Information on the different ways you can join the police and how to apply.
There are several ways you can join the police. Applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures and experiences are welcomed. You can choose an entry route that suits your circumstances and learning preferences.
Your route into policing will also depend on:
- what your chosen force offers
- your qualifications
For all routes, you will be a police constable and earning a salary from the day you join a force. You'll receive the same core training regardless of which force or entry route you join.
All routes start with an initial period of off-the-job learning. After this, training becomes mostly practical and on-the-job.
Thinking about joining the police?
There are four entry routes into policing:
- Police constable degree apprenticeship
- Police constable entry programme
- Degree holder entry programme
- Degree in professional policing holder route
All can be adapted to be specialist pathways, including into detective careers.
Entry requirements
Whichever route you choose, you must meet the national and local minimum entry requirements to join the police.
You must be over 17 years old before you apply to join a force. Forces have the flexibility to introduce their own requirements, so check your chosen force's website for more information.
Thinking about joining the police? With four ways to become a police constable, there's an entry route to suit you.
The police constable degree apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn. You'll be a police officer from your first day and your training will be jointly provided by your force and a university.
You'll get a fully funded degree in professional policing practice when you complete your three-year initial training programme.
With the two-year police constable entry programme, you'll be a police officer from your first day. Your police force will provide all the training and development opportunities you need.
If you already have a degree, you can join the police through the two-year degree holder entry programme. You'll be a police officer from your first day and you'll gain a graduate diploma in professional policing practice on completion, funded by the police force you join.
If you'd like to study at university before joining the police, you can take a degree in professional policing. You can apply through the UCAS process and study is self-funded.
After completing a two- or three-year course, you'll need to apply to join the police. If you apply successfully, you'll receive operational training from the police force you join, so you can put your knowledge into practice.
Become a police constable and shape the future of policing.
Find out more at college.police.uk.
Police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA)
This route into policing enables you to learn on the job while you study. Your off-the-job learning will be provided jointly between your force and a higher education institution.
Main features
- You will receive a degree in professional policing on completion of your three-year programme.
- You will specialise in your final year in either response, neighbourhoods, investigation, intelligence or roads policing.
- Your experience working in the role will contribute to your degree qualification, minimising the need for additional assessment.
- Focused on reinforcing knowledge and skills needed in the workplace.
Apply directly through your chosen force.
Thinking about joining the police?
The police constable degree apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn. You'll be a police officer from your first day and your training will be jointly provided by your force and a university.
You'll get a fully funded degree in professional policing practice when you complete your three-year initial training programme.
Become a police constable and shape the future of policing.
Find out more at college.police.uk.
Police constable entry programme (PCEP)
The PCEP is a two-year programme. It can be entirely force delivered, with or without leading to a professional policing qualification.
By design, this route does not cover all the advanced specialist experience and development included in the other routes. You will gain this on-the-job, post-programme.
Main features
- You will be a substantive police constable on completion of the two-year programme, ready to continue your professional development.
- All core learning covered on the programme.
- Post-programme, you will continue your advanced learning on-the-job, while you work in either roads, neighbourhoods, response, intelligence or investigations.
- With support from your force, you will be able to demonstrate you have become established in your role.
Apply directly through your chosen force.
Thinking about joining the police?
With the two-year police constable entry programme, you'll be a police officer from your first day. Your police force will provide all the training and development opportunities you need.
Become a police constable and shape the future of policing.
Find out more at college.police.uk.
Degree holder entry programme (DHEP)
This two-year programme is for existing degree holders, designed to take advantage of the critical thinking skills you have already developed through previous study. Off-the-job learning and assessment is provided collaboratively with a higher education institution.
Main features
- You will gain advanced knowledge and experience in one of the core specialisms of either response, neighbourhoods, intelligence, investigations, or roads policing, following your first-year assessment.
- You will build on the skills you have already developed through your previous degree.
- You will be awarded a Level 6 Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice on completion.
- Your work experience will contribute to your qualification, minimising the need for additional assessment.
Apply directly through your chosen force.
Thinking about joining the police?
If you already have a degree, you can join the police through the two-year degree holder entry programme. You'll be a police officer from your first day and you'll gain a graduate diploma in professional policing practice on completion, funded by the police force you join.
Become a police constable and shape the future of policing.
Find out more at college.police.uk.
Professional policing degree (PPD)
Gaining a degree in professional policing can be a great way to prepare for your policing career. It means when you join a force you will have already gained core knowledge through undergraduate study.
This two- to three-year degree is offered by some universities, under license from the College of Policing. Apply through UCAS for the degree.
You will need to apply to your chosen force closer to the time you want to join.
Main features
- Two or three-year self-funded degree programme, designed to develop core knowledge and understanding for the police constable role, before joining a force.
- Higher education providers have flexibility to offer practical, vocationally focused programmes that continually develop workplace skills.
- On completion, you may join a force through a bespoke PPD holder route or through one of the other entry routes, with options for forces to streamline your learning.
To find a university provider, go to the UCAS website.
Thinking about joining the police?
If you'd like to study at university before joining the police, you can take a degree in professional policing. You can apply through the UCAS process and study is self-funded.
After completing a two- or three-year course, you'll need to apply to join the police. If you apply successfully, you'll receive operational training from the police force you join, so you can put your knowledge into practice.
Become a police constable and shape the future of policing.
Find out more at college.police.uk.
Applying to join the police
You can apply directly to the force you are interested in. Forces may offer different routes throughout the year, according to their needs.
The joining the police website has detailed information on:
- recruitment and selection processes
- the application process
- training and progression
- the benefits of being a police officer
It also has a list of which forces are recruiting.