The short answer
To become a police officer in England and Wales, check you meet the entry requirements, pick a route (the degree apprenticeship, the entry programme, the degree holder programme or a pre-join degree), apply to a force, and pass the national application form, sift, online assessment and force interview, then medical, fitness and vetting. Most people need no degree to apply.
Not sure it is right for you financially? The free Should I Join the Police calculator compares a police career with your current job.
Step 1: check you meet the requirements
Regulation 10 of the Police Regulations 2003 sets the legal minimum for appointment. The headline points are below; the full list, including what each force can add, is in our police entry requirements guide.
- Age: apply from 17, appointed at 18 or over; no upper age limit in the regulations.
- Nationality: a UK or EEA national, or indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- Residency: normally three years' continuous UK residency before applying, so vetting checks are possible (College of Policing guidance).
- Qualifications: a qualification or experience your force accepts from the Home Office list, usually level 3 such as two A levels, or a degree for the degree holder route.
- Criminal record: no conduct that attracts automatic disqualification under regulation 10(2A), in force since 13 July 2026.
- Health, eyesight and fitness: certified fit by an approved doctor, the Home Office eyesight standard, and the 15m bleep test to level 5.4.
For a quick self-check, try the 60-second eligibility check.
Step 2: choose your entry route
Since 1 April 2024 (Home Office Circular 002/2024) constables join through one of four routes. Details from the College of Policing entry routes guidance:
Police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA)
Three years, paid as an officer from day one, funded mainly through the apprenticeship levy. You finish with a degree in professional policing practice. Entry is usually level 3. Level 2 English and maths are required for apprentices who start aged 16 to 18; for older apprentices it depends on the force (government apprenticeship guidance).
Police constable entry programme (PCEP)
Two years, delivered in force, available to forces since April 2024. The College's 2026 joining guide says forces have the option to accredit it with a level 5 professional policing qualification. Same level 3 or equivalent entry as the apprenticeship. See PCEP explained.
Degree holder entry programme (DHEP)
Two years, for graduates of any subject other than the policing degree. Fully funded by the force; you finish with a graduate diploma in professional policing practice. Some forces run a detective version.
Pre-join degree in professional policing
A degree you fund and study before applying, then apply to a force and complete a short programme on joining. See the pre-join degree explained.
Not every force runs every route at every intake. Our police jobs pages link to each force's recruitment page so you can see what is open, and the police force finder compares forces. The qualifications guide explains level 3 and equivalent experience.
Step 3: the recruitment stages
National application form
The College of Policing's set of eligibility questions, submitted to your chosen force. Be complete and honest.
National sift
Online tests of judgement and behaviours. See the national sift hub.
Online assessment process
A competency-based video interview, a written exercise and a briefing exercise. See the online assessment hub.
In-person force interview
A legal stage since 17 March 2026, set to the College's national standard.
Medical, fitness, references and vetting
A medical assessment, the 15m bleep test to level 5.4, references covering at least five years, and police vetting of you, your family and associates, including credit and open-source checks. An offer is conditional on fingerprints and a DNA sample, and regulation 10 allows the force to require a hair, oral fluid or urine sample to test for controlled drugs.
The whole process is explained in the police application process, and timings in how long police recruitment takes.
Honesty is the rule that matters most
Step 4: training and probation
Training follows the national policing curriculum on every route. Probation lasts two years on PCEP and DHEP and three years on the apprenticeship, according to the College of Policing. You work shifts, including evenings and weekends. See what police training is like.
What you will earn
From 1 September 2026 new constables in England and Wales start on pay point 1 of the constable scale, £32,255 a year, and chief officers may start recruits on point 2 (£33,609). The scale rises to £52,015 at point 7. Officers in London and some South East forces receive additional allowances. See police pay scales 2026 or work out take-home pay with the police salary calculator.
Recruitment Timeline Planner
Map the recruitment stages to dates for your force and route.
Police Force Finder
Find which forces are recruiting and read their local criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a police officer in the UK?
In England and Wales you apply directly to a police force. Check you meet the entry requirements, choose an entry route (PCDA, PCEP, DHEP or the pre-join degree), then pass the four national stages that became law in March 2026 (application form, sift, online assessment, force interview), followed by medical, fitness and vetting checks. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems.
Do you need a degree to become a police officer?
No. The police constable degree apprenticeship and the Police Constable Entry Programme accept a level 3 qualification such as two A levels, or equivalent experience your force accepts. Only the degree holder entry programme requires a degree before you join, and the apprenticeship gives you one as you train.
How long does it take to become a police officer?
Recruitment itself often takes around four to six months according to the national recruitment site, but varies by force. Training then lasts two years on PCEP and DHEP and three years on the apprenticeship, with probation running for the same period according to the College of Policing.
How much do police officers earn when they start?
New constables in England and Wales start on pay point 1 of the constable scale, currently £32,255 a year from 1 September 2026, and chief officers may start recruits on point 2 (£33,609). The scale reaches £52,015. Some forces add London or regional allowances. Use our salary calculator for your force.
How old do you have to be to become a police officer?
You can apply at 17 and must be 18 to be appointed, under regulation 10 of the Police Regulations 2003. There is no upper age limit in the regulations.
Is it hard to become a police officer?
It is a multi-stage process with checks on judgement, behaviours, fitness, health and integrity, and some applicants need more than one attempt. We do not publish pass rates because there are no reliable national figures we could verify. Preparing for each stage and being completely honest on forms are the things you control.
Can I become a police officer with a criminal record?
Sometimes. Since 13 July 2026 a custodial sentence, sex offender notification, or a conviction or caution for a listed offence or a domestic abuse offence automatically disqualifies you. Other convictions and cautions are assessed at vetting, with a presumption against clearance unless particular circumstances justify it.
Sources (read 1 October 2026)
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10 (latest revised text)
- Home Office Circular 002/2024: police entry routes
- College of Policing: Police constable entry routes
- DfE: English and maths requirements in apprenticeships (updated 19 February 2026)
- College of Policing: Police constable recruitment regulations change (17 March 2026)
- College of Policing: Police constable pre-employment guidance (April 2024)
- Joining the Police: Common questions
Independence Statement: Police Pay UK is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with any police force or the College of Policing. Always check with your chosen force's recruitment team.
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