Failed the NIE?
What Happens Next
More than a third of candidates did not pass the September 2026 National Investigators' Exam (385 of 1,050). A fail is common and, on its own, it is not the end of a detective career. This guide sets out the College of Policing's resit rules, the development meeting after a second fail and the guidance after a third, what force policy can change, what a fail means on DHEP and other direct entry routes, and how to plan a resit in the weeks you actually have.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 11 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
You can usually resit at the next sitting, if your force's policy allows, and you must register yourself before the deadline. There is no remark and no review of near misses. After a second fail a development meeting with your force is compulsory and you may be offered the chance to withdraw; after a third, you and your force should strongly consider whether the route is right for you now. Without a pass you cannot be accredited at PIP2 or use the title of substantive detective.
Failing the NIE at a glance
Written from the College of Policing's NIE candidate handbook 2026 and its PIP programme policy 2023, with force examples from their own recruitment pages, read on 11 October 2026. Force rules change; where we rely on an archived copy we say so.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| After a first fail | Resit at the next examination date, subject to force or organisation policy |
| Who registers you | You do, through AIMS, before the deadline; your force then verifies and allocates you |
| After a second fail | A development meeting must take place; withdraw or re-enter; a written development plan |
| After a third fail | You and your force should strongly consider whether the pathway is right at that time |
| National cap on attempts | None stated in the handbook; forces may set limits |
| Remark or review of a fail | Not available; marginal fails are not reassessed |
| Can an attempt be ignored? | Only on the reports panel's recommendation after an accepted incident report; the force decides |
| On a PIP2 route | No PIP2 accreditation and no substantive detective title without a pass |
| Direct entry trainees | Force rules apply; some limit resits. Employment consequences not verified |
| Pass rate context | 36.7% of candidates did not pass in September 2026 (385 of 1,050) |
Check the registration deadline for the next sitting. In 2026 the gap between results day and the next registration deadline was as short as 22 days, and your force may close its own window earlier. The handbook makes registering for a resit your responsibility, not your force's.
How common a fail is
Every College results overview we hold, from September 2021 to September 2026, shows between 31.7% and 48.1% of candidates not passing. Across those sittings 10,343 of 25,122 entries were unsuccessful. These count entries, not people: someone who resits appears once for each sitting.
| Sitting | Sat | Did not pass | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 1,050 | 385 | 36.7% |
| March 2026 | 1,633 | 593 | 36.3% |
| November 2025 | 1,294 | 622 | 48.1% |
| September 2025 | 1,318 | 526 | 39.9% |
| June 2025 | 1,500 | 678 | 45.2% |
| March 2025 | 1,612 | 671 | 41.6% |
| November 2024 | 1,545 | 654 | 42.3% |
| September 2024 | 1,411 | 501 | 35.5% |
| June 2024 | 1,800 | 789 | 43.8% |
| March 2024 | 1,795 | 716 | 39.9% |
| November 2023 | 1,859 | 821 | 44.2% |
| September 2023 | 1,397 | 654 | 46.8% |
| June 2023 | 1,854 | 748 | 40.3% |
| November 2022 | 1,529 | 572 | 37.4% |
| March 2022 | 1,218 | 386 | 31.7% |
| November 2021 | 1,225 | 575 | 46.9% |
| September 2021 | 1,082 | 452 | 41.8% |
So in a typical sitting, somewhere between one in three and one in two candidates leave with a resit to plan. Each of the eight overviews we read in full for this page, from September 2021 to September 2026, says the standard 55.7% cut score was applied. The full analysis, including force figures and the College's caution on comparing them, is in NIE pass rates.
After a first fail
The handbook's rule is short: "Unsuccessful candidates will have an opportunity, subject to force or organisation policy, to resit the examination on the next examination date." Three things follow from the wording.
- "Subject to force or organisation policy". The College gives the opportunity; your force decides whether you take it. Some forces limit attempts or set conditions, especially on trainee detective programmes.
- "The next examination date". The default is the very next sitting. Nothing in the handbook stops a force entering you later instead, and whether a later entry is better for you is a conversation worth having (see planning the resit).
- You register again. The handbook says candidates who wish to retake must register for the next exam in the usual way on the online registration platform, and it is the candidate's responsibility to do so before the deadline. Your force then verifies and allocates you.
The handbook sets no national waiting period and no candidate fee (it says forces are charged for registered candidates), and nothing in it makes a fail count against you at the next attempt. The NPCC process chart in the handbook simply shows a second attempt leading to the same "pass" box as a first-time pass.
The NIE tests knowledge of law and procedure. Nothing in the handbook or the PIP policy treats one fail as a misconduct or performance matter. The PIP policy's guidance is support: individuals who fail "should be provided with a development plan and relevant support".
Resit dates and deadlines for each 2026 sitting
The handbook's four sittings and their registration windows, read the other way round: if you fail one, this is what the next one gives you.
| Sitting failed | Results by | Next sitting | Registration window | Results to registration close | Results to next exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | Wed, 25 Mar 2026 | June 2026 (Tue, 2 Jun 2026) | Wed, 1 Apr 2026 to Wed, 6 May 2026, 6pm | 42 days | About 9 weeks |
| June 2026 | Tue, 23 Jun 2026 | September 2026 (Tue, 8 Sept 2026) | Wed, 15 Jul 2026 to Wed, 12 Aug 2026, 6pm | 50 days | About 11 weeks |
| September 2026 | Tue, 29 Sept 2026 | November 2026 (Tue, 17 Nov 2026) | Wed, 16 Sept 2026 to Wed, 21 Oct 2026, 6pm (already open on results day) | 22 days | About 7 weeks |
| November 2026 | Tue, 8 Dec 2026 | First 2027 sitting (dates not yet published) | Not yet published | Not known | Not known |
- The September to November turnaround is the tightest. Results were due by Tuesday, 29 September 2026; registration for November 2026 runs from Wednesday, 16 September 2026 to 6pm on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, only 22 days after results, with about 7 weeks to the exam.
- The handbook recommends a minimum of 14 weeks' independent study. In 2026, the gap from results to the next sitting ranged from about 7 weeks (after September 2026) to about 11 weeks (after June 2026). A resit at the next sitting is a shorter run than a first attempt should be, which is why what you already know matters so much.
- Forces may close registration earlier than the College's 6pm deadline. The handbook says late registrations are only considered in exceptional circumstances, and a heavy workload or not knowing about the window is not one.
- Forces are charged for every candidate still registered two weeks before the exam, and for absent candidates. For the November 2026 sitting that two-week point is Tuesday, 3 November 2026. If you register and then decide not to sit, tell your liaison contact immediately.
If you fail the last 2026 sitting, your resit is in 2027. The College had not published 2027 dates when we checked on 11 October 2026. In 2026 the first sitting was in early March with registration opening in early January, but 2027 may differ. All dates are on NIE exam dates 2026.
After a second fail: the development meeting
The handbook makes this step compulsory: "If a candidate fails the NIE a second time, a development meeting must take place between the force or organisation and the candidate to identify any issues." It then sets out what the meeting is for.
| Stage | What happens | Options | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First attempt fails | Second attempt at the next sitting, subject to force policy | Re-register yourself in AIMS | Handbook |
| Second attempt fails | Compulsory development meeting: identify issues, consider whether the pathway is right now | Withdraw, or enter a further NIE with a written development plan | Handbook; PIP policy 2023 |
| Between second and third | Voluntary withdrawal suggested, unless the force sees sufficient evidence of development | If you are already in an investigative role, the risk of continuing sits with the force and chief constable | Handbook |
| Third attempt fails | Further meeting on development and pathway; withdrawal given serious consideration | Management intervention to consider if the pathway is still in the best interests of the force | Handbook; NPCC chart |
| Fourth and later attempts | Not addressed nationally | Force or organisation policy | Not stated |
What the meeting must cover
- Identify any issues. Study time, workload, health, exam technique, the study method itself. Bring your two feedback reports.
- Consider the pathway. "Consideration must be made by both parties as to whether the process is the right pathway for that individual at that time." Note "at that time": the wording leaves room for a later return.
- Decide. You can be withdrawn or entered for a further NIE.
- Write the plan down. A development plan "needs to be formally agreed and written down", so that a further meeting can follow a third fail.
The handbook adds that after two fails "it is suggested that a candidate is given the opportunity to withdraw from the process voluntarily, unless the force or organisation believes that there has been sufficient evidence of development to enter the candidate a third time". If you are already posted into an investigative role, "the risk involved in continuing to support and develop the individual" sits with the force and the chief constable.
The PIP policy 2023 says the same thing more briefly: after a second fail, line managers should discuss with you whether progression into a PIP2 investigation role is the most suitable route, accompanied by a development plan.
Go with evidence of what you will do differently: a dated study plan, the protected time you need, the practice scores you will reach before the next sitting, and any health or adjustment needs. A written plan that you helped shape is far better than one written about you.
After a third fail
"After three fails, both the individual and the force or organisation should strongly consider whether this career pathway is the right choice at that time for that individual. The option to withdraw the individual from the process should be given serious consideration." The NPCC chart labels the box "management intervention to consider if career pathway still in best interests of force".
The handbook balances this with two points worth quoting in any meeting:
- It "is likely to affect a very small number of people".
- "Any decision needs to consider all information and the individual's circumstances."
Neither the handbook nor the PIP policy says a third fail ends your eligibility for ever, or sets a minimum gap before a further attempt. Those are force decisions. The PIP policy's general rule is that someone who cannot meet the PIP2 requirements will not be accredited and should be removed from a PIP2 role, which is a change of role, not dismissal.
Force policy: where the rules really differ
Because resits are "subject to force or organisation policy", the most important rules for you may be local. We looked for published examples. Very few forces publish their NIE resit rules; these are the ones we could read.
| Force or source | What it says | Where we read it |
|---|---|---|
| Thames Valley Police (detective DHEP) | Cannot qualify as a detective without passing; one opportunity to resit | Detective DHEP FAQs, archived June 2026 (text may date from 2022) |
| Humberside Police (detective DHEP) | NIE studied for in the 18 months after the first uniform year; no transfer from detective DHEP to uniform DHEP once started | DHEP Detective page, archived October 2025 |
| Derbyshire Constabulary (detective constable programme) | NIE after 12 months' service with 56 hours of study time; if the programme is not for you, the force will discuss staying as a uniformed constable | Force careers page, read 11 October 2026 |
| Any force (national policy) | Development plan and support after a fail; no PIP2 accreditation and removal from a PIP2 role if requirements cannot be met | PIP programme policy 2023 |
Treat these as examples of how far policies can vary, not as your force's rules. A trainee detective programme with a fixed timetable has less room for repeated attempts than a constable who can stay in their current role while resitting, but only your force's written policy settles it. The PIP policy suggests forces "consider holding previous roles open" for internal candidates until they pass, and, for external recruits, consider whether the exam should be "a condition of recruitment or probation". We did not find a force that publishes such a condition.
Ask your NIE liaison contact or detective training team for the written policy on resits, the number of attempts allowed and what happens to your role if you reach the limit. Forum answers about "the rule" are usually one force's rule.
What a fail result will not change
Candidates often lose the first week after a fail chasing a review that does not exist. The handbook rules out all of these:
| What people try | Why it does not work |
|---|---|
| Request a remark | No provision once results are released |
| Ask for marks to be added for a near miss | Never; marginal fails are not reassessed |
| Ask for the pass mark to be lowered for you | Never for individuals; it is a standard ratified after each exam |
| Argue extenuating circumstances after results | The debrief panel does not consider them |
| Find out which 10 questions were removed | Not disclosed under any circumstances |
| Complain about your home connection or device | Excluded from unscheduled incident appeals |
| Cite workload or lack of preparation | Expressly rejected as grounds |
Results are final once ratified and released. The detail on how results are decided is on NIE results day.
When a failed attempt can be discounted
There is one narrow route. If something outside your control went wrong during the exam and you reported it as an unscheduled incident within three days, by 8pm, to examsinvestigator@college.police.uk (copying your NIE liaison contact), and you then fail:
- Your report goes to the NIE reports and disqualifications panel after results.
- The panel cannot change the fail into a pass or add marks.
- It may recommend that your force does not take that attempt into account, and allows you an additional attempt where local policy, for example a limit on retakes, would otherwise prevent it.
That matters most when your force limits attempts. It does not help if the "incident" was your own connection, device, room, illness, workload or something you knew about when you started: all are excluded in the handbook. The full list is in the exam day rules guide.
Withdrawing instead of sitting
Some candidates who know they are not ready ask whether to withdraw rather than sit and fail. The handbook says registration dates are close to the exam, so candidates should fully consider whether they intend to sit before registering. If you do need to withdraw:
| Step | What happens | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tell your NIE liaison contact | Immediately, with your reason | Handbook: withdrawals and absence |
| Withdraw more than two weeks before the exam | The force is not charged for you | Forces are charged for all candidates registered two weeks before the exam |
| Withdraw within two weeks, or simply not sit | The force is charged | Absent candidates are charged, including late withdrawals |
| After withdrawing | You cannot be re-entered for that sitting, and you are not carried over automatically | Re-register for the next sitting yourself |
| Ill on the day | Your choice whether to sit; no alternative date is offered | Illness is not accepted as an unscheduled incident afterwards |
For the November 2026 sitting, the two-week charging point is Tuesday, 3 November 2026. The handbook does not say whether a withdrawal or absence counts as an attempt on the resit ladder, and we found no national answer, so ask your force before relying on it. A sitting you attempt gives you a feedback report; a withdrawal gives you nothing to learn from, which is worth weighing too.
If you are a direct entry or trainee detective
This is where a fail has the biggest consequences, and where national rules say least. What we could verify:
- You cannot finish PIP2 without a pass. The PIP policy says students on PEQF entry routes must pass the NIE before being signed off as a PIP2 investigator, and only those signed off may use the title of substantive detective.
- The national response to a fail is support first. Individuals who fail "should be provided with a development plan and relevant support". If an individual cannot meet the requirements, "they will not be accredited at PIP 2 and should be removed from a PIP 2 role".
- Forces may limit resits tightly. Thames Valley Police's detective DHEP FAQ (archived June 2026, text possibly older) said a student who does not pass cannot qualify as a detective and is given one opportunity to resit.
- Switching routes may not be automatic. Humberside Police's detective DHEP page (archived October 2025) said successful candidates could not transfer from the detective DHEP to the uniform DHEP once started. Derbyshire's detective constable programme says that if the programme is not for you, the force will discuss staying in service as a uniformed constable.
We could not find any force publishing what happens to a direct entry trainee's employment or probation after a final NIE fail: whether they move to a uniform role, extend probation or face something else. The PIP policy speaks only of removal from a PIP2 role. If this applies to you, ask your force for its written policy and speak to your Federation representative (or union, for staff) before any decision meeting.
When the NIE falls on each route, and the support trainees get, is covered in the NIE on direct entry detective routes. For the routes themselves, see DHEP explained.
Police staff investigators and other agencies
The resit rules in the handbook apply to every candidate, whether warranted, staff or from another agency. The PIP policy adds one firm line for staff: "Police staff who do not pass the NIE will not be able to progress to PIP 2 or above." It also says the College cannot mandate PIP for staff investigators: whether a force develops staff to PIP2 at all is its decision, and for PIP2 "support from the local force will be required to register for the NIE".
In practice that means a staff investigator's resit depends entirely on the force continuing to sponsor them. Ask your manager early whether a resit is supported. More on the role in civilian investigator explained.
Working out why it went wrong
Your feedback report gives your grade and total percentage and, the handbook says, helps identify strengths and development needs. Combine it with an honest account of the day. Most fails fall into one or two of these patterns:
| What you noticed | Likely cause | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| Ran out of time or rushed the last section | Timing, not knowledge | Timed sittings of 80 questions in 120 minutes (90 seconds each), not untimed topic quizzes |
| Knew the topic but picked the wrong option | Application | Practise scenario questions and explain why each wrong option is wrong |
| Whole parts felt unfamiliar | Coverage | A structured re-read of those Manual parts, then questions on each chapter |
| Mixed up PACE Code provisions | Detail the handbook says you must know | Learn the Code paragraphs the Manual refers to; the handbook says they are examinable |
| Fine in practice, poor on the day | Exam conditions | Sit full mocks at the time of day you will sit the real one, in the same room and on the same device |
| Revised from older editions or third-party notes | Wrong source | The 2026 handbook says questions come only from the 2026 Manual; the next sitting's edition is set by its handbook |
Margin matters too. With 70 scored questions, each is worth about 1.43 percentage points. A candidate on 37 needs two more correct answers; a candidate on 28 needs eleven. Those are different resits. The arithmetic is in NIE pass mark explained, and why so many capable people fall short is covered in how hard is the NIE.
Planning the resit
A resit plan has to fit the weeks between results and the next sitting, not the 14 weeks the handbook recommends for a first attempt. The shape that works for most people:
| When | What to do | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Results week | Save the feedback report, confirm resit approval, register before the deadline, request adjustments if needed | Do not start revising everything at once |
| Weeks 1 to 2 | Baseline: one timed mock, then list weak areas by Manual part | Use the feedback report and the mock together |
| Middle weeks | Rebuild the weakest parts first, weighted by how many questions each part carries | The College's September 2026 breakdown scored 30, 19, 11 and 10 questions on parts 1 to 4 |
| Final two weeks | Two or three full timed sittings; review every wrong answer against the Manual | Stop adding new material in the last few days |
| Exam week | Complete the familiarisation exercise, check device and login, plan your start time | See the exam day rules |
Next sitting or a later one?
Tools that help
- A week-by-week plan. The NIE revision plan has 4, 8 and 12 week timetables weighted to the four parts; the free revision timetable and countdown builds one to your sitting date.
- A baseline. The free NIE mini mock scores you across all four parts in one short sitting.
- Full timed sittings. Our NIE exam prep toolkit (our own paid product) has timed 80-question mocks weighted like the College's published subject breakdown and tracks progress by part. Its questions are original, not real exam questions.
- The College's own material. The Knowledge Hub candidate group has a small sample of College practice questions, revision timetables and feedback report guidance (login needed).
- The Manual. Blackstone's Police Investigators' Manual is the syllabus. Check which edition your resit sitting uses in its handbook.
For method, see how to pass the NIE.
Support you can ask for
The PIP policy says successful completion of the NIE "will be improved by support to candidates" and leaves the form of it to forces, giving reference books, protected study time and crammer courses as examples. What forces publish varies widely:
- Derbyshire Constabulary says it allocates an additional 56 hours off towards the end of the first year for detective programme students to study for the NIE.
- Thames Valley Police's archived detective DHEP FAQ described two days' paid study leave if matched with two days' annual leave, revision books, a two-day crammer course and an e-learning package from an external provider, plus an in-force study day.
- The College offers a free Knowledge Hub group with sample practice questions, revision timetables, study group guidance and feedback report guidance, and a 30% discount on the Manuals for officers and staff in England and Wales through College Learn.
After a fail, ask for support in the same conversation as resit approval, and ask for it to be written into the development plan if this is your second attempt. A plan that names protected hours is easier to hold a busy team to than a general promise.
Talking to your force
Questions to put to your NIE liaison contact, supervisor or detective training team:
- Does force policy allow me to resit at the next sitting, and is there a limit on attempts?
- What is the force's internal registration deadline for the next sitting?
- If I wait for a later sitting, does that count against me or affect my programme?
- What study support can I have: protected study time, books, a course or a study group? The PIP policy leaves the form of support to force discretion.
- If this is my second fail, when is the development meeting, who will attend and can I bring a representative?
- What happens to my current role if I reach the force's limit?
- Do I need to resubmit a reasonable adjustment request for the resit?
If the result is weighing on you, confidential support is listed in the police mental health support directory.
Worked scenarios
Illustrative examples built from the handbook rules, not real cases.
Common myths about failing the NIE
Resit checklist
- Feedback report saved, with copies off force systems.
- Force approval for the resit, and the force's limit on attempts, confirmed in writing.
- Registered in AIMS for the next sitting before the force's own deadline, with details entered exactly as before.
- Reasonable adjustment request resubmitted, if you have one, by the registration closing date.
- Weeks to the exam counted and a dated plan written.
- A baseline timed mock done in week one.
- Study time agreed with your supervisor and booked around shifts.
- The correct Manual edition for the resit sitting confirmed from its handbook.
- Device, browser and familiarisation exercise checked in exam week.
- If this is a second fail: development meeting date set and your own plan ready to bring.
What we could not verify
- Each force's resit limit. Most forces do not publish one. Our examples come from three forces' recruitment pages, two of them archived copies.
- Employment or probation consequences for direct entry trainees after a final fail. No force we checked publishes them.
- Whether a withdrawal or no-show counts as an attempt. The handbook covers charges for absent candidates but does not say whether absence counts towards the resit ladder.
- Whether a fail is recorded on your personnel file or PDR. No national rule found.
- 2027 sittings. Not published when we checked on 11 October 2026.
- Which reasonable adjustment rule wins for a resit. The handbook says evidence may not need resubmitting; the August 2026 online exams guide says a new request is needed for each exam or resit. Follow the newer guide and ask your liaison contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if you fail the NIE?
You can resit on the next examination date, subject to your force or organisation's policy, and you must register yourself before the deadline. There is no remark and no review of marginal fails. Nothing in the handbook makes a single fail a career-ender; the formal steps start after a second fail.
How many times can you resit the NIE?
The College's 2026 candidate handbook does not set a national maximum. It describes a second attempt, a compulsory development meeting after a second fail, a possible third attempt and guidance after a third fail, and leaves the number of retakes to force or organisation policy. Some forces set their own limit, so ask yours.
When can I resit the NIE?
At the next examination date, if your force allows it. There are four sittings a year. If you failed in September 2026, the next sitting is Tuesday, 17 November 2026, and registration closes at 6pm on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, only 22 days after results. The College had not published 2027 dates when we checked.
What happens after failing the NIE twice?
The handbook says a development meeting must take place between your force and you to identify any issues, and both of you must consider whether the process is the right pathway for you at that time. You can be withdrawn or entered for a further NIE, and any development plan must be formally agreed and written down. It suggests you be offered the chance to withdraw voluntarily unless your force sees sufficient evidence of development.
What happens if you fail the NIE three times?
The handbook says both you and your force should strongly consider whether this career pathway is the right choice at that time, and the option to withdraw you from the process should be given serious consideration. The NPCC process chart calls this a management intervention. It also says this is likely to affect a very small number of people and that any decision must consider all the information and your circumstances.
Can I appeal a fail in the NIE?
Not the mark. There is no provision to contest a result or ask for a remark once results are released, and marginal fails are never reassessed. The only route that can affect a fail is an unscheduled incident report made within three days of the exam; even then the panel cannot turn a fail into a pass, but it can recommend your force does not count the attempt.
I failed by one mark. Will they round me up?
No. The pass mark is 39 of 70 (55.7%). The handbook says there is no provision to add marks for candidates just below it and the pass mark is never lowered for individuals.
What happens on detective DHEP if you fail the NIE?
Nationally, the College's PIP programme policy says anyone who fails the NIE should get a development plan and support, and anyone who cannot meet the requirements will not be accredited at PIP2 and should be removed from a PIP2 role. Force rules differ: Thames Valley Police's detective DHEP FAQ, in an archived copy, said you could not qualify as a detective without passing and were given one resit. We could not verify what happens to employment or probation in any force.
Does failing the NIE go on my record?
The handbook does not say how forces record a fail. Your force's NIE liaison contact sees a pass or fail list, and the development meeting after a second fail must produce a written plan. Whether a fail appears in your PDR is a force matter. Nothing in the handbook or the PIP policy treats a fail as a misconduct or performance outcome.
Do I need to tell anyone I failed?
Your force already knows: liaison contacts can see a pass or fail list in AIMS. They do not see your feedback report. Telling your supervisor early helps you get resit approval, study time and a place at the next sitting before registration closes.
Does a fail affect my reasonable adjustments for the resit?
You need to ask again. The handbook says you must still notify your intention and submit a request form for a re-entry, though you may not need to resubmit evidence for the same adjustment. The College's online exams guide, updated in August 2026, says a new request is needed for each exam or resit. Start early, because the report deadline is the registration closing date.
Is it worth resitting at the very next sitting?
It depends on how far short you were and how many weeks you have. The handbook recommends at least 14 weeks of independent study, but the gap from results to the next exam in 2026 ranges from about 7 to 11 weeks. A near miss often suits the next sitting; a large gap may suit a later one, if your force and your NIE validity plans allow.
Can I get study time to resit the NIE?
Possibly. The PIP policy leaves support to force discretion and gives reference books, protected study time and crammer courses as examples. Derbyshire, for instance, publishes 56 hours of study time for detective programme students. Ask for it when you ask for resit approval, and get it written into any development plan.
Should I withdraw rather than risk a fail?
Only after checking with your force. If you withdraw within two weeks of the exam your force is still charged, you are not carried over automatically, and the handbook does not say whether a withdrawal counts as an attempt. Sitting gives you a feedback report to plan from; withdrawing gives you nothing.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 11 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: National investigators' examination (NIE) candidate handbook 2026 (PDF, published November 2025) — resitting the NIE (subject to force policy, next examination date, development meeting after a second fail, written development plan, voluntary withdrawal, third-fail guidance, re-registration); the NPCC PIP2 investigator process chart (page 29); 2026 sittings, registration and results dates; withdrawals and charges; no remarking; reports and disqualifications panel recommendations; reasonable adjustments on re-entry; 14 weeks' recommended study (accessed 11 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Professionalising Investigations Programme (PIP) programme policy 2023, version 1.0 (PDF) — resits subject to force policy; line manager discussions and development plan after a second fail; anyone who fails the NIE or cannot show PIP2 competence gets a development plan, and if unable to meet the requirements is not accredited and should be removed from a PIP2 role; NIE timing on PEQF entry routes; staff who do not pass cannot progress to PIP2; guidance to forces on external and internal candidates; study support at force discretion (accessed 11 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Online examinations candidate guide (updated 5 August 2026) — a new adjustments request for each exam or resit; results by email via AIMS; force exams contacts see a pass or fail list only; small sample of College practice questions on Knowledge Hub. Read on the College's production mirror (accessed 11 October 2026)
- Thames Valley Police: Detective DHEP FAQs (web archive copy captured 17 June 2026) — cannot qualify as a detective without passing the NIE; one opportunity to resit; study support. The live page no longer loads, and the archived text quotes pay 'correct as at 04/08/2022', so it may predate 2026 (accessed 11 October 2026)
- Humberside Police: Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) Detective (web archive copy captured 7 October 2025) — first 12 months in uniform, then 18 months in an investigation unit studying for the NIE; no transfer from detective DHEP to uniform DHEP once started. The live page blocked our reader (accessed 11 October 2026)
- Derbyshire Constabulary: Detective Constable Programme (read 11 October 2026) — NIE after 12 months' service; 56 hours of study time towards the end of the first year; option to discuss staying in service as a uniformed constable if the programme is not for you (accessed 11 October 2026)
- College of Policing: NIE results and analysis overview, September 2026 (PDF) — 1,050 candidates, 385 unsuccessful (36.7%) (accessed 11 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
Practice and tools
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