Recruiting and waiting
Application processing and the wait for an offer or course are not included in a published course length. Use the current official joining guide to understand the application process.
Training and career pathways
Connect entry requirements, basic training, occupation qualification and later career development for the role you are exploring.
A pathway explains the sequence, not a guaranteed timetable. Recruitment waits, course availability, prior qualifications and service options can change an individual route.
See an example: Signal Operator
Keep the different time periods separate
Formal training
The occupation-training totals shown here come from this site’s existing sourced notes. Read the original listing for course phases and check which parts apply to your entry plan.
Employment and development
Qualifying for initial employment is followed by experience and further development. Promotion also depends on the applicable requirements and selection process.
After initial qualification
The CAF professional development framework uses developmental periods for officers and non-commissioned members. It combines formal learning with experience and self-development. Use the framework to understand the structure, then confirm the current requirements for your occupation.
NCM development frameworkOfficer development frameworkCurrent promotion policyService commitments, leave and transition
General pathway guidance reviewed against the linked official sources on 14 September 2026. Occupation excerpts and training notes retain their own source dates; this tool does not imply that every occupational requirement has been freshly revalidated.