Every Way To
Join The Police
The four routes for new constables, the detective pathways, the routes back for former and serving officers, and the roles that are not constable posts at all: special constable, PCSO, police staff and cadets. Which fits you, what each needs and who is recruiting.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 1 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
In England and Wales new constables join through one of four routes: the PCDA (three-year degree apprenticeship), the PCEP (two years, no degree), the DHEP (two years, for graduates) or the professional policing degree holder route. Forces can run detective versions, and each force decides which routes are open. Former officers can rejoin, serving officers can transfer, and volunteers can become special constables.
The four routes for new constables
Since 1 April 2024, when Home Office Circular 002/2024 introduced the police constable entry programme and closed the old IPLDP, every new constable in England and Wales joins through one of four routes set by the College of Policing. The College's April 2026 guide describes them as different ways to complete the same initial training: you receive the same core training, and you are a police constable earning a salary from the day you join, whichever route you take.
| Route | For | Qualification to join | Length and probation | You finish with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCDA (police constable degree apprenticeship) | No degree; want one | Level 3 (such as two A levels) or equivalent experience | 3 years; 3-year probation | Degree in professional policing practice |
| PCEP (police constable entry programme) | No degree; do not want one | Level 3 or equivalent experience | 2 years; 2-year probation | No degree; optional level 5 qualification if the force adds one |
| DHEP (degree holder entry programme) | Graduates in any subject | Level 6 degree other than professional policing | 2 years; 2-year probation | Graduate diploma in professional policing practice |
| Professional policing degree holder | People who studied the licensed policing degree | Degree in professional policing (self-funded, via UCAS) | Force programme; 2-year probation | Constable; forces can shorten learning already covered |
Every route is paid at the same rate: £32,255 at constable pay point 1 from 1 September 2026, with London and some South East forces adding allowances. The free police salary calculator shows take-home pay by force.
Which route fits you
| If you... | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| have no degree and want one | PCDA | Paid as a constable while the force funds a degree |
| have no degree and do not want to study for one | PCEP | Two years, learning mainly on the job |
| have a degree in any subject | DHEP, or detective DHEP | Annex BA points degree holders to DHEP |
| have the licensed professional policing degree | Professional policing degree holder route | Your degree already covers much of the curriculum |
| want to investigate from the start | Detective DHEP or detective PCEP | Forces typically offer both pathways |
| have no level 3 but serve as a special or PCSO | PCDA or PCEP | Annex BA lets the chief officer accept that service instead |
| were an officer and left after probation | Rejoiner route | Regulation 10B; no five-year limit since 2019 |
| are serving in another force | Transfer | Excluded from 10B; you move while serving |
| want policing without leaving your job | Special constable | Volunteer with full powers |
| are 13 to 18 | Volunteer Police Cadets | A youth group, not a recruitment route |
Two things override this table. First, the force you apply to decides which routes it runs and when, so the right route on paper may not be open where you want to work. Second, local criteria such as a driving licence or a Welsh language expectation sit on top of the national rules. Read the force's eligibility page in full.
The eligibility reality check covers the national criteria, and the vetting impact checker helps you think through debts, cautions and associations before you apply.
What every route has in common: the selection stages
Since 17 March 2026 the selection stages for new constables are written into regulation 10(1)(eb) of the Police Regulations 2003 (inserted by SI 2026/154): every candidate for appointment as a constable, other than a transferee, must complete the national application form, pass the national sift and the online assessment process, and pass an in-person interview with the force that meets the national standard, to the College of Policing's standard and timescales.
| Stage | What it is | Legal or national basis |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | 17 to apply, 18 to be appointed; UK or EEA national or indefinite leave to remain; qualification for the route | Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10 |
| National application form | The College of Policing's national form, through the force | Regulation 10(1)(eb), from 17 March 2026 |
| National sift | Situational judgement test and behavioural styles questionnaire | Regulation 10(1)(eb) |
| Online assessment process | Competency-based interview, written exercise and briefing exercise | Regulation 10(1)(eb) |
| In-person force interview | An interview with the force meeting the national standard | Regulation 10(1)(eb) |
| Pre-employment checks | Fitness test, medical, eyesight, drugs test, vetting; no automatic disqualification | Regulation 10(1)(d), (e), (i), (ha), (hb) |
| Appointment | Attested and paid as a constable from day one | College of Policing |
Our guide to the assessment process by entry route covers the stages in detail. Free tools for each stage: the OAC readiness check, mock interview, fitness pass predictor and vetting stage checker.
Which forces are recruiting, route by route
On 1 October 2026 the national joining the police website said 27 of the 43 forces in England and Wales were recruiting constables. By route:
| Route | Forces listed as recruiting on 1 October 2026 | More |
|---|---|---|
| PCDA: Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship | 15 | See the forces |
| PCEP: Police Constable Entry Programme | 19 | See the forces |
| DHEP: Degree Holder Entry Programme | 9 | See the forces |
| PPD holder: Professional policing degree holder route | 10 | See the forces |
| Detective entry: Detective entry (degree holder or force detective programme) | 10 | See the forces |
| Rejoiner: Rejoiner route for former officers | 16 | See the forces |
Forces open and close routes often, so treat any list as a starting point and confirm on the live national list or the force's own site. Our police jobs hub shows every force with its routes, pay and official link.
For scale: the Home Office recorded 8,872 full-time equivalent officers joining the 43 forces in 2025/26, excluding transfers, of whom 272 were rejoiners and 150 had been special constables. It does not publish a split by PCDA, PCEP or DHEP.
Detective entry
Detective entry is not a fifth route but a specialist pathway on the existing ones. The College of Policing's 2026 guide says forces typically offer a detective degree holder entry programme (for graduates) and a detective police constable entry programme (usually no degree required), both with a two-year probation and further learning after the programme.
To qualify as a detective you work towards PIP 2 accreditation, which requires a pass in the National Investigators' Exam and a workplace portfolio. Only those signed off at PIP 2 can use the title substantive detective, under the College's PIP policy. See detective entry explained and PIP1 vs PIP2.
Already in policing: specials, PCSOs and staff
Annex BA gives people already working or volunteering in policing a way round the level 3 requirement for the PCDA and PCEP: the chief officer can accept service as a special constable, as a PCSO, or in police employment that prepares you for the role, for a period the chief officer specifies.
- Special constables are volunteer officers with the same powers as regulars. Recruitment uses a national sift and an in-force interview. There were 5,196 special constables at 31 March 2026. See special constable explained.
- PCSOs are paid, non-warranted officers; eligibility is set by each force, and some forces train them through a level 4 programme. See how to become a PCSO and PCSO to police officer.
- Police staff roles (call handling, custody, investigation, analysis) are recruited separately and paid on force grading. See the police staff hub and civilian investigator.
Former and serving officers: rejoining and transferring
Rejoiners. If you completed constable probation and resigned or retired, regulation 10B treats you as a rejoiner. There has been no five-year time limit since February 2019; the chief officer decides your rank, and Annex C sets a probation of 6 or 12 months. See rejoining the police.
Transferees. Serving officers move between forces by transfer, which regulation 10B excludes from the rejoiner rules. Annex C means you do not serve a new probation if you completed it in your old force. See how to transfer between police forces.
Direct entry at inspector and superintendent
The Police Regulations also provide for direct entry inspector and direct entry superintendent programmes, with their own assessment centre (regulation 10(1)(j)) and probation of 24 months for inspectors and 18 months for superintendents (Annex C paragraph 4B). We did not confirm which forces are running intakes in 2026. See direct entry inspector and direct entry superintendent.
Under 17: Volunteer Police Cadets
The College of Policing points 13 to 18 year olds to the Volunteer Police Cadets. The national VPC site describes it as a uniformed youth group for 8 to 18 year olds, including Mini Police (8 to 11) and Junior cadets (11 to 13) in forces that run them, with cadets aged 13 to 18 expected to volunteer an average of three hours a month.
It is open about its purpose, which it says is "not to recruit police officers of the future" but to encourage adventure and good citizenship. Being a cadet does not give you a place on an entry route; you can apply from 17 like anyone else.
What people get wrong about entry routes
- "You need a degree to join the police." Not since April 2024, and not on the PCDA either: you need level 3 or equivalent experience.
- "Graduates get paid more." All routes start on the same constable scale.
- "There is a national intake." Each force opens its own routes on its own timetable.
- "Rejoiners must come back within five years." That rule went in February 2019.
- "Cadets are fast-tracked into the police." The VPC says recruitment is not its purpose.
- "Detective entry skips the constable role." You are a warranted constable on a detective pathway.
What we could not verify
- How many people join through each route. The Home Office does not split joiners by PCDA, PCEP, DHEP or degree holder route.
- Which forces run each route at all, as opposed to which were recruiting on one day. The national site lists current recruitment only.
- Direct entry inspector and superintendent intakes in 2026. We did not confirm current intakes.
- Local criteria. Driving licence, residency period and Welsh language expectations differ by force.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the routes into the police in 2026?
For new constables in England and Wales there are four: the police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA), the police constable entry programme (PCEP), the degree holder entry programme (DHEP) and the professional policing degree holder route. Forces can run detective versions. Former officers can rejoin, serving officers can transfer, and volunteers can join as special constables.
Can you join the police without a degree?
Yes. The PCDA and PCEP are for people without a degree. Home Office Annex BA lets the chief officer accept a level 3 qualification such as two A levels, or equivalent training or experience, including service as a special constable, PCSO or in police employment. The PCDA gives you a degree at the end; the PCEP does not unless the force adds a level 5 qualification.
Which police entry route is the quickest?
The PCEP and DHEP both run for two years with a two-year probation; the PCDA runs for three. The College of Policing expects full operational competence around two years in on every route. How long recruitment takes before you start varies by force and by how quickly vetting clears.
Do all police entry routes pay the same?
Yes. On every route you are a constable paid from day one on the national scale: £32,255 at pay point 1 from 1 September 2026, plus any London or South East allowance the force pays. Some forces start new constables at pay point 2.
Can I choose my entry route?
Within limits. Your qualifications decide which routes you are eligible for, and the force decides which routes it runs and when. Annex BA does not stop a graduate applying for the PCDA or PCEP, but the College of Policing directs degree holders to DHEP and forces may do the same.
What is the minimum age to join the police?
You can apply at 17 and must be 18 before you are appointed (regulation 10 of the Police Regulations 2003). The regulation sets no upper age limit.
Is there a direct entry route to become a detective?
Yes, as a specialist pathway. The College of Policing says forces typically offer a detective degree holder entry programme and, in some forces, a detective police constable entry programme that usually needs no degree. You are a constable first and must pass the National Investigators' Exam on the way to PIP 2 accreditation.
How many police forces are recruiting?
On 1 October 2026 the national joining the police website said 27 of the 43 forces in England and Wales were recruiting constables through at least one route. Each force opens and closes routes separately.
Does being a special constable help you become a police officer?
It can count towards eligibility: Annex BA lets a chief officer accept special constable service, for a period they specify, in place of a level 3 qualification for the PCDA and PCEP. The Home Office recorded 150 officers joining in 2025/26 who had previously been special constables.
Are police cadets a route into the police?
Not formally. The Volunteer Police Cadets is a uniformed youth group for 8 to 18 year olds (including Mini Police and Junior cadets where forces run them). Its national site says its purpose is not to recruit future police officers, though cadets can apply to join at 17 like anyone else.
Can I rejoin the police after leaving?
Yes, if you completed constable probation and resigned or retired. Since February 2019 there has been no five-year limit; the chief officer decides your rank, and probation is 6 or 12 months under Annex C.
Do the same routes apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No. This page covers the 43 forces of England and Wales. Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland recruit under their own rules and training.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 1 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.
- College of Policing: joining the police (routes, PCSO, specials, volunteers, rejoiners) — forces decide which routes they offer; links to cadets and rejoiner guidance (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: joining the police as a new police constable — the four constable routes; salary from day one; same core training (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: police constable entry routes (updated 5 November 2024) — route lengths, funding, qualifications and probation (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Becoming a police constable, guide to joining (April 2026, PDF) — level 5 option for PCEP; detective pathways; milestones; entry requirements table (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 002/2024 and Annex BA (amendments) — PCEP introduced and IPLDP closed from 1 April 2024; qualifications by route (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10 (latest version) — eligibility; national selection stages from 17 March 2026 (SI 2026/154); automatic disqualification from 13 July 2026 (SI 2026/653) (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10B — rejoiners (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 009/2024: Annex C (probation) — 2 and 3-year probation; rejoiner probation; direct entry inspector 24 months and superintendent 18 months (accessed 1 October 2026)
- joiningthepolice.co.uk: which forces are recruiting (read 1 October 2026) — count of forces recruiting and lists by route (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Home Office: Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2026 — joiners, rejoiners, former special constables, special constable numbers (accessed 1 October 2026)
- Volunteer Police Cadets: about us and be a cadet — ages 8 to 18; purpose not to recruit future officers; 3 hours a month on average for 13 to 18 year olds (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: joining as a special constable — national sift and in-force interview; same powers as regular officers (accessed 1 October 2026)
- College of Policing: joining as a PCSO — eligibility set by each force; level 4 PCSO learning programmes (accessed 1 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the College of Policing, the Home Office or any police force, and it does not recruit, vet or assess applicants. Recruitment standards, assessment formats and vetting decisions are set by the College of Policing and each force and change from time to time: check the force you are applying to before relying on anything here. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 1 October 2026.