Veteran transition: from the CAF to a civilian career

1. Release and transition basics

The CAF Transition Group runs Transition Centres across Canada. There you meet a Transition Advisor, a Release Administrator, a Transition Personnel Selection Officer (education and vocational counselling) and a Veterans Affairs Canada Veteran Service Agent. You don't need to be posted to a Transition Centre to use its services. The Release Administrator handles final pay and leave, takes your military ID and issues your Veteran's Service Card. Start early: see My CAF career and options planning for the military release process and the My Transition seminars.

2. Veterans Affairs Canada benefits for your next career

• Education and Training Benefit: for Veterans honourably released on or after April 1, 2006 (or Supplementary Reserve members) with at least 2,191 paid days (6 years) of service. For 2026, up to $50,569.97 for 6 years or $101,139.94 for 12 years of service (up to $6,321.24 for short courses), indexed each January and taxable. Apply within 10 years of release. Covers degrees, diplomas, certificates and short courses.
• Career Transition Services: free career counselling, résumé help, interview preparation and job-search support for eligible members, Veterans, spouses and survivors. Apply through My VAC Account.
• VAC general help line: 1-866-522-2122 (weekdays). veterans.gc.ca

3. Military-to-civilian job matcher

Pick the trade group closest to yours to see civilian roles and the practice tracks on this site.

A starting point only, not an official equivalency. [review: owner to refine with real CAF occupation codes]

4. Paths by career

• Policing (RCMP, municipal, BC): Military Police and other Veterans apply through the normal process; experience is assessed but there is no automatic transfer. RCMP basic requirements include citizenship or permanent residence, age 18+, a valid driver's licence and secondary school. BC municipal police services each run their own recruiting. RCMP careers
• Security (BC): you need a BC security worker licence from the Security Programs Division. Applicants must be 19+, and full guard licences need Basic Security Training (BST) unless you have qualifying Canadian law-enforcement experience or an eligible licence from certain provinces. Security industry licensing · Training requirements
• Corrections: Correctional Service Canada correctional officer careers. BC provincial corrections recruits separately through the BC Public Service.
• Border services: CBSA jobs
• Deputy sheriff (BC): BC deputy sheriff careers: 19+, Grade 12 or equivalent, valid BC licence (Class 1, 2 or 4 unrestricted required).
• Conservation officer (BC): How to become a BC Conservation Officer: firearms, CORE, first aid and natural resource law enforcement education or equivalent experience.

5. Trades: Red Seal and SkilledTradesBC

If you worked in a trade in the CAF, you may be able to certify without a full apprenticeship. See SkilledTradesBC's Canadian and military certificate holders page, or challenge a trade as a Trade Qualifier (documented experience of at least 1.5 times the apprenticeship hours, then the exam; 70% pass mark). Many colleges also offer Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) to give credit for military training. Red Seal Program · Practise trade exams free on RedSkillTrade.

6. Military medical technicians: becoming a paramedic in BC

BC paramedics are licensed by the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board (EMALB): complete board-recognised training, pass the board-approved exams, then apply. EMALB does not license on training or employment alone. If you're already registered as a paramedic in another province, use the out-of-province process (COPR labour mobility form and the BC jurisprudence exam). [review: whether any CAF Med Tech training is recognised for PCP in BC; ask EMALB directly]

7. Translate your military résumé

• Swap acronyms for plain words: "Section 2IC" becomes "Second-in-command of a 10-person team".
• Lead with results: what you planned, managed, fixed or improved, with numbers you can back up.
• Match each job posting's words. Put licences, clearances and first aid near the top.
• Ask VAC Career Transition Services for a free résumé review.

8. Veteran hiring programs

• Helmets to Hardhats Canada: connects Veterans and military members with careers in the building and construction trades.
• Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS): family and member support programs.
• Note: Canada Company's Military Employment Transition (MET) program closed in 2018 and was replaced by the government-funded Career Transition Services above.

9. Mental health and support

• VAC Assistance Service: 1-800-268-7708, 24/7.
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8.
• OSISS (Operational Stress Injury Social Support): peer support from people who've been there. Ask your Transition Centre or VAC.
• VAC: Is this an emergency?

10. Printable transition checklist

Print checklist

12+ months before release

• Book a meeting with a Transition Advisor at your CAF Transition Centre (you don't need to be posted there)
• Attend a My Transition seminar
• Create or check your My VAC Account
• Ask your TPSO about education and vocational counselling
• Start translating your experience into a civilian résumé

6 months before

• Apply for the Education and Training Benefit if you qualify (2,191+ paid days)
• Apply for VAC Career Transition Services
• Collect course reports, qualifications and training records (you'll need them for PLAR, SkilledTradesBC or EMALB)
• Pick target jobs and check their requirements (licences, driver's class, fitness tests)
• Get a criminal record check and driving abstract if your target job needs them

Release month

• Meet your Release Administrator; hand in your military ID and get your Veteran's Service Card
• Confirm final pay, leave and pension paperwork
• Book a medical exam and make sure your health records go with you
• Line up a family doctor in your new community

After release

• Apply for jobs and licences (security worker licence, PAL, police applications)
• Keep in touch with peers; OSISS and CFMWS can help
• Save the VAC Assistance Service number: 1-800-268-7708
• Check ETB and CTS deadlines (ETB: within 10 years of release)