The short answer
Police training lasts two years on the Police Constable Entry Programme and the degree holder programme and three years on the degree apprenticeship, with probation running for the same period. You are paid as a constable from appointment. The split between classroom, personal safety training and supervised patrol is set by each force within the national curriculum.
On this page
Training by route
| Route | Length and probation | You finish with |
|---|---|---|
| Police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA) | Three years; three-year probation | Degree in professional policing practice |
| Degree holder entry programme (DHEP) | Two years; two-year probation | Graduate diploma in professional policing practice |
| Police constable entry programme (PCEP) | Two years; two-year probation | No qualification as standard; forces may accredit it at level 5 (College 2026 guide) |
| Pre-join degree in professional policing | Degree studied before applying; a short programme on joining | Degree already held |
Source: College of Policing, police constable entry routes. The PCDA also includes protected off-the-job learning time and an evidence-based research project. Government apprenticeship guidance says level 2 English and maths are required for apprentices who start aged 16 to 18, and optional for those aged 19 or over if the employer agrees. See PCDA vs DHEP, PCEP explained and the pre-join degree.
What you learn
Every route follows the College of Policing national policing curriculum. Expect a mix of classroom learning on law, police powers and procedure, investigation, safeguarding vulnerable people and ethics, followed by supervised work alongside experienced officers. The national recruitment site says that on all routes you work alongside experienced officers during probation to gain on-the-job skills. On the degree routes, learning is assessed at degree level by a university partner.
Start learning before you join
Personal safety training
Personal safety training (PST), often called officer safety training, covers the physical skills of protecting yourself and others, including restraint and handcuffing. The College of Policing says the job-related fitness test (the 15m bleep test to level 5.4) exists to make sure recruits have the minimum fitness to undertake PST, and that officers who need PST for their role repeat the fitness test every year. Content and equipment training vary by force.
Probation
The Home Secretary sets the probation period under regulation 12 of the Police Regulations 2003. During probation, regulation 13 allows the chief officer to dispense with your services if they consider you are not fitted, physically or mentally, for the duties, or are not likely to become an efficient or well conducted constable. You are entitled to a month's notice or a month's pay instead. That is why attendance, conduct and progress through assessments all matter in the first years.
What your force decides
- Where initial training takes place and whether any of it is residential.
- How long you spend in the classroom before supervised patrol, and how tutoring is organised.
- Exam, assessment and resit arrangements (with the university partner on degree routes).
- When annual leave can be taken during the initial course.
- Shift patterns once you start patrol.
Ask the force recruitment team, and see whether you can be required to cancel leave for training.
Early-Career Earnings Explorer
See what you would earn through training and probation.
Police Force Finder
Read each force's training and intake details.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is police training in the UK?
It depends on the route. The College of Policing says the police constable degree apprenticeship is a three-year programme with a three-year probation, and the degree holder entry programme and the Police Constable Entry Programme are two-year programmes with two-year probation. How much of that is classroom time before you go out on patrol varies by force.
Do you get paid during police training?
Yes. On the PCDA, DHEP and PCEP routes you are appointed as a constable before training starts and are paid from appointment, starting on pay point 1 of the constable scale (£32,255 from 1 September 2026, before any allowances). The pre-join degree is different: you study it yourself before applying.
What is OST or PST in police training?
Officer safety training, called personal safety training (PST) by the College of Policing, teaches the physical skills of restraint, handcuffing and self-protection. The College says the job-related fitness test exists to ensure recruits have the minimum fitness to undertake PST, and officers whose role includes PST take the test annually.
Is police training residential?
It depends on the force. We have not found a national rule; most forces publish where and how their initial training runs. Check the force's recruitment pages, which our police jobs pages link to.
What happens if I fail an exam in police training?
Forces and their university partners set assessment and resit rules. During probation, regulation 13 of the Police Regulations 2003 allows the chief officer to dispense with a constable's services if they consider the officer is not fitted, physically or mentally, for the duties, or is not likely to become an efficient or well conducted constable, with a month's notice or pay in lieu.
Can I take annual leave during police training?
The national recruitment site says new officers start on at least 22 days' leave. When you can take it during initial training is a force decision, and courses often restrict leave. Ask the force before you book anything, and see our guide on being required to cancel leave for training.
What do you learn in police training?
All routes follow the College of Policing national policing curriculum. The College describes PCEP as equipping officers with the skills to meet complex policing challenges, and the DHEP as the curriculum with research and study skills elements removed. Expect law, procedure, investigation, safeguarding, ethics and personal safety training, then supervised work on patrol.
Is police training hard?
Recruits often describe the volume of law and procedure as the main challenge, alongside shift work once you start patrol. That is a general observation rather than a measured figure. The PCDA also includes degree-level assessed work and a research project.
Sources (read 1 October 2026)
Independence Statement: Police Pay UK is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with any police force or the College of Policing. Training arrangements differ between forces; always check with your chosen force.
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