CNC Training
IFP and the EPA
Every Civil Nuclear Constabulary recruit starts with a 19-week residential course that turns them into an armed officer, then spends the rest of a two-year probation at their site. In England that probation is also a Level 4 apprenticeship ending in an End Point Assessment. This guide covers each stage, where it happens and the CNC's own results, read from its careers pages, apprenticeship overview and accounts on 23 October 2026.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 23 October 2026 · Civil Nuclear Constabulary (England and Scotland)
A 19-week residential Initial Foundation Programme (IFP): a week of induction in Oxfordshire, then policing skills and firearms training at a delivery centre, qualifying on each CNC weapon. You are paid in full from day one. In England you then spend 20 months building a Portfolio of Evidence at your site, sit a mock called Exercise Synergy and take an End Point Assessment run by Skills for Justice: a practical scenario, a 50-question exam and a 75-minute professional discussion. Scottish officers do the same programme without the formal apprenticeship. Probation is two years.
CNC training at a glance
| Stage | Length | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Foundation Programme (IFP) | 19 weeks, residential | Week 1 in Oxfordshire, then a delivery centre | Policing skills and firearms training |
| Portfolio of Evidence | 20 months | Your Operational Policing Unit (site) | Working as an AFO with a tutor constable and the Professional Development Unit |
| Exercise Synergy | A mock assessment | Not published | Two months before the End Point Assessment |
| End Point Assessment (England) | Three assessments | Run by Skills for Justice | Practical scenario, 50-question exam and 75-minute professional discussion |
| Confirmation in rank | End of the two-year probation | After passing the EPA (England) |
GOV.UK's Working for CNC page still describes a 17-week course. The CNC's own careers pages and its February 2026 apprenticeship overview say 19 weeks. The older figure is out of date.
The 19-week Initial Foundation Programme
The CNC calls its recruit course the Initial Foundation Programme (IFP). A 2022 FOI response called it the IFC, so you may see both. It has two elements:
- Policing Skills: the law and powers you will use as a CNC constable.
- Firearms: training to national standards so you can qualify as an Authorised Firearms Officer.
Intakes are numbered. IFP 109 started on 2 February 2026. IFP 107 passed out in Oxfordshire and Cumbria. The CNC does not publish intake dates or sizes in advance.
The CNC says behaviour on the course is "constantly" reviewed alongside the pass or fail assessments. Being on time, following instructions and treating colleagues and instructors with respect are part of passing, not extras.
Week one: corporate induction in Oxfordshire
Every course starts with a week of corporate induction in Oxfordshire. Two things happen that week that recruits may not expect:
- Fingerprints: taken during your first week at the Corporate Learning and Development Department, used "purely for crime scene elimination purposes".
- The move: after induction you travel on to your delivery centre for the rest of the course.
Even Dounreay recruits on the local Caithness course spend the first week in Oxfordshire.
Policing skills
The CNC lists these areas in the policing skills element:
- Law, including crime and terrorism
- Police powers
- The Energy Act 2023
- The Equality Act 2010
- The policing Code of Ethics
- Communication
- Conflict management
For context: under section 56 of the Energy Act 2004, CNC constables have police powers at every relevant nuclear site, everywhere within 5 kilometres of it and when escorting nuclear material in transit.
Firearms training
Every CNC officer begins as an Authorised Firearms Officer. The firearms element follows the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum. You must "qualify with each of the CNC's weapons". The CNC lists:
- Weapons qualification on each CNC weapon system.
- Tactics: including containment, dynamic search and method of entry.
- Advanced first aid.
- Personal safety training.
Weapons named in CNC sources include the SLP (self-loading pistol) and the G36c, both listed in the current instructor adverts. The CNPA also procured Taser 10 in 2025/26. The CNC does not publish the exact pass marks for recruits' qualification shoots; the 80% average in the instructor adverts applies to instructors only.
The CNC says many of its new police officer recruits have never used a firearm before. What the course needs from you is the ability to listen, follow instructions exactly and handle equipment carefully. The CNC says the weapons handling assessment at the Recruitment Day tests your dexterity and your ability to follow instructions.
Where you train
The CNC's pages disagree slightly. The newest wording, in the February 2026 apprenticeship overview and the officers page, says that after induction you move to a centre in Oxfordshire, Cumbria or Caithness, with training "across delivery centres in Oxfordshire, Surrey (Firearms only), Cumbria and Caithness". The application process page gives an older list of Oxfordshire, Surrey or Cumbria.
| Location | Used for |
|---|---|
| Culham, Oxfordshire | Headquarters and Centre for Learning and Development (moving to Harwell during 2026/27); induction week |
| Bisley, Surrey | FTU South: firearms training only |
| Griffin Park, Cumbria | FTU North: opened in 2021, an indoor live-fire tactical centre |
| Forss, Dounreay, Caithness | FTU Scotland |
The CNC does not publish which delivery centre a recruit is sent to or whether you can choose, apart from the Dounreay local course below.
The Dounreay local course
The Dounreay adverts say "the CNC is committed to offering at least one local course each year, held exclusively in Caithness", apart from the first week in Oxfordshire. For someone who already lives in Caithness, that can mean most of the 19 weeks close to home rather than at a centre in England.
The CNC does not say how many places each local course has or when it runs. If it matters to you, ask when you apply. Dounreay's relocation package and adverts are on our CNC jobs by site page.
Pay and costs while you train
- Pay: your full starting salary "from day one of your training" with "no reductions". In 2026/27 that is £32,256.
- Accommodation, travel, food and refreshments: all provided by the CNC during the residential course.
- Travel home: the CNC pays for eight return journeys in hire cars during the course.
- After the IFP: you stay on £32,256 for the rest of the two-year probation, then move to £33,609.
Full figures are on our CNC pay scales page.
The Level 4 apprenticeship in England
New AFOs based in England join the Level 4 Non-Home Office Police Officer Apprenticeship (NHOPOA), delivered by the CNC itself. It lasts up to two years and has four stages:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Initial Foundation Programme | The 19-week residential course described above. |
| 2. Portfolio of Evidence | 20 months at your Operational Policing Unit, supported by a tutor constable and the Professional Development Unit, building evidence of your work. |
| 3. Exercise Synergy | A mock assessment two months before the End Point Assessment. |
| 4. End Point Assessment | Run by Skills for Justice: a practical scenario, a 50-question multiple choice exam and a 75-minute professional discussion. |
Apprentices who need them can take fully funded functional skills English and maths. The CNC has no formal qualification requirement to join, so this support is there for people who left school without GCSE-level passes.
The CNC runs this apprenticeship itself. It is not one of the Home Office entry routes (PCDA, DHEP or PCEP).
The End Point Assessment
The End Point Assessment (EPA) is the final test of the apprenticeship and is run independently by Skills for Justice. It has three parts:
| Component | Format | What it tests (our reading) |
|---|---|---|
| Practical scenario | A practical exercise | How you apply what you have learned in a realistic situation |
| Multiple choice exam | 50 questions | Knowledge of law, powers and procedure covered in training |
| Professional discussion | 75 minutes | Your portfolio and how you reflect on your own work |
The CNC does not publish pass marks, the exam's time limit or the scenario format. The third column is our reading of what each component is for, not CNC wording.
Exercise Synergy, two months before the EPA, is your rehearsal. Treat it as the real thing: it is the best evidence of what you still need to work on.
Scotland: the same programme without the apprenticeship
Officers based in Scotland, at Dounreay, Torness, Garlogie or St Fergus, follow the same programme. The CNC says that "government rules on funding devolution mean they cannot officially do the apprenticeship". In practice that means the same training and the same two-year probation, but no apprenticeship qualification at the end.
The CNC is seeking curriculum assurance from the Scottish Police College for its Scottish officers. It has not published the outcome.
Results so far
The CNC's apprenticeship overview gives its position as of 30 January 2026, for the programme that started in February 2024. These are the CNC's own published figures:
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Apprentices started since February 2024 | 221 |
| Withdrawn | 14% |
| Passed the EPA | 17 |
| Awaiting EPA results | 16 |
| In progress | 156 |
| First-attempt EPA pass rate | 100% of those who had taken it |
| Female apprentices | 10% |
| Ofsted | First inspection passed |
Our arithmetic: 17 passed plus 16 awaiting plus 156 in progress is 189 of 221. The other 32 is consistent with the 14% withdrawn.
Separately, the CNPA's 2025/26 accounts report an IFP pass rate of over 80% as a performance indicator. Read the two together: the 100% figure is for the small group who had reached the EPA, while the IFP figure covers the earlier hurdle of the residential course.
The two-year probation
New recruits serve a two-year probation. The adverts say your starting salary increases "after successful completion of your 2 year probation". The apprenticeship overview says officers are confirmed in rank at the end of their two-year probation after passing the EPA.
- Specialist roles wait: firearms instructor, Strategic Escort Group, dog handler, police medic and other roles cannot be taken up until probation is complete.
- Fitness never stops: you are assessed against the 7.6 bleep test standard every year in service.
Course lengths for transferees
| Your firearms record | Course | Probation |
|---|---|---|
| Currently AFO or ARV trained | Condensed 4-week residential programme | Six months |
| Firearms qualification current, or expired no more than 12 months ago | Assessed against the CNC role profile (bring training records) | Six months |
| No firearms qualification | Full 19-week residential IFP | Six months |
Rejoiners do residential training of 4 to 19 weeks. Full detail is in our CNC transferee guide.
How to prepare for CNC training: our advice
This section is PolicePay's own advice, not CNC guidance. It is no guarantee of any result.
- Arrive fitter than 7.6. You must meet the standard to be appointed and every year after. Physical training on a firearms course is demanding, so give yourself a margin above the minimum.
- Practise following instructions to the letter. Firearms training rewards precision and safety over speed. Get used to listening to a full instruction before acting.
- Read up on the basics of your powers. Section 56 of the Energy Act 2004 sets out where CNC constables have police powers. Knowing it before you start makes the law weeks easier.
- Learn the Code of Ethics. It runs through the course, the role profile and the Values Based Interview.
- Sort home life before you go. The course is residential for 19 weeks. Plan childcare, pets, bills and post.
- Keep a work diary from day one at your site if you are in England. The Portfolio of Evidence takes 20 months and is easier to build from notes than from memory.
- Book functional skills support early if your English or maths is rusty. It is fully funded for apprentices.
What the CNC does not publish
- Intake dates and sizes in advance.
- Which delivery centre you will be sent to, or whether you can choose (apart from the Dounreay local course).
- Pass marks for recruits' firearms qualification shoots.
- EPA pass marks, the exam time limit and the scenario format.
- Annual leave during the IFP.
- What happens if you fail a stage of the IFP or the EPA, including any resit.
- The outcome of the Scottish Police College assurance for Scottish officers.
Common mistakes
- Quoting 17 weeks. That is GOV.UK's out of date figure. The CNC says 19.
- Thinking the course is non-residential. It is residential, with accommodation and food provided.
- Assuming you need firearms experience. Many recruits have never used a firearm.
- Assuming Scottish officers get the apprenticeship. They follow the same programme without it.
- Treating the IFP as the end of training. In England the apprenticeship runs to the end of the two-year probation.
- Expecting a pay rise after the IFP. Pay stays at £32,256 until probation ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Civil Nuclear Constabulary training?
The Initial Foundation Programme (IFP) is 19 weeks and residential. GOV.UK's Working for CNC page still says 17 weeks, but the CNC's own careers pages and its February 2026 apprenticeship overview say 19. After the IFP, new recruits in England spend about 20 more months building a portfolio as part of a Level 4 apprenticeship, ending in an End Point Assessment.
Is CNC training residential?
Yes. The CNC says all accommodation, travel, food and refreshments are provided during the course. It also pays for eight return journeys in hire cars. The first week is a corporate induction in Oxfordshire, then you move to a delivery centre.
Where is CNC training held?
The February 2026 apprenticeship overview says training runs across delivery centres in Oxfordshire, Surrey (firearms only), Cumbria and Caithness. The CNC's application process page gives an older list of Oxfordshire, Surrey or Cumbria. The CNC does not publish which centre a recruit is sent to, except that it runs at least one local course a year in Caithness for Dounreay recruits.
Do CNC recruits get paid during training?
Yes. The CNC pays your full starting salary from day one of training with no reductions. In 2026/27 that is £32,256, which stays the same for the two-year probation.
What is the CNC End Point Assessment?
The final stage of the Level 4 Non-Home Office Police Officer Apprenticeship for CNC officers in England. It is run by Skills for Justice and has three parts: a practical scenario, a 50-question multiple choice exam and a 75-minute professional discussion. Exercise Synergy, a mock assessment, comes two months before it.
What is the CNC End Point Assessment pass rate?
As of 30 January 2026 the CNC said 100% of apprentices who had taken their End Point Assessment had passed on the first attempt. That was 17 people, with 16 more awaiting results and 156 still in progress. Separately, the CNPA's 2025/26 accounts report an IFP pass rate of over 80%.
Do CNC officers in Scotland do the apprenticeship?
No. Officers based in Scotland follow the same programme, but the CNC says government rules on funding devolution mean they cannot officially do the apprenticeship. The CNC is seeking curriculum assurance from the Scottish Police College.
Do I need firearms experience to join the CNC?
No. The CNC says many of its new recruits have never used a firearm before. Firearms training to the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum is part of the 19-week course. You must qualify with each of the CNC's weapons.
How long is CNC training for transferees?
Either 4 weeks or 19 weeks, residential, depending on your firearms qualifications. Officers who are currently AFO or ARV trained do a condensed 4-week programme. Transferees serve a six-month probation.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 23 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- CNC careers: Police officers : 19-week residential IFP; induction in Oxfordshire; delivery centres; Policing Skills and Firearms content; qualify with each weapon; pay from day one; eight return journeys; behaviour reviewed constantly; recruits who have never used a firearm; apprenticeship; Scotland (accessed 23 October 2026)
- An overview of apprenticeships in the CNC (PDF, February 2026; status as of 30 January 2026) : four stages; Portfolio of Evidence 20 months; Exercise Synergy; EPA by Skills for Justice with scenario, 50-question exam and 75-minute discussion; Scotland position; results; functional skills; accommodation, travel and food provided; delivery centres (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC careers: Applying for a role : fingerprints in the first week; older list of training centres; MSFT 7.6 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Working for CNC : older 17-week figure (accessed 23 October 2026)
- GOV.UK news, 9 February 2026: CNC marks National Apprenticeship Week : IFP 109 started 2 February 2026; IFP 107 passed out (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNPA Annual Report and Accounts 2025/26 : IFP pass rate over 80%; Ofsted inspection; firearms training units; Taser 10 procured (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC advert 688: Police Constable AFO Dounreay 2026 : at least one local course a year in Caithness (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC advert 735: Police Constable AFO Garlogie 2026 : two-year probation; pay after probation (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC careers: Police officer transferees : 4-week or 19-week course; six-month probation; firearms qualification rules (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC advert 737: Police Constable AFO Garlogie Transferee 2026 : condensed 4-week programme for AFO/ARV trained officers (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC advert 778: National Firearms Instructor, FTU North : SLP and G36c named; 80% average applies to instructors (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC FOI 2025/065: firearms training (July 2025) : three firearms training units (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC careers: Griffin Park : FTU North, opened 2021, indoor live-fire tactical centre (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC careers: Bisley : FTU South (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Energy Act 2004, section 56 : where CNC constables have police powers (accessed 23 October 2026)
- CNC Policing Professional Role Profile, PC AFO (PDF) : annual health and fitness standards (accessed 23 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the Ministry of Defence Police, the Ministry of Defence, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, the Defence Police Federation, the Civil Nuclear Police Federation, the College of Policing or any other force. It does not recruit, vet or assess applicants. Every fact here comes from the force's own pages, GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk or the other sources listed, read on the date shown. Each force sets and changes its own process and pay: check its current pages and your own invitation before relying on anything here. Our practice questions are original PolicePay material, not questions used by either force. Details are as checked on 23 October 2026.