Police Pay

PIP1 vs PIP2: The Real Difference

A clear breakdown of the College of Policing's investigator accreditation levels and who actually holds each one.

Last reviewed 21 October 2026

The Short Answer

PIP1 is the College of Policing's investigator level for priority and volume crime; new constables build it into their entry route. PIP2 is the level for serious and complex investigations: it needs a pass in the National Investigators' Exam plus a workplace portfolio and it is what lets someone use the title substantive detective. Both apply to officers and police staff.

Why PIP exists

The College of Policing's Professionalising Investigation Programme is a national framework that defines investigator levels by the type and seriousness of the investigations they handle. The College describes its profiles as applying to officers and staff.

Because the profiles apply to officers and staff, PIP2 is not restricted to detectives, although each force decides who it trains and to what level.

All Four PIP Levels

Level Scope Typically held by
PIP1 Volume and priority investigations Investigators handling volume and priority crime; some staff investigators
PIP2 Serious and complex investigations Detective constables; some police staff investigators trained to this level
PIP3 Senior investigating officer (SIO) role Senior investigators; ranks vary by force
PIP4 Strategic investigator level Senior investigators in strategic roles

Source: College of Policing investigation professional profiles (PIP levels). Who holds each level varies by force.

What Actually Separates Them

PIP1
  • •Volume and priority investigations
  • •Accreditation is maintained by recording evidence of recent experience of different types of volume and priority investigation
PIP2
  • •Serious and complex investigations
  • •Requires the National Investigators' Exam and PIP2 registration through learning, development and a portfolio
  • •Builds on PIP1

Which offences fall at each level is a matter of seriousness and complexity as judged by the force, so we don't list offence types.

PIP2 isn't a detective-only accreditation

It's easy to assume PIP levels map directly onto warranted officer ranks: PIP1 for uniform, PIP2 for CID. But the College's PIP 2 investigator profile applies to officers and staff and some forces train non-warranted police staff (civilian or "designated" investigators) to PIP2. Derbyshire Constabulary, for example, says its detective staff investigators are trained to PIP2, the same level as a detective constable.

A civilian investigator with PIP2 can be accredited to the same level as a detective constable, but cannot arrest or stop and search, because those powers can't be designated to police staff (Police Reform Act 2002, Schedule 3B).

How accreditation actually happens

Training for both levels is delivered by forces and other policing organisations against the College's national standards. PIP2 is a step up: the College's career pathway asks you to demonstrate competence at PIP1 first, except that someone on a new-constable entry route may sit the National Investigators' Exam before finishing PIP1.

For PIP2, the College says you must pass the National Investigators' Exam and then obtain PIP2 registration by undertaking PIP2 learning, development and portfolio submission that evidences competence against the assessment criteria. Maintaining registration needs continued competence and evidence of CPD.

From PIP1 to PIP2: The Steps

Step What happens Timing (College PIP policy 2023)
1. PIP1 Entry route portfolio, or the standalone PIP1 programme, plus a work-based assessment Standalone: within 6 to 12 months of the classroom element; extensions up to 3 years at force discretion
2. Selection Force selects you for the PIP2 pathway (constable to detective constable, a detective entry route, or a staff investigator role) Force policy
3. NIE Pass the National Investigators' Exam: law and procedure for a trainee investigator Pass valid for 3 years; resit at the next sitting subject to force policy
4. PIP2 programme Classroom element, then a tutor and monthly reviews with your supervisor Expected within 6 to 12 months of the NIE pass
5. Portfolio and sign-off Workplace assessment against the PIP2 criteria; signed off as an accredited PIP2 investigator Must finish within the NIE validity period
6. Keep it Annual CPD; otherwise registered as PIP inactive Every year

Source: College of Policing, Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) programme policy 2023. Forces apply it locally.

What's new in 2026

On 6 May 2026 the College of Policing launched PIP 1 supervisors as a national learning programme for sergeants and equivalent police staff who oversee investigations, after a pilot in 28 forces. It responds to inspectorate findings that investigation supervision needed better training. The PIP levels themselves are unchanged.

The College lists four National Investigators' Exam sittings in 2026. The last is on 17 November and registration for it closed on 21 October, so look for the 2027 dates on our NIE exam dates page.

Preparing for it? Our National Investigators' Exam guide covers the pass mark, the syllabus and every 2026 date and you can try a free NIE mini mock.

Already a serving constable? Our guide to becoming a detective as a serving officer covers force selection, the PIP2 programme and the portfolio.

Want to investigate from day one?

Forces run detective versions of the constable entry routes, which lead towards PIP2. Compare them in every police entry route compared and the DHEP guide, see which forces list detective entry, then practise the force interview with the free mock interview.

FAQ

What is PIP in the police?
PIP stands for the Professionalising Investigation Programme, the College of Policing's accreditation framework for investigators. It has four levels, PIP1 to PIP4: PIP1 covers volume and priority investigations, PIP2 serious and complex crime, PIP3 senior investigating officers and PIP4 strategic investigators.
What is the difference between PIP1 and PIP2?
PIP1 covers volume and priority investigations, the higher-volume, generally less complex offences. PIP2 covers serious and complex investigations and requires the National Investigators' Exam plus PIP2 learning, development and portfolio submission, building on PIP1. Detective constables work at PIP2 and some forces train police staff investigators to PIP2 too.
Do you need to be a detective to hold PIP2?
No. The College of Policing's PIP 2 investigator profile applies to officers and staff and some forces train non-warranted police staff to PIP2. Derbyshire Constabulary, for example, says its detective staff investigators are trained to PIP2, the same level as a detective constable.
What is PIP3 and PIP4?
The College of Policing links PIP3 to the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) role and PIP4 to strategic investigators. Which ranks hold them varies by force and role.
How do you become PIP2 accredited?
According to the College of Policing, you must pass the National Investigators' Exam (NIE) and obtain PIP2 registration by undertaking PIP2 investigator learning, development and portfolio submission that evidences competence against the assessment criteria. It builds on PIP1. It is not a single test day.
Is PIP accreditation permanent once achieved?
No. The College of Policing's PIP policy requires annual CPD to keep accreditation; an investigator who does not complete it is registered as 'PIP inactive' in that role. It is not a one-off lifetime qualification.
What does PIP stand for in the police?
The Professionalising Investigation Programme. It began in the mid-2000s, developed by the Association of Chief Police Officers with the Home Office and the College of Policing has run it since the College was set up in 2012. It sets national standards for investigators at four levels: PIP 1 priority and volume crime, PIP 2 serious and complex investigations, PIP 3 major crime or serious and organised crime and PIP 4 strategic management of highly complex investigations.
How long is a National Investigators' Exam pass valid?
Three years, under the College of Policing's PIP programme policy (2023). The College expects most people to complete the PIP 2 programme within six to twelve months of passing; the three-year validity allows for delays and extensions are possible for maternity, sickness or other equality reasons but not for operational reasons.
When is the next National Investigators' Exam?
The College of Policing lists four 2026 sittings: 4 March, 2 June, 8 September and 17 November. Registration for the 17 November 2026 sitting closed at 6pm on 21 October 2026, so the next chance is a 2027 sitting: the College publishes the dates on its exam page. Your force normally manages registration.
Do new police officers get PIP1?
PIP 1 competence is built into the constable entry routes: the College's PIP policy says that where PIP 1 is done as part of an initial entry route, the operational competence portfolio includes PIP 1. Those outside an entry route can take a standalone PIP 1 programme and are expected to finish within six to twelve months of the classroom element.
When can you call yourself a detective?
Under the College of Policing's PIP policy, only those who have completed the PIP 2 portfolio and been signed off as an accredited PIP 2 investigator can use the title of substantive detective, or the police staff equivalent. Trainees on a detective pathway are trainee investigators until then.

Related Guides

Civilian Investigator Explained • Civilian Investigator Pay UK • Direct Entry Detective

PolicePay is independent and not affiliated with the College of Policing or any police force. Last reviewed 21 October 2026. Based on the College of Policing's PIP programme policy 2023, its PIP 2 investigator profile and related PIP pages, its national investigators' exam page (2026 dates) and its 6 May 2026 announcement of PIP 1 supervisors and Derbyshire Constabulary's detective staff investigator careers page.