Police Now
Eligibility Rules
Every Police Now eligibility rule in one place, re-read on Police Now's own eligibility page, FAQs, vetting guidance and Counter Terrorism pages on 19 October 2026. For each rule we say what catches people out, where Police Now's own pages disagree and what to do if you do not meet it.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 19 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Graduates with a First, 2:1 or 2:2 in any subject (or expecting one by the start date), plus two A levels or equivalent, who are over 17, have lived in the UK for three continuous years and have indefinite leave to remain or settled status. Professional Policing in Practice degrees and anyone who has attested and served as a police officer are excluded. Licence, GCSE, Welsh and pre-settled rules depend on the force.
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Our Police Now eligibility checker asks about your degree, qualifications, age, residence, status, licence, previous service, record, finances and specialism, then shows each rule as "Meets", "Check with Police Now" or "Does not meet", with the Police Now page behind it. Nothing you enter is stored or sent.
Open the eligibility checkerWe read Police Now's eligibility page, its FAQs on academic qualifications, pre-settled status, driving licences and Welsh, its help hub, its vetting page, its Counter Terrorism page and job description and its September 2023 PDF guides on convictions, medical, eyesight and fitness, all on 19 October 2026. Police Now's eligibility page repeats its criteria in more than one version and they do not always match; where they differ we say so. Police Now decides who is eligible and forces add their own rules, so the job description for your force is the authority.
Police Now eligibility rules at a glance
"Firm rule" means Police Now states it as a requirement. "Depends on force" means the answer changes with the force you apply for. "Judged case by case" means Police Now says it may, rather than will, rule you out.
| Rule | What Police Now asks for | How firm |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | A First, 2:1 or 2:2 in any subject, from a UK university or a non-UK equivalent, held or expected by the programme start date | Firm rule |
| Policing degree | Not eligible with a degree in Professional Policing in Practice | Firm rule |
| Level 3 | Qualifications equal to at least two A levels, any subject (or an international equivalent) | Firm rule |
| Level 2 | GCSE (A to C or 9 to 4) in specific subjects, for some forces only | Depends on force |
| Age | Over 17 to apply; 18 by appointment | Firm rule |
| Residency | Three years' continuous UK residence, with exceptions decided case by case | Firm rule, with exceptions |
| Nationality | Any, with indefinite leave to remain and the right to work, or settled status | Firm rule |
| Pre-settled status | Accepted by some forces only | Depends on force |
| Driving licence | None for the Met; others want one at application or by an offer date | Depends on force |
| Welsh | A set level for Dyfed-Powys and North Wales, after appointment or by final offer | Depends on force |
| Previous service | Former regular officers who attested and served cannot apply; specials, PCSOs, cadets and staff can | Firm rule |
| Fitness | 15m bleep test to level 5.4 after a conditional offer | Check after offer |
| Medical, eyesight, BMI | Home Office standards; BMI 18 to 30 | Check after offer |
| Tattoos and piercings | Declare tattoos; offensive ones not accepted; facial or unsafe piercings out | Judged case by case |
| Finances | Unpaid county court judgment, bankruptcy in the last three years or a current IVA may rule you out | Judged case by case |
| Record | Declare everything; a prison sentence of any kind or sex offender registration means rejection | Automatic bars plus case by case |
| Drugs | Current illegal drug use is an automatic bar; drugs test, DNA and fingerprints | Firm rule |
| Politics and business | No active political role; no proscribed group membership; declare business interests | Firm rule plus declaration |
Some of these, such as fitness, medical and vetting, are checked only after a conditional offer, but they are where offers are lost, so it pays to know them before you apply.
Degree class and timing
Police Now asks for a First, 2:1 or 2:2 undergraduate degree in any subject. Its help hub repeats the 2:2 minimum and says final-year students and career changers who are not recent graduates are welcome. You do not need the degree when you apply: you need it by the programme start date.
- What catches people out: applying in final year on an expected 2:2 that turns into a third. The degree rule is about the result you hold at the start date, not the one you expected.
- Any subject means any subject: criminology, law, sport, arts and sciences all count. Only the policing degree exclusion below narrows it.
- Part-time and distance learning: the Counter Terrorism job description says all education, including part-time or distance learning, must be finished by the March 2027 start. Expect the same timing for the next window.
- Ordinary and unclassified degrees: Police Now's list is First, 2:1 or 2:2, so an ordinary or pass degree is outside it. If your degree is classified differently, ask before applying.
- Postgraduate degrees: Police Now's pages ask for an undergraduate degree class. They do not say whether a master's degree makes up for a lower first degree, so ask.
Police Now's academic qualifications FAQ still refers to a March 2026 programme start. The rule itself matches the eligibility page; just read "start date" as the start date of the window you are applying for (the next is March 2028).
Professional policing degrees
Police Now's eligibility page says you cannot apply with a degree in Professional Policing in Practice and gives the reason that its programme is an alternative entry route into policing. That is the degree officers earn on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), so in practice anyone holding it has usually already served.
The page does not mention the pre-join BSc Professional Policing, the three-year degree people take before applying to a force. Police Now's wording is specific, but its stated reason could cover the pre-join degree too and many summaries (including our own earlier ones) describe the exclusion more broadly as covering all professional policing degrees. If you hold or are studying the pre-join degree, ask Police Now in writing before you apply. Forces also run a route designed for that degree: see our pre-join degree guide.
Non-UK degrees
Police Now accepts an equivalent degree from a non-UK university and an international equivalent for the level 3 requirement if you studied outside the UK. It does not say how it judges equivalence, or how it maps a foreign grading system to a First, 2:1 or 2:2.
For comparison, the national rules for the force-run DHEP (Home Office Circular 002/2024, Annex BA) accept an overseas qualification that UK ENIC, the UK's national recognition centre, considers equivalent to a UK level 6 degree. Police Now's pages do not mention UK ENIC. A UK ENIC statement of comparability is a reasonable piece of evidence to have ready, but ask Police Now what it wants before paying for one and ask how it treats your grade.
Remember the residency rule (three continuous years in the UK) applies separately. A UK graduate who studied abroad for a year can be allowed case by case; someone who arrived recently with an overseas degree may not yet meet residency.
Level 3: two A levels or equivalent
This is the rule most applicants miss. As well as the degree, Police Now asks for UK level 3 qualifications equivalent to at least two A levels, in any subject, or an international equivalent if you studied outside the UK. It appears on the eligibility page, in the academic qualifications FAQ and in the March 2027 job descriptions, so it was current when we checked on 19 October 2026.
- Most graduates meet it without thinking: two A levels, a level 3 BTEC, an Access to HE diploma, the International Baccalaureate and Scottish Highers are all generally treated as level 3 or equivalent.
- The people it can catch: graduates who entered university through a foundation year, as mature students on experience, or with overseas school qualifications. Police Now does not say whether a degree alone stands in for level 3, so ask.
- Keep your certificates in case you are asked for evidence during pre-employment checks.
GCSE English and maths (level 2)
Police Now's eligibility page says that, depending on the force, you may need level 2 qualifications (GCSE A to C or 9 to 4) in specific subjects. Its academic qualifications FAQ says only three forces ask for GCSE English and maths: Avon and Somerset, Humberside and Merseyside.
That FAQ also refers to a past start date and the forces with roles change each window, so read the job description for your force when the window opens. If you lack one of the two, functional skills at level 2 is a level 2 qualification, but whether your force accepts it as equivalent is the force's decision.
Age
Police Now's eligibility page says you must be over 17 when you apply and 18 by the time you are appointed. Its more detailed section mentions only the minimum age at application; the job descriptions repeat both. No upper age limit is stated and the help hub welcomes career changers.
In practice, a 17-year-old with a degree is rare, so age matters most for older applicants. Nationally, police regulations set no upper age limit either, though the job is physically demanding and the fitness test applies at any age. See our police age limit guide for the national picture.
UK residency: three years and the exceptions
You must have lived in the UK continuously for at least the past three years. Police Now's convictions and vetting guide explains why: vetting needs a checkable history and if you have been abroad for a significant time, insufficient vetting may be possible. It counts the UK as including Northern Ireland but not the Republic of Ireland.
| Situation | How Police Now treats it |
|---|---|
| Abroad serving in the UK armed forces or for the UK government | Exception, decided on the circumstances of the posting |
| Abroad with a family member who was serving or working for the UK government | Exception, decided on the circumstances |
| Study abroad | Can be allowed, case by case |
| An extended holiday or other time abroad of under a year | Can be allowed, case by case |
| Longer periods abroad for other reasons | May lead to rejection |
| Counter Terrorism | Longer: see the Counter Terrorism section |
What catches people out: a gap year or a year working abroad that ended less than three years ago and periods abroad you have forgotten to list. Vetting asks for a five-year address history, so gather dates and addresses before you apply. Our guide to overseas travel and residency vetting explains what forces check.
Nationality, settled and pre-settled status
Police Now accepts applicants of any nationality who have indefinite leave to remain and can work in the UK, or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. British citizens meet this automatically. Commonwealth and other nationals must prove they have no restrictions on their stay.
- Pre-settled status: Police Now's eligibility page and vetting page now say this depends on the force. Its FAQ names three partner forces that accept it: Avon and Somerset, Northamptonshire and Suffolk. Other partner forces need settled status, indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship.
- Time-limited visas: skilled worker, student, graduate or family visas do not give indefinite leave, so they do not meet the rule.
- Irish citizens: Police Now does not mention them specifically. Irish citizens can live and work in the UK without permission, so they should meet the unrestricted right to work; ask if in doubt.
- Counter Terrorism: stricter: see below.
When we first read Police Now's pages, one said pre-settled status was not accepted while an FAQ said three forces accepted it. On 19 October 2026 the eligibility page, vetting page and FAQ all said it depends on the force. The three forces named are not necessarily recruiting in the next window.
The national rules are slightly different: regulation 10 of the Police Regulations 2003 accepts British and EEA nationals (including Irish citizens) and anyone else with indefinite leave. In practice an EEA national now also needs settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to have the right to live and work here. Our nationality and residency guide covers them in detail.
Driving licence
Police Now's eligibility page says that, depending on the force, you may need a full UK manual licence and that if you do not yet have one, your practical test must be booked when you apply. Its driving licence FAQ, written for the March 2027 roles, gave these examples:
| Force | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan Police | No licence required |
| Northamptonshire Police | Full UK manual licence by final offer (February 2027) |
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary | Full UK manual or automatic licence at application |
| Other forces (not named in the FAQ text) | Variants including a full manual licence at application, by conditional offer, or by final offer reviewed case by case |
Police Now says each force's requirement is published when applications reopen. If your preferred force needs a licence and you do not have one, book the practical test before you apply. An automatic-only licence may not be enough for some forces. More on the national picture in do you need a driving licence to join the police?
Welsh language
Welsh requirements apply only if you join a force in Wales. Police Now's FAQ gives two:
- Dyfed-Powys Police: reach Welsh level 1 within six months of appointment.
- North Wales Police: reach level 2 by the final offer stage.
Police Now says forces provide training and support to reach the level. North Wales had Neighbourhood and Detective roles in the March 2027 window, so if you are aiming for it, start learning early: level 2 by final offer may leave only a few months.
Previous police service: who can and cannot apply
Police Now's rule is short: you cannot apply if you have previously attested and served as a police officer. Current or former cadets, special constables, PCSOs and police staff from any force can apply.
| Your background | Can you apply? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Special constable, current or former | Yes | Specials take the oath too, but Police Now names them as eligible |
| PCSO, current or former | Yes | |
| Police staff, current or former | Yes | Including staff investigators and call handlers |
| Police cadet, current or former | Yes | |
| Former regular officer who attested and served | No | The national rejoiner route is the alternative |
| Serving regular officer | No | Police Now's eligibility page points serving officers to a separate Frontline Leadership Programme page |
| Attested as a regular but left during initial training | Unclear | Police Now does not say; ask before applying |
What catches people out: specials worry that their attestation counts against them. It does not: Police Now names specials as eligible. Former officers sometimes assume a long gap resets things; it does not. If you served as a regular, look at rejoining the police instead.
Fitness, eyesight, BMI and medical
These are checked after a conditional offer, by your force's occupational health team, against the Home Office medical standards for entry into policing. Police Now's eligibility page links to a 2026 version of those standards (uploaded May 2026) as well as its own September 2023 guides, which are summarised here.
| Check | Standard | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fitness | 15m bleep test (Job-Related Fitness Test) to level 5.4, that is four shuttles at level 5. A retake after six weeks; forces allow up to three attempts before the conditional offer is withdrawn | Fitness guide, 2023 |
| BMI | 18 to 30. The 2023 medical guide gives 32 for the Met and says body fat can also be measured | Help hub; medical guide, 2023 |
| Distance vision | 6/12 or better in either eye and 6/6 with both, with or without glasses or contact lenses | Eyesight guide, 2023 |
| Near vision | 6/9 with both eyes, with or without correction | Eyesight guide, 2023 |
| Colour vision | Monochromats not accepted; mild anomalous trichromats acceptable; colour-correcting lenses not acceptable | Eyesight guide, 2023 |
| Eye surgery | LASIK, LASEK, PRK, ICRS and cataract surgery acceptable after six weeks; radial or arcuate keratotomy and corneal grafts not | Eyesight guide, 2023 |
| Hearing | A set threshold; hearing aids and deafness in one ear considered with an audiologist review | Medical guide, 2023 |
| Blood pressure | Stage 1 hypertension or higher needs a GP report on control before the fitness test | Medical guide, 2023 |
Police Now's 2023 medical guide says no one is rejected because of a medical label and that the Equality Act 2010 applies, with reasonable adjustments for disability. Each candidate is assessed individually; many common conditions are acceptable with evidence they are controlled. Bring medical records or a GP note if you have a current health problem.
What catches people out: BMI above 30 at the medical and starting bleep test training too late. Police Now says if losing weight would take a long time, the application may be rejected on medical grounds. For training, see how to pass the police bleep test and for conditions, joining with a medical condition.
Free training plan first: the bleep test training plan. For the medical, see the police medical explained.
Tattoos and piercings
Police Now says tattoos and piercings are not a total bar. You must declare any tattoo when you apply. Its page gives two versions of the rule:
- Short version: no potentially offensive tattoos on the hands, neck, forearms or face.
- Detailed version: tattoos that could offend the public or colleagues, or are lewd, garish or provocative, are not accepted, judged on size, nature and location. Examples it gives include weapons, violence, well-known criminals, death imagery including skulls, extremist symbols, nudity and anything mocking a religion or belief.
- Piercings: facial piercings and any that create a health and safety risk, must be taken out.
If you have a visible tattoo you are unsure about, take a clear photo and ask before investing time in the application. More on force policies in our tattoos and appearance guide.
Try one out loud. Answer a practice question free and get a scored result in about a minute. No account. Practise in the free police mock interview
Finances: debt, CCJs, bankruptcy and IVAs
Police Now says you must not be under pressure from unmanageable debt. Manageable debt, such as a mortgage, student loan or credit cards you keep up with, is not a barrier. The reason is vetting: serious money problems can make an officer vulnerable to pressure or corruption.
| Situation | What Police Now says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| County court judgment not paid off | May make you ineligible | Satisfy it before you apply and keep proof |
| Bankruptcy in the last three years | May make you ineligible | Ask Police Now; have discharge papers ready |
| Current individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) | May make you ineligible | The vetting page advises being up to date with payments, with documents |
| Paid-off judgment, completed IVA, older bankruptcy | Not in the list of things that may rule you out | Declare it; vetting will see it on credit checks |
| Student loan, mortgage, credit cards in order | Not a barrier | Nothing to do |
Note the wording: Police Now says these may make you ineligible, not that they will. A new judgment, bankruptcy or IVA during the process is a change of circumstances you must report. See can I join the police with debt?
Criminal record, cautions and vetting
You must declare everything: all convictions (including spent and traffic convictions), formal cautions including those as a juvenile, reprimands, warnings, penalty notices, bind-overs, certain civil orders, previous and outstanding charges or summonses, military disciplinary matters and any interaction with the police in your lifetime. Parking fines are excluded. Police Now's 2023 guide lists spent convictions among the things to declare, because the usual Rehabilitation of Offenders Act protection does not apply to police officer posts.
| Record | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Any offence that led to a prison sentence: custodial, suspended or deferred, or a young offenders' institution or community home | Automatic rejection |
| On the sex offenders' register, or subject to a registration requirement | Automatic rejection |
| On the police barred list | Automatic rejection |
| Death by careless or dangerous driving | Automatic rejection |
| Recent or multiple dangerous, drink or drug driving offences | Automatic rejection |
| Current illegal drug use | Automatic disqualification |
| Failing to declare something found later | Automatic failure |
Everything else is judged on the nature and number of offences, your age at the time, how long ago it was and the risk to Police Now and the force. Minor motoring fixed penalties should not be a barrier unless you are a persistent offender. An outstanding charge puts the application on hold until the outcome is known.
Vetting also looks at your family, partner, co-residents and close associates and at public social media. A relative's record is weighed on how close the relationship is and whether it creates pressure or a conflict. Vetting starts only after you accept a conditional offer and usually takes one to three months. If clearance is refused you can appeal under the College of Policing's Vetting Code of Practice.
Our guides to joining with a caution, joining with a criminal record and family and vetting go into more detail.
Politics and business interests
- Party membership: ordinary membership of political parties is allowed.
- Active politics: standing for election, or planning an active political role while serving, is not allowed, because officers must be impartial.
- Proscribed groups: current or past membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation rules you out.
- Business interests: declare any other job or business you plan to keep, so the force can check for conflicts of interest.
- Licensed premises: a financial interest in certain liquor, betting, gaming, refreshment or entertainment licences, held by you, your spouse or a relative living with you, may make you ineligible.
If you run a side business or freelance, list it. Undeclared information found later means automatic failure at vetting, so declaring is always the safer course.
Applying to Police Now and a force at the same time
Police Now's help hub says you can apply to its programme while also applying directly to a force through another route. If you get offers from both, you choose one. Its selection is separate from the national process, so a National Sift result does not carry over and a Police Now result does not carry over to a force.
Two practical points. First, vetting and medicals happen for each offer you pursue, so be consistent in every declaration. Second, the help hub says deferral requests after accepting an offer are considered, not guaranteed and suggests applying in a later window if you need a different start date.
Where Police Now's own pages disagree
Police Now's eligibility page repeats its criteria in more than one version and some FAQs and PDF guides are older than the current page. These are the differences we found on 19 October 2026. Where they matter to you, ask Police Now which applies.
| Topic | One page says | Another says |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Over 17 to apply and 18 by appointment (eligibility page, first version; job descriptions) | Over 17 at application, with no mention of 18 (eligibility page, detailed version) |
| Tattoos | No potentially offensive tattoos on the hands, neck, forearms or face | Offensive tattoos judged on size, nature and location, with a list of examples |
| Programme start | The academic qualifications FAQ refers to a March 2026 start | The programme page and other FAQs refer to March 2028 |
| BMI | 18 to 30 (help hub) | Below 18 or above 30 may not be accepted, or 32 for the Met; body fat can be measured (2023 medical guide) |
| Finances | A current IVA may make you ineligible (eligibility page) | Keep IVA payments up to date with documents before applying (vetting page) |
| Counter Terrorism | UK nationality and ten years' residence (job description) | Five years for West Midlands, ten for the Met, with indefinite leave or settled status (Counter Terrorism page) |
| Medical standards | A 2026 Home Office medical standards document is linked | A 2023 version is also linked, alongside 2023 Police Now guides |
What to gather before the window opens
Police Now says applying takes about 30 to 45 minutes and asks for no CV or essays, but the checks that follow an offer need paperwork. Having it ready shortens the wait and avoids mistakes in your declarations.
- Degree evidence: your certificate or transcript, or for final-year students, confirmation of your expected completion date. For a non-UK degree, anything showing its UK equivalence.
- Level 3 and level 2 evidence: A level, BTEC, Access or international certificates and GCSE English and maths results if your force asks for them.
- Identity and right to work: passport, or your share code and status details if you have settled or pre-settled status.
- Address history: every address for the last five years with dates, plus time abroad (Police Now's vetting page asks for a five-year history).
- Family and co-residents: names, dates of birth and addresses for close family, your partner and anyone you live with.
- Records: dates and details of any caution, conviction, penalty notice or police contact, so your declaration is complete.
- Finances: proof that any county court judgment is satisfied, IVA or bankruptcy papers and a recent look at your own credit file.
- Driving: your licence, or a booked practical test date, if your force needs one.
- Health: records or a GP letter for any current condition and recent eye test results if you wear glasses or have had eye surgery.
Our address history and vetting delays guide explains why dates matter so much.
Police Now rules vs national police entry rules vs DHEP
The national column is the England and Wales position for any constable route, from the Police Regulations 2003 and the Home Office qualification list, as checked in our DHEP guide and entry requirements guide. Forces can add their own rules on top.
| Police Now | National rules (PCDA, PCEP, DHEP) | Force DHEP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | First, 2:1 or 2:2, any subject except Professional Policing in Practice | Not needed for PCDA or PCEP; a level 6 degree for DHEP | A level 6 degree in any subject other than a policing degree; no class set nationally |
| Level 3 | Two A levels or equivalent, as well as the degree | Level 3 or equivalent experience for PCDA and PCEP | Not listed separately; the degree is the qualification |
| Age | Over 17 to apply, 18 by appointment | 17 to apply, 18 to be appointed (regulation 10); no national upper limit | Same as national |
| Nationality | Any, with indefinite leave or settled status; pre-settled depends on force | British, Irish or a right to live and work in the UK without restriction (for EEA nationals now, settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme) | Same as national |
| Residency | Three years, exceptions case by case; ten for Counter Terrorism (five for West Midlands) | Normally three years for vetting | Same as national |
| Former officers | Cannot apply if you attested and served | Can rejoin under regulation 10B | A force decides; rejoiners usually use the rejoiner route |
| Licence | Force by force | No national rule; force by force | Force by force |
| Selection | Police Now's application, immersive assessment and virtual assessment centre | National Sift, online assessment centre and force interview | Same as national |
| Fitness and medical | 15m bleep test to 5.4; Home Office medical standards | Same standards | Same standards |
The two differences that decide most cases: Police Now's 2:2 class requirement (DHEP sets none nationally) and Police Now's bar on former officers (the national rules let them rejoin). On nationality, EEA nationals now need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme: since free movement ended, an EEA national without either has no right to live and work in the UK (GOV.UK). Police Now accepts pre-settled status only in the forces its FAQ names.
Counter Terrorism: the extra rules
The Counter Terrorism specialism has stricter nationality, residency and vetting rules because of the intelligence officers handle. Police Now's pages state them in different ways:
| Rule | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | UK national; dual nationals with a British nationality considered in approved circumstances | Job description (March 2027 roles) |
| Nationality, second version | Indefinite leave to remain or settled status (bullet list); British citizen (helpful links section) | Counter Terrorism page |
| Residency | The past ten years in the UK, with some exemptions | Job description |
| Residency by force | At least five years for West Midlands Police, ten for the Met | Counter Terrorism page |
| Vetting | Recruitment vetting and counter terrorism checks before you start; management and Developed Vetting during the academy | Counter Terrorism page and vetting page |
| Everything else | The same degree, level 3, age, record and health rules as every specialism | Job description |
The job description asks for UK nationality and ten years' residence. The Counter Terrorism page's bullet list says five years for West Midlands Police and ten for the Met, with indefinite leave or settled status, while the same page's links section says ten years and British citizenship. If you are not British, or have between five and ten years' UK residence, ask Police Now which rule applies to the force you want before applying.
Developed Vetting is the highest level of UK security clearance and looks in depth at your history, finances, relationships and overseas connections. If you might not clear it, the Detective and Economic Crime specialisms follow the same academy structure with ordinary residence rules: see the Police Now detective programme guide and vetting levels explained.
If you do not meet a rule
Missing one Police Now rule does not mean you cannot become a police officer. The usual alternatives:
| Rule you miss | Alternative | Why it may work |
|---|---|---|
| Degree below a 2:2 | A force's DHEP | The national qualification list sets no degree class; check the force's criteria |
| No degree, or not finished by the start date | PCDA or PCEP, or apply to Police Now in a later window | PCDA and PCEP need level 3 or equivalent experience |
| Pre-join BSc Professional Policing | The pre-join degree route | Designed for that degree |
| Former regular officer | Rejoining | Regulation 10B lets former officers rejoin, at the chief officer's discretion |
| Under three years' UK residence | Reapply once you have three years | The same three-year norm applies to most forces |
| Pre-settled status | A force that accepts it, or wait for settled status | Police Now's FAQ named three forces |
| Counter Terrorism nationality or residence | Detective or Economic Crime specialism | Ordinary residence and nationality rules |
| Licence or Welsh | A force without the requirement, or learn and book the test now | These rules differ by force |
Compare the routes in DHEP explained, PCDA explained, PCEP explained and Police Now vs DHEP vs PCDA. Prison sentences and sex offender registration bar entry to every force, so there is no alternative route around those.
Reapplying to Police Now later: Police Now recruits in windows (the March 2027 entry has closed; March 2028 applications open early 2027). If you will meet a rule by a later start date, you can register interest and apply then. We did not find a published rule on how soon you can reapply after an unsuccessful application.
Questions to ask Police Now before you apply
- My degree is from outside the UK: what evidence of equivalence and class do you need?
- I hold (or am studying) the pre-join BSc Professional Policing. Am I eligible?
- I entered university without A levels. Does my degree meet the level 3 requirement?
- Which forces in this window accept pre-settled status?
- What is the driving licence, GCSE and Welsh requirement for my force and by when?
- I was abroad for part of the last three years. Will that period count?
- I have a caution, a judgment or an IVA. Can I discuss it before applying?
- For Counter Terrorism: which residence and nationality rule applies to my force?
- If I am unsuccessful, when can I apply again?
Ask in writing (Police Now's site has a contact page) so you have the answer on record.
Myths about Police Now eligibility
- "You need a 2:1." A 2:2 is the minimum.
- "You need a degree in a relevant subject." Any subject counts; a professional policing degree is the one that can count against you.
- "Specials cannot apply because they are attested." Police Now names specials as eligible.
- "Former officers can rejoin through Police Now." Anyone who attested and served as a regular officer cannot apply.
- "A degree is all you need." Police Now also asks for two A levels or equivalent and three years' UK residence.
- "Any debt rules you out." Manageable debt is fine; the issues are unpaid judgments, recent bankruptcy, current IVAs and unmanageable debt.
- "Any conviction rules you out." Only some are automatic bars; others are judged case by case, but all must be declared.
- "You need a licence to apply." Not for every force: the Met needs none.
- "Tattoos are banned." Only offensive ones; facial piercings must come out.
- "There is an age limit." Police Now states none beyond the minimum.
Recruitment window alerts
Get told when Police Now opens the March 2028 window
The March 2027 entry has closed. Police Now says applications for the March 2028 start open early next year and has not given a date. Leave your email and we will tell you when the window opens, with the forces and the closing date we can find. You can add up to two forces too. Occasional emails, written by hand. Unsubscribe any time.
What we could not verify
- Pre-join professional policing degrees. Police Now names only Professional Policing in Practice.
- How non-UK degrees are judged, including how a foreign grade maps to a 2:2 and whether UK ENIC evidence is required.
- Whether a degree alone satisfies the level 3 rule for people who entered university without A levels.
- Which forces in the next window accept pre-settled status or need GCSEs, a licence or Welsh. The FAQs name forces from earlier windows.
- The Counter Terrorism nationality and residence rule, on which Police Now's own pages disagree.
- The Frontline Leadership Programme for serving officers: the eligibility page links to it, but the page we reached did not describe it.
- The 2026 Home Office medical standards linked from the eligibility page; we used Police Now's 2023 guides for the figures above.
- How soon you can reapply after an unsuccessful Police Now application.
- Whether the BMI limit for the Met is still 32; the help hub gives 18 to 30 without a Met exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need for Police Now?
A First, 2:1 or 2:2 undergraduate degree in any subject, from a UK university or an equivalent from a non-UK university. You can apply before you graduate as long as you hold the degree by the programme start date. A third, an ordinary degree or a degree in Professional Policing in Practice is not accepted.
Can I apply to Police Now with a third class degree?
No. Police Now asks for a 2:2 or above. The national Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP), which forces run themselves, sets no classification in the Home Office qualification list, so a third may still get you onto a force's DHEP. Check the force's own criteria.
Can final-year students apply to Police Now?
Yes. Police Now accepts applications from people expecting their degree, provided they hold it by the programme start date. You must also reach a 2:2 or above, so apply on your expected result and tell Police Now straight away if it changes.
Do I need A levels for Police Now?
Yes, as well as the degree. Police Now's eligibility page, its academic qualifications FAQ and the March 2027 job descriptions all ask for UK level 3 qualifications equal to at least two A levels in any subject, or an international equivalent if you studied outside the UK. BTECs and Access to HE diplomas are also level 3 qualifications.
Can I join Police Now with a professional policing degree?
Police Now says you cannot apply with a degree in Professional Policing in Practice, because its programme is an alternative entry route. Its page does not name the pre-join BSc Professional Policing. If you hold that degree, ask Police Now before applying; forces also run a separate pre-join degree route designed for it.
Can I apply to Police Now with pre-settled status?
It depends on the force. Police Now's FAQ says only Avon and Somerset, Northamptonshire and Suffolk accept pre-settled status and other partner forces need settled status, indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship. Forces with roles change each window, so ask Police Now about the force you want.
How long do I need to have lived in the UK for Police Now?
At least three continuous years. Time abroad with the UK armed forces or UK government (including a family member's posting) and periods abroad of under a year such as study or an extended holiday, can be allowed case by case. Counter Terrorism roles need longer: ten years for the Met and Police Now's Counter Terrorism page gives five for West Midlands Police.
Do I need a driving licence for Police Now?
It depends on the force. Police Now's FAQ says the Metropolitan Police needs no licence, Northamptonshire wanted a full manual licence by final offer and Hampshire and Isle of Wight a full manual or automatic licence at application. Where a licence is needed and you do not hold one, your practical test must be booked when you apply.
Can special constables or PCSOs apply to Police Now?
Yes. Police Now says current or former special constables, PCSOs, cadets and police staff from any force can apply. Only people who have attested and served as police officers are barred and serving officers are pointed to a separate Police Now leadership programme.
Is there an upper age limit for Police Now?
Police Now does not state one. You must be over 17 when you apply and 18 by the time you are appointed. Its help hub says career changers who are not recent graduates are welcome.
Can I join Police Now with a caution or a criminal record?
Possibly. You must declare everything, including juvenile and spent records. A prison sentence of any kind (including suspended or deferred), sex offender registration, being on the police barred list, death by careless or dangerous driving and recent or multiple drink, drug or dangerous driving offences mean rejection. Other cautions and convictions are judged on their nature, number, your age at the time and how long ago they were.
Can I apply to Police Now and a police force at the same time?
Yes. Police Now's help hub says you can apply to its programme while applying directly to a force through another route. If you get offers from both, you choose which to take.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 19 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.
- Police Now: Eligibility : degree class and timing; Professional Policing in Practice exclusion; level 3 and level 2; age; residency and exceptions; nationality and pre-settled status; licence; previous service; fitness; medical; tattoos and piercings; finances; records; politics; business interests; drugs; link for serving officers (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now FAQ: What academic qualifications do I need? : First, 2:1 or 2:2; non-UK equivalent; expected degrees; two A levels; GCSE English and maths for Avon and Somerset, Humberside and Merseyside (the FAQ still refers to a March 2026 start) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now FAQ: Can I apply with pre-settled or settled status? : pre-settled accepted by Avon and Somerset, Northamptonshire and Suffolk only; other forces need settled status, ILR or British citizenship (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now FAQ: Do I need a driving licence? : Met none; Northamptonshire full manual by final offer; Hampshire and Isle of Wight manual or automatic at application; test booked at application (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now FAQ: Are there any Welsh language requirements? : Dyfed-Powys level 1 within six months of appointment; North Wales level 2 by final offer (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Help hub : applying to forces at the same time; career changers and final-year students; BMI 18 to 30; medical process; deferral requests; generative AI (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Vetting process : declarations; automatic rejections; who is checked; finances advice; vetting levels by specialism; one to three months; appeals (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Cautions, convictions and vetting (PDF, September 2023) : full declaration list; factors considered; prison sentence and sex offender rules; motoring; outstanding charges; relatives; residency exceptions; pre-settled status by force (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Medical and fitness information (PDF, September 2023) : medical assessment content; hearing; blood pressure; BMI 18 to 30, or 32 for the Met; body fat; no rejection because of a medical label (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Eyesight standards (PDF, September 2023) : distance, near, field and colour vision; eye surgery (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Fitness test expectations and training plan (PDF, September 2023) : 15m bleep test to 5.4; retake after six weeks; up to three attempts (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Home Office medical standards for entry into policing (PDF, uploaded May 2026) : the current medical standards document linked from the eligibility page (not read in full) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Counter Terrorism : five years' residence for West Midlands, ten for the Met; nationality wording; vetting stages (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now: Counter Terrorism job description (March 2027 roles) : UK nationality; dual nationals in approved circumstances; ten years' residence; level 3; Developed Vetting (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Now FAQ: When will applications next open? : March 2028 start; applications open early next year (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10 (legislation.gov.uk) : national age and nationality rules used in the comparison table (as checked in our DHEP and nationality guides) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10B (legislation.gov.uk) : former officers rejoining, used in the comparison table (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 002/2024: Annex BA : level 6 degree other than a policing degree for DHEP; UK ENIC for overseas degrees; no classification (accessed 19 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
More for graduate applicants
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Now, the College of Policing or any police force. It does not recruit or assess applicants. Police Now sets its own eligibility, selection and programme content and changes them between cohorts: check Police Now's own pages and your invitation before relying on anything here. Practice material on this page is original PolicePay material, not Police Now's. Details are as checked on 19 October 2026.