What are the PRC requirements for Scouters?
All Volunteers aged 18+ are required to provide a clean PRC with Vulnerable Sector Search during their initial application. Volunteers must renew their Police Records Check every 3 years to remain compliant with Scouts Canada Screening Procedure.
How can new Scouters submit their PRCs?
New Volunteers must submit their clean PRC/VSS received from their local Police Detachments as part of their screening requirements. PRCs can be submitted directly to Scouts Canada by the volunteer and do not need to be verified by the Group Commissioner. There are multiple ways that they can submit their PRC/VSS to Scouts Canada depending on the format in which they receive the completed PRC/VSS.
Option 1: Electronic Submission by the Volunteer Candidate
a) Digital download link
Provide the URL Link from the Police site along with all required access details for us to download.
Note: Most Police services only allow download access for 30 days from the date of the completed PRC.
b) PDF Attachment
Attach and email the PDF file of your new PRC to the address below
c) Hard Copy Paper Document
Scan or take clear photos of the PRC. All pages must be included, the entire page(s) are required, and all parts must be clearly legible.
Submission Guidelines
PRCs from any of the above options are submitted via
Email to: registration@scouts.ca
Subject: PRC to Process
CC: Your Group Commissioner or Council Commissioner/Relationship Manager/Group Support Scouter
Text of Email: State your full name and Scout Group you are applying to volunteer with.
Where multiple pages are indicated, the applicable pages must be included - ideally as part of the same scan rather than individual pdfs. (i.e., If the bottom of their first page indicates, “Page 1 of 2”, there must also be one that shows “Page 2 of 2”.)
Option 2: Mail Submission
For those Volunteers who prefer not to use email for submitting their PRC, they can mail the original PRC to:
Scouts Canada
c/o Registration Support
1345 Baseline Road
Ottawa, ON K2C 0A7
Individuals wanting originals returned must include a self-addressed stamp envelope.
Scans will be rejected if:
- incomplete
- not easily legible
- received at Scouts Canada more than three (3) months from the search results date
- search was completed for another organization instead of explicitly for Scouts Canada as required
- does not meet Scouts Canada PRC standards as outlined in point 7 of the Volunteer Screening Procedure.
The sender will be notified if a PRC is rejected and the reason(s).
How can returning Scouters submit their PRC renewals?
Current scouters use the above options to submit a renewed PRC either electronically or by mail. PRCs can be submitted directly to Scouts Canada by the volunteer and do not need to be verified by the Group Commissioner. Renewed PRCs must include a Criminal Records Check and Judicial Matter Check (Level 2).
Volunteers renewing their PRCs can also use MyBackCheck. For more detailed instructions on how to use Backcheck, please see the Backcheck section in Police Record Check (PRC) Renewals article.
To request an invitation to complete a Police Record Check for Scouts Canada using MyBackCheck, please email registration@scouts.ca with the following:
- Subject: BackCheck invitation
- Provide us with: Full Name and Group Name
Please Note: PRCs from any other third-party organizations like CERTN or Triton are not accepted.
What happens when a youth volunteer turns 18? Do they have to stop volunteering until they can obtain a PRC/VSS?
Youth Volunteers are encouraged to apply for their PRC/VSS as soon as possible. We will provide a 60-day grace period to allow active youth Volunteers to continue serving in their role once they turn 18 as long as they provide proof to their Commissioner that they have applied for their PRC/VSS.
Help Centre
Still need help? Please feel free to contact the Scouts Canada Help Centre:
