Police Scotland
Medical and Drug Test
What happens at the Police Scotland recruitment medical with Optima Health, the six checks it makes, the full eyesight standard, what is and is not published about BMI and hearing and how the hair-sample substance misuse test works.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 22 October 2026 · Scotland unless stated
A final-stage check with Police Scotland's healthcare provider, Optima Health. You fill in a confidential health questionnaire and attend an examination that checks hearing, eyesight, urine, blood pressure, height and weight and breathing efficiency. The eyesight standard is set nationally in Annex 1. Separately, you give a hair sample for a substance misuse test, with alternatives for cultural, religious or medical reasons. Random substance testing may happen at any stage.
The Police Scotland medical in short
Police Scotland checks two things about your health and body at the end of the process: whether you are fit for operational duty (the medical) and whether you use controlled substances (the substance misuse test). Both are final-stage checks, alongside employer references and full vetting.
- Provider: Optima Health, Police Scotland's healthcare provider.
- Format: a confidential health questionnaire, then an examination.
- Six checks: hearing, eyesight, urine, blood pressure, height and weight and breathing efficiency.
- Eyesight: the national standard in Annex 1, set under the 2013 Regulations.
- BMI: checked, but the officer pages give no range.
- Substance test: a hair sample, with alternatives for cultural, religious or medical reasons.
Nothing on this page is medical advice. If you have a health condition, the decision rests with Police Scotland's healthcare provider, so speak to your own doctor and the recruitment team.
Where the medical sits in the process
Police Scotland's adjustments page says fitness is checked at the beginning of the selection process and the medical at the end. The full order:
- Eligibility assessment and main application form.
- Police Scotland Entrance Test (49 questions in 60 minutes).
- Fitness assessment: the 15-metre bleep test to level 5.4.
- Assessment day: group task, situational judgement exercise and, if you pass the morning, a 20-minute interview.
- Final stages: medical, substance misuse test, employer references and full vetting.
- Formal offer and 18 weeks of initial training.
Because the medical comes last, an eyesight or health issue found there arrives after months of preparation. The eyesight standard is published, so you can check it with an optician before you apply.
Optima Health, Police Scotland's healthcare provider
Police Scotland's candidate portal says the medical is an appointment with "our healthcare provider" and its adjustments page names that provider as Optima Health. The purpose is to confirm you meet the standard required of an operational police officer.
Police Scotland does not publish where the medical appointments take place, how long they last or how far ahead you are invited. Your invitation in your candidate account will tell you.
The confidential health questionnaire
Before the examination you complete a confidential health questionnaire. Police Scotland does not publish the questions. Some practical points:
- Answer fully and honestly. If a condition is found, Police Scotland may ask your GP or specialist for more information, so the questionnaire is not the only source.
- Have dates ready: diagnoses, operations, medication and treatment.
- Keep letters from specialists for any condition you expect to be asked about.
- Many conditions are not a bar. Police Scotland says it can accept candidates with many common health conditions and assesses each person individually.
The examination: the six checks
Police Scotland's portal lists six things the examination checks. It does not publish pass thresholds for most of them on its recruitment pages.
| Check | What Police Scotland says | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing | Listed among the examination checks | The numeric hearing standard is not published on the recruitment pages. If you have a hearing condition, ask the recruitment team or raise it on the eligibility form. |
| Eyesight | The medical "includes an eyesight test"; the standard is set by Annex 1 | Bring glasses or contact lenses if you wear them. The full standard is in the table below. |
| Urine | Listed among the examination checks | A routine sample. Police Scotland does not publish what it is tested for at the medical. The separate substance misuse test uses hair. |
| Blood pressure | Listed among the examination checks | No threshold is published on the recruitment pages. |
| Height and weight | Listed among the examination checks; the medical "includes... BMI check" | There is no minimum height. Height and weight give your BMI. |
| Breathing efficiency | Listed among the examination checks | A breathing test. No standard is published on the recruitment pages. |
The eyesight standard in full
The eyesight standard is a determination by the Scottish Ministers under regulation 6 of the Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013, published by Police Scotland as Annex 1. It is the one part of the medical with a full published standard:
| Measure | Standard in Annex 1 |
|---|---|
| Distance vision, corrected (with glasses or lenses) | 6/12 or better in either eye and 6/6 or better with both eyes together |
| Near vision, corrected | 6/9 or better with both eyes together |
| Distance vision, uncorrected (without glasses or lenses) | 6/36 or better with both eyes together |
| Low contrast | 6/12 or better for a 10% contrast target |
| Visual field | At least 120 degrees horizontally by 100 degrees vertically |
| Colour vision | Monochromats are rejected. Other colour vision deficiencies are acceptable; severe anomalous trichromats and dichromats are instructed in coping strategies |
| Glasses and contact lenses | Acceptable |
| PRK, LASIK, LASEK, ICRS and cataract surgery | Acceptable after at least 6 weeks |
| RK, AK and corneal grafts | Rejected |
How to read the figures
A figure like 6/12 compares what you can read at 6 metres with what a person with typical vision can read at 12 metres. The lower the second number, the sharper the vision: 6/6 is sharper than 6/12 while 6/36 is much less sharp. So the standard asks for fairly sharp vision with glasses or lenses plus a basic level without them.
Eye surgery and the 6-week rule
PRK, LASIK, LASEK, ICRS and cataract surgery are acceptable after at least 6 weeks. If you plan surgery, allow at least 6 weeks before you could be assessed. RK, AK and corneal grafts are reasons for rejection.
An optician can test you against these figures. Take the Annex 1 PDF with you so they know which measures to check, including low contrast and visual field, which a standard sight test may not cover.
BMI and height
Police Scotland's officer pages say the medical "includes an eyesight test and BMI check". They do not give a BMI range for new officers. Police Scotland's rejoiner page does give one: it says your Body Mass Index should be between 18 and 30.
The fair way to read that: Police Scotland checks BMI at the medical. The only range it publishes is on the rejoiner page. We do not state 18 to 30 as the rule for new officers because Police Scotland's new-officer pages do not say it. If your BMI is close to 18 or 30, ask the recruitment team which range applies to you.
| Point | What is published |
|---|---|
| BMI check at the medical | Yes, for new officers (selection process page) |
| BMI range for new officers | Not published on the officer pages |
| BMI range for rejoiners | Between 18 and 30 (rejoiner page) |
| BMI for transferees | Checked at the medical (transferee page lists eyesight and BMI) |
| Minimum height | None published |
BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. For example, someone 1.75 metres tall weighing 80 kilograms has a BMI of 80 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) = 80 ÷ 3.0625 = about 26.1. BMI does not distinguish muscle from fat, so a very muscular person can show a high BMI. Police Scotland does not publish how it treats that case.
Weights at the edges of the rejoiner range
For reference only, here is what a BMI of 18 and of 30 means in kilograms at common heights. The 18 to 30 range is the one published on Police Scotland's rejoiner page, not a published rule for new officers. Weights are rounded to one decimal place.
| Height | Weight at BMI 18 | Weight at BMI 30 |
|---|---|---|
| 1.55 m | 43.2 kg | 72.1 kg |
| 1.60 m | 46.1 kg | 76.8 kg |
| 1.65 m | 49.0 kg | 81.7 kg |
| 1.70 m | 52.0 kg | 86.7 kg |
| 1.75 m | 55.1 kg | 91.9 kg |
| 1.80 m | 58.3 kg | 97.2 kg |
| 1.85 m | 61.6 kg | 102.7 kg |
| 1.90 m | 65.0 kg | 108.3 kg |
| 1.95 m | 68.4 kg | 114.1 kg |
Worked examples: 1.60 m and 50 kg gives 50 ÷ 2.56 = 19.5. 1.70 m and 85 kg gives 85 ÷ 2.89 = 29.4. 1.80 m and 100 kg gives 100 ÷ 3.24 = 30.9, just above 30. 1.65 m and 48 kg gives 48 ÷ 2.7225 = 17.6, just below 18. If you are in either of the last two positions, ask the recruitment team before you reach the medical.
DVLA group 2 medical standards
Police Scotland's eligibility list asks you to hold a manual driving licence and to meet the DVLA's group 2 medical driving licence standards, so you can drive police vehicles in different conditions. Group 2 is the medical standard the DVLA applies to drivers of larger vehicles and it is stricter than the standard for a car licence.
Police Scotland does not publish how it checks group 2 standards or whether this is assessed at the Optima Health medical. If you have a condition that the DVLA treats differently for group 2 drivers, check the DVLA's own guidance and ask the recruitment team. Our driving licence and penalty points guide covers the licence rules.
Health conditions: what the published pages say
Police Scotland does not publish a list of conditions that mean rejection at the medical. What it does say is that it can accept candidates with many common health conditions, that it assesses each person individually and that it may ask your GP or specialist for more information if a condition is found.
| Situation | What the published pages say | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| I wear glasses | Glasses and contact lenses are acceptable | Check you meet the corrected and uncorrected standards. An optician can test you against the Annex 1 figures. |
| I had laser eye surgery | PRK, LASIK and LASEK are acceptable after at least 6 weeks | Keep your surgery date and surgeon's records. |
| I had radial keratotomy | RK is a reason for rejection in Annex 1 | Read the annex and ask the recruitment team before applying. |
| I am colour blind | Only monochromats are rejected | Find out which type of colour vision deficiency you have. |
| I have a long-term condition | Police Scotland may ask your GP or specialist for more information and assesses each person individually | Answer the questionnaire fully and have your records ready. |
| I have dyslexia, ADHD or autism | Reasonable adjustments are available; neurodivergent conditions are named | Raise them on the eligibility form, before the main application. |
| I am tall or short | No minimum height is published; height and weight are measured for BMI | No action needed for height alone. |
| My BMI is high | BMI is checked; the officer pages give no range | See the BMI section below and ask the recruitment team. |
Our general guide to joining the police with a medical condition explains how police medicals approach health conditions. It is written for England and Wales: for Police Scotland, the decision rests with its own healthcare provider.
The hair-sample substance misuse test
The substance misuse test is a separate final-stage check. Police Scotland's portal says a hair sample is taken for analysis and that alternative testing is available for cultural, religious or medical reasons.
| Point | What Police Scotland says |
|---|---|
| When | A final-stage check, alongside the medical, references and vetting |
| Sample | A hair sample |
| Alternatives | Alternative testing is available for cultural, religious or medical reasons |
| Random testing | "Random substance misuse testing may be undertaken at any stage" |
| Transferees and rejoiners | Both routes list a substance misuse test |
| Rejection list | Drink or drug driving, including failing to provide a specimen, is an automatic rejection |
If you cannot give a hair sample
If your religion, culture or a medical reason means a hair sample is not suitable, say so. Police Scotland says alternative testing is available. It does not publish what the alternative is. Raise it early, ideally when you are invited to the final stages, so the right test can be arranged.
What the test looks for
Police Scotland does not publish which substances the hair test screens for or what period it covers. We do not repeat figures from other sources because they are not confirmed for Police Scotland.
Random testing at any stage
Police Scotland says: "Random substance misuse testing may be undertaken at any stage." So the final-stage hair test is not the only possible test. Treat substance misuse testing as something that can happen throughout recruitment and, once you join, as part of the job.
Separately, drink or drug driving (including failing to provide a specimen) is on Police Scotland's list of offences that mean automatic rejection.
How to prepare for the medical
Our suggested preparation, built from what Police Scotland says the medical checks. It is general information, not medical advice.
- Check your eyes early against the Annex 1 table with an optician, including low contrast and visual field.
- Work out your BMI and, if it is near 18 or 30, ask the recruitment team which range applies to new officers.
- Gather your medical history: diagnoses, operations, medication and dates.
- Get letters from specialists for any ongoing condition.
- Bring your glasses or lenses to the examination.
- Raise any need for an alternative to the hair test before the appointment.
- Keep training. You may be asked to retest your fitness before an offer if more than 6 months pass after your fitness test.
Reasonable adjustments
Police Scotland makes reasonable adjustments to its selection process for candidates whose circumstances would otherwise disadvantage them, including disabilities and neurodivergent conditions such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism and ADHD. You raise this on the eligibility form, before the main application, with as much detail as possible about the support you need at each stage.
Police Scotland says you do not have to disclose a disability. The health questionnaire at the medical does ask about your health directly, so answer it fully.
What the law requires
Regulation 6(1)(c) requires every candidate for appointment as a constable to be certified by a registered medical practitioner approved by the Scottish Police Authority as fit, physically and mentally, to perform the duties of the post. The eyesight standard is set by the Scottish Ministers under the same regulation.
The medical is how Police Scotland meets that legal requirement. Because the law asks about mental as well as physical fitness, the questionnaire covers both.
An eyesight self-check before you apply
Take this list to an optician and ask them to test each measure. Fill in your own result in the middle column. This is a preparation aid, not an assessment: only Police Scotland's provider decides.
| Measure | Your result | Annex 1 standard |
|---|---|---|
| Corrected distance, right eye | 6/12 or better in either eye | |
| Corrected distance, left eye | 6/12 or better in either eye | |
| Corrected distance, both eyes | 6/6 or better | |
| Corrected near, both eyes | 6/9 or better | |
| Uncorrected distance, both eyes | 6/36 or better | |
| Low contrast (10% target) | 6/12 or better | |
| Visual field | At least 120 degrees horizontally by 100 degrees vertically | |
| Colour vision type | Monochromats rejected; others acceptable | |
| Eye surgery and date | PRK, LASIK, LASEK, ICRS and cataract surgery at least 6 weeks ago; not RK, AK or corneal graft |
The medical and the six-month fitness rule
The medical is at the end and the fitness test is near the start. Police Scotland says the fitness test must have been completed within 6 months of being given a start date. If more than 6 months has passed, you sit another fitness test before any formal offer. It may also ask for an extra fitness test at any point.
So while you wait for the medical, references and vetting, keep your fitness above level 5.4. Our fitness test guide explains the standard.
Medical myths and what is published
| Common claim | What Police Scotland publishes |
|---|---|
| You need perfect eyesight | No. Glasses and contact lenses are acceptable and uncorrected vision only needs to reach 6/36 with both eyes. |
| Laser eye surgery rules you out | No. PRK, LASIK and LASEK are acceptable after at least 6 weeks. RK, AK and corneal grafts are rejected. |
| Any colour blindness rules you out | No. Only monochromats are rejected. |
| There is a minimum height | No minimum height is published. |
| The BMI limit is definitely 18 to 30 for everyone | That range is published on the rejoiner page only. The officer pages say BMI is checked without giving a range. |
| The drug test is a urine test | The substance misuse test uses a hair sample. Urine is one of the six medical examination checks. |
| Testing only happens once | Random substance misuse testing may be undertaken at any stage. |
How the medical links to your application
The medical is separate from the application form, but a few parts of the form connect to it. This is our reading of Police Scotland's published application example and adjustments page:
| Where | What you tell Police Scotland | Link to the medical |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility assessment: reasonable adjustments | Any support you need at each stage, with as much detail as possible | Requests are reviewed before the main form; adjustments can cover later stages |
| Eligibility list: driving licence | That you hold a manual licence | You must also meet DVLA group 2 medical driving standards |
| Eligibility list: eyesight | That you meet the national eyesight standard | Tested at the medical against Annex 1 |
| Confidential health questionnaire (final stage) | Your health history | The basis of the medical; Police Scotland may ask your GP or specialist for more |
| Substance misuse test (final stage) | Any cultural, religious or medical reason a hair sample is not suitable | Alternative testing is available |
More health situations, answered from the published pages
| Situation | What the published pages say | Our suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| I wear contact lenses only | Contact lenses are acceptable | Check your uncorrected vision still reaches 6/36 with both eyes |
| I had cataract surgery | Acceptable after at least 6 weeks | Have the surgery date ready |
| I had ICRS (corneal ring segments) | Acceptable after at least 6 weeks | Have the surgery date and records ready |
| I had astigmatic keratotomy (AK) | A reason for rejection in Annex 1 | Read the annex and ask before applying |
| My visual field is narrow | At least 120 degrees horizontally by 100 degrees vertically is required | Ask an optician for a visual field test |
| I am a severe anomalous trichromat | Acceptable, with instruction in coping strategies | Find out your exact colour vision type |
| I wear hearing aids | Hearing is checked; no standard is published | Ask the recruitment team before applying |
| I have high blood pressure | Blood pressure is checked; no threshold is published | Speak to your GP and ask the recruitment team |
| I have asthma | Breathing efficiency is checked; no standard is published | Have your treatment history ready and ask |
| I wear my hair very short or shave my head | Alternative testing is available for cultural, religious or medical reasons | Ask whether your situation qualifies for an alternative test |
Prepare this now
- Book an eye test and take the Annex 1 standard with you.
- Work out your BMI from your height and weight.
- List every diagnosis, operation and medication with dates.
- Ask your specialist for a recent letter about any ongoing condition.
- Check the DVLA's group 2 medical guidance for any condition you have.
- Decide whether you need reasonable adjustments and put them on the eligibility form.
- If a hair sample is not suitable for you, note the reason so you can raise it.
- Keep training: you may need another fitness test if the final stages run long.
Questions to ask the recruitment team
- "What BMI range do you use for new officers?"
- "What hearing standard do you use? Are hearing aids acceptable?"
- "I have a condition that the DVLA treats differently for group 2. How do you assess it?"
- "What is the alternative to a hair sample and how do I ask for it?"
- "If I am found unfit at the medical, is there a review or second opinion?"
Keep a note of each answer, who gave it and the date.
On the day of the medical
Police Scotland does not publish a checklist for the medical appointment. Our suggestions, based on the six checks it lists:
| Bring or do | Why |
|---|---|
| Your glasses or contact lenses | Corrected vision is tested against Annex 1 |
| Your completed health questionnaire, if asked to bring it | It is the basis of the examination |
| A list of medication and dates of any treatment | So your answers are accurate |
| Specialist letters for any ongoing condition | Police Scotland may otherwise ask your GP or specialist for more information |
| Comfortable clothing | Height, weight, blood pressure and breathing are measured |
| Your appointment details from your candidate account | Police Scotland does not publish venues |
| Any agreed reasonable adjustments | So the right support is in place |
How this compares with England and Wales
- A named provider. Police Scotland names Optima Health. England and Wales forces each use their own occupational health providers.
- Hair sample at the final stage. Police Scotland uses a hair sample, with alternatives for cultural, religious or medical reasons.
- Different legal basis. The Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013 rather than the Police Regulations 2003.
Our fingerprints, DNA and drug test guide covers England and Wales. For the full comparison, see Police Scotland vs England and Wales recruitment.
What we could not verify
Police Scotland's published pages do not state the following, so we have not given figures for them:
- The numeric hearing standard.
- The BMI range for new officers (only the rejoiner page gives 18 to 30).
- Blood pressure, breathing or urine thresholds.
- Where medical appointments take place and how long they last.
- Which substances the hair test screens for and the period it covers.
- What the alternative to a hair sample is.
- How DVLA group 2 standards are checked.
- Whether there is an appeal or second opinion if you are found unfit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who carries out the Police Scotland medical?
Police Scotland's healthcare provider. Its candidate portal names the provider as Optima Health. You complete a confidential health questionnaire and attend an examination.
What does the Police Scotland medical check?
Police Scotland's portal lists six checks at the examination: hearing, eyesight, urine, blood pressure, height and weight and breathing efficiency. Its selection process page says the medical includes an eyesight test and BMI check.
When is the medical in the Police Scotland process?
At the end. It is one of four final-stage checks, with the hair-sample substance misuse test, employer references and full vetting, after the assessment day.
What BMI do you need for Police Scotland?
Police Scotland's officer pages say the medical includes a BMI check but do not give a range. Its rejoiner page says your BMI should be between 18 and 30. That range is only published for rejoiners, so ask the recruitment team if your BMI is near either end.
Is there a minimum height for Police Scotland?
No. No minimum height is published. Height and weight are measured at the medical to work out your BMI.
What eyesight do you need for Police Scotland?
Corrected distance vision of 6/12 or better in either eye and 6/6 or better with both eyes, corrected near vision of 6/9 or better, uncorrected vision of 6/36 or better with both eyes, low contrast 6/12 for a 10% target and a visual field of at least 120 by 100 degrees. Glasses and contact lenses are acceptable.
Can I join Police Scotland after laser eye surgery?
Yes, if at least 6 weeks have passed. The eyesight annex lists PRK, LASIK, LASEK, ICRS and cataract surgery as acceptable after at least 6 weeks. Radial keratotomy, astigmatic keratotomy and corneal grafts are reasons for rejection.
Can I join Police Scotland if I am colour blind?
Usually. The annex rejects only monochromats. Other colour vision deficiencies are acceptable, with severe anomalous trichromats and dichromats instructed in coping strategies.
What is the Police Scotland drug test?
A substance misuse test using a hair sample, taken at the final stage. Alternative testing is available for cultural, religious or medical reasons. Police Scotland also says random substance misuse testing may be undertaken at any stage.
What hearing standard does Police Scotland use?
Hearing is checked at the medical, but Police Scotland's recruitment pages do not publish a numeric hearing standard. Ask the recruitment team if you have a hearing condition.
Why does Police Scotland mention DVLA group 2?
Police Scotland's eligibility list asks you to meet the DVLA's group 2 medical driving licence standards so you can drive police vehicles. Group 2 is the medical standard used for larger vehicles.
Can Police Scotland contact my GP?
If a condition is found, Police Scotland may ask your GP or specialist for more information. It says it can accept candidates with many common health conditions and assesses each person individually.
When should I raise a health condition with Police Scotland?
If you need reasonable adjustments, raise them on the eligibility form, before the main application, as Police Scotland asks. Health conditions themselves are covered by the confidential questionnaire at the final-stage medical. If you are worried a condition could rule you out, ask the recruitment team early rather than waiting for the medical.
Can I fail the medical for a mental health history?
Police Scotland does not publish a list of conditions that mean rejection at the medical. It assesses each person individually. The regulations require you to be certified as fit, physically and mentally, to perform the duties of the post.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 22 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 Scotland candidate portal: Police officer selection process : final-stage medical with Police Scotland's healthcare provider, including an eyesight test and BMI check; substance misuse test; medical at the end (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland candidate portal: Police officer reasonable adjustments and support : Optima Health named; confidential health questionnaire; examination checks hearing, eyesight, urine, blood pressure, height and weight and breathing efficiency; hair sample and alternatives; random testing; adjustments (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Annex 1, eyesight standards for police recruitment (PDF) : the national eyesight standard: acuity, contrast, visual field, colour vision, glasses, lenses and eye surgery (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Apply to become a police officer : eligibility: physically fit, DVLA group 2 medical driving standards, national eyesight standard (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Rejoiners : BMI between 18 and 30 (rejoiner page only) (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Transferees : transferees: medical (eyesight and BMI) and substance misuse test (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Offences that mean you'll be rejected : drink or drug driving, including failing to provide a specimen, is automatic rejection (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Service of Scotland Regulations 2013, regulation 6 (qualifications for appointment) : regulation 6(1)(c): certified by an approved registered medical practitioner as fit, physically and mentally; eyesight standard set by the Scottish Ministers (accessed 22 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
More for applicants and Scottish officers
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority or the College of Policing. It does not recruit, test or assess applicants. Our practice questions are original PolicePay material, not official Police Scotland questions. Police Scotland sets and changes its own selection process, so check its recruitment pages and your candidate account before relying on anything here. Details are as checked on 22 October 2026.