Recognition of prior experience and learning

Recognition of prior experience and learning (RPL) is a way of recognising an individual’s skills and experience, and helping them to access academic qualifications. The process can be used by forces or individuals such as police officers, staff and volunteers. 

Academic credits could be gained for previous experience or the courses or learning programmes completed during service. 

RPL works by assessing previous experience and learning against academic standards to work out how many academic credits could be given. These credits can then be used to access a course or learning programme.

Credit estimator

The credit estimator is a tool that helps you find out how many credits you may be able to claim for the skills and knowledge you've gained. We're in the process of moving this tool to the College website. While this takes place, you can find more information about RPL and the credit estimator, by emailing: NationalPolicingCurriculumEnquiries@college.police.uk.

We can also provide you with an indication of the credits that you may receive. 

The actual number of credits will be determined by the higher education institute (HEI) when you apply on the basis of your evidence and the required criteria. 

Using the credits

Academic credits may give you access on to a different year of a programme or allow you credits towards some modules on a programme. 

You won’t be able to gain an academic or professional qualification without completing any additional work. 

It may be that when using the credit estimator the value displayed is greater than the number of credits required for a particular qualification. This is because the credit estimator provides a cumulative score for all the credits you may be able to claim regardless of how relevant the skill or experience is to the programme/course being applied for. 

It is also important to be aware that most HEIs will have a limit on the number of credits you are able to claim towards a qualification. For example, this is usually 240 credits of a 360 credit degree (or approximately two thirds). 

If you would like an estimation of your academic credits, please email: NationalPolicingCurriculumEnquiries@college.police.uk. You'll need to tell us the College of Policing programme you have completed and when this took place.