Hello everyone,
I thought I would post an a little something about how I've done during the process. I read a great deal of information, but now after going through some things first hand, I have learned that many things can be difference.
I live in Ottawa, so everything has been done here (obviously).
I handed my application in at the office on March 30th. April 2nd, I got a call for my CFAT on April 6th - 8:00 am. I did the CFAT with no studying and personally, I don't think you can study for a CFAT (maybe the math). I scored well enough to open up all trades. My choice is LCIS.
I was asked to come in the following Wednesday, April 7th - 8:00 am medical, 9:00 am interview. This is where I found information and how things can vary.
The Captain that interviewed me recommended me and said as long as the medical comes back, I'm good to go. During the interview though, he asked if I had any outstanding debt not paid - I told him yes - my own fault, but it was because I tried to get into business for myself. It failed. He asked no details - he said it was fine and we went on.
He told me if I hear nothing in 2 weeks to call. Today, was 2 weeks, so I called.
Now, at first I didn't know if I should call my file manager or recruitment officer - so I called the recruitment officer and left a message. I then called the file manager - she tells me all is set, I just have to wait for my medical to come back from the chief medical officer - she said he reviews ALL medicals to ensure that every applicant is tested the same - tells me should be done no more then a week as he got my file on April 14th. I asked if backcheck was done, she said I didn't have to have one done - it was only in certain cases. Fair enough I said.
No sooner do I get off the phone with her, my recruitment officer calls me back -says all is fine, just waiting for medical - told him I just spoke to the corporal and she said the same - again, all is well - but as soon as I'm off the phone with him the file manager calls me. She says that a backcheck is being done, but after the medical - I ask why, she says it's because a message came back on my ERC, but that the captain (recruitment officer) reviewed it and sent it to scheduling for a backcheck. She said he would have talked to me about it in the interview. I was concerned, but thanked her and ended the call. I called the captain back and asked him about it. He refreshed my memory on the debt, but said if he sent it for scheduling at backcheck, then it was fine and as long as the medical and backcheck came back good, I'm off to the races. He said my file manager or someone else will likely do the backcheck. I said great.
Bottom line - I wasn't asked for proof of paying the debt (I haven't, as I just got back on my feet) or proof of attempting. I don't know what they see when the message comes back, but it was not an issue. I know backcheck will clear and my medical. That said, I find this far different then what I read on the forums. I was told backcheck is only done if a message comes back from ERC. And as long as backcheck clears, then ERC is granted (although the captain told me he granted my ERC, but still had to do a backcheck).
Anyways, thats my experience. It has been a quick process. Less then a month. My file manger said the backcheck will be done immediately following the medical coming back and then booked for BMQ, which they are now booking for October.
Thanks for reading!
I thought I would post an a little something about how I've done during the process. I read a great deal of information, but now after going through some things first hand, I have learned that many things can be difference.
I live in Ottawa, so everything has been done here (obviously).
I handed my application in at the office on March 30th. April 2nd, I got a call for my CFAT on April 6th - 8:00 am. I did the CFAT with no studying and personally, I don't think you can study for a CFAT (maybe the math). I scored well enough to open up all trades. My choice is LCIS.
I was asked to come in the following Wednesday, April 7th - 8:00 am medical, 9:00 am interview. This is where I found information and how things can vary.
The Captain that interviewed me recommended me and said as long as the medical comes back, I'm good to go. During the interview though, he asked if I had any outstanding debt not paid - I told him yes - my own fault, but it was because I tried to get into business for myself. It failed. He asked no details - he said it was fine and we went on.
He told me if I hear nothing in 2 weeks to call. Today, was 2 weeks, so I called.
Now, at first I didn't know if I should call my file manager or recruitment officer - so I called the recruitment officer and left a message. I then called the file manager - she tells me all is set, I just have to wait for my medical to come back from the chief medical officer - she said he reviews ALL medicals to ensure that every applicant is tested the same - tells me should be done no more then a week as he got my file on April 14th. I asked if backcheck was done, she said I didn't have to have one done - it was only in certain cases. Fair enough I said.
No sooner do I get off the phone with her, my recruitment officer calls me back -says all is fine, just waiting for medical - told him I just spoke to the corporal and she said the same - again, all is well - but as soon as I'm off the phone with him the file manager calls me. She says that a backcheck is being done, but after the medical - I ask why, she says it's because a message came back on my ERC, but that the captain (recruitment officer) reviewed it and sent it to scheduling for a backcheck. She said he would have talked to me about it in the interview. I was concerned, but thanked her and ended the call. I called the captain back and asked him about it. He refreshed my memory on the debt, but said if he sent it for scheduling at backcheck, then it was fine and as long as the medical and backcheck came back good, I'm off to the races. He said my file manager or someone else will likely do the backcheck. I said great.
Bottom line - I wasn't asked for proof of paying the debt (I haven't, as I just got back on my feet) or proof of attempting. I don't know what they see when the message comes back, but it was not an issue. I know backcheck will clear and my medical. That said, I find this far different then what I read on the forums. I was told backcheck is only done if a message comes back from ERC. And as long as backcheck clears, then ERC is granted (although the captain told me he granted my ERC, but still had to do a backcheck).
Anyways, thats my experience. It has been a quick process. Less then a month. My file manger said the backcheck will be done immediately following the medical coming back and then booked for BMQ, which they are now booking for October.
Thanks for reading!
