, reference checks are $4.50 per candidate, however many referees. Every other check is priced in your own currency during sign-up, before you create the account. There is no minimum volume.
Do we have to apply for the NGO Program?
No. Choose Non-profit / NGO as your organization type at sign-up and confirm you are a registered non-profit. Program pricing is applied automatically. Registered non-profits in Canada and the US qualify.
Can volunteers pay for their own check?
Yes. Send them to MyCheck. They complete the check online and forward you the certificate. For larger programs, talk to us about setting up a partnership.
Can you run a vulnerable sector check for our volunteers?
No, and no third-party provider in Canada can. It comes only from the volunteer's local police service, or the BC Criminal Records Review Program. Many organizations pair it with reference checks on Credibled.
Can several coordinators or chapters share one account?
Yes. Everyone orders from the same account and invoice, and duplicate detection stops two coordinators paying for the same volunteer within 30 days.
Ready to volunteer this week, not next month.
Get your own check online in minutes, or set up your organization at nonprofit rates with no application.