Your First Two Years
As a Student Officer
From attestation to confirmation: the entry routes as they stand in 2026, training school, the tutor phase, independent patrol, the degree or diploma, and probation under regulations 12 and 13. Written from the regulations, the College of Policing and two forces' published procedures, with every source listed.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 18 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
You are attested and paid as a constable from your first days. You spend roughly the first five to six months in initial training, then work with a tutor constable until you are signed off for independent patrol, typically within 10 months. You then build a portfolio until you are signed off as fully competent, around two years in. Probation lasts two years, or three on the PCDA, and the chief officer can extend it or, under regulation 13, dispense with your services if you are not likely to become an efficient or well conducted constable.
Student officer at a glance
A student officer is a constable who is still on probation and still completing one of the national entry programmes. There is no separate rank or office: you are attested as a constable, you hold a constable's powers, and you are paid on the constable scale. What makes you a student is the training programme you are on and the probation you must complete before your appointment is confirmed.
| Route | Length | Qualification | Probation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCDA (police constable degree apprenticeship) | 3 years | Degree in professional policing practice (BSc (Hons) in the College's 2026 guide) | 3 years |
| DHEP (degree holder entry programme) | 2 years | Level 6 graduate diploma in professional policing practice (120 credits) | 2 years |
| PCEP (police constable entry programme) | 2 years | None nationally; forces may arrange a level 5 accreditation | 2 years |
| Pre-join degree holder (PPD) | Short force programme after a self-funded degree | The degree is already held | 2 years (see note) |
| Detective pathways (detective DHEP, detective PCEP or DCEP) | Route length plus detective learning | Depends on the base route | 2 years (College guide) |
Programme lengths and qualifications are from the College of Policing's entry routes page and its April 2026 joining guide. Probation periods are from the Home Office determination under regulation 12 (Annex C). The pre-join line reflects Annex C's general two-year rule; see the not verified section.
The College's April 2026 guide sets out the same milestones for all routes: an initial off-the-job learning phase (typically within 5 to 6 months), a tutored patrol phase (typically within 10 months) and sign-off as fully competent in operational duties (around two years). The rest of this guide follows that order.
The entry routes as they stand in 2026
The national framework that used to be called the PEQF (Policing Education Qualifications Framework) is now referred to as police constable entry routes, or PCER. Wiltshire Police's procedure lists PCER as replacing PEQF, and the end-point assessment plan for the degree apprenticeship refers to the College's Assessment Requirements Part 3 PCER (2024). The College sets national standards; your force decides which routes it offers and when.
| Route | Status | What it involves | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCDA | Open where forces offer it | Three-year apprenticeship with a university partner. Off-the-job learning is a set minimum through the programme. The Commission put it at 190 off-the-job days | College entry routes page; Commission paragraph 128 |
| DHEP | Open where forces offer it | Two years, fully funded by the force, delivered and assessed at level 6, leaves out generic study skills content | College entry routes page |
| PCEP | Available since April 2024 | Two years in force. No national qualification. The Commission put it at 144 off-the-job days and said it is designed to a level 5 standard | College entry routes page; Commission paragraphs 127 and 128 |
| Pre-join degree (PPD) | A study route, not a direct entry route | Self-funded through UCAS. Graduates apply to a force and complete a shorter force programme | College joining page and April 2026 guide |
| Detective entry | Forces typically offer two | Detective DHEP for degree holders, and a detective constable entry programme (usually no degree). Both involve two-year probation and extra post-programme learning | College April 2026 guide |
What changed between 2024 and 2026
The main change is the police constable entry programme. The College says PCEP has been available from April 2024: two years, delivered within the force, and it does not give you a qualification. Officers become constables on successful completion. The College's April 2026 guide adds that forces have the option to accredit PCEP with a level 5 professional policing qualification, and that more advanced development, which the other routes include, takes place on the job in your first year after the programme.
The Police Leadership Commission's report of July 2026 shows how quickly PCEP has grown. These are the Commission's figures, mostly from unpublished College and National Police Chiefs' Council data, so we cannot check them independently:
| Measure | Figure | Where in the report |
|---|---|---|
| Share of new joiners trained through PCEP in 2025/26 | 63 per cent (the Commission's figure counts PCEP, DCEP and Police Now entrants) | Paragraph 127 and footnote 1 |
| Forces training only through PCEP | At least seven, with the College expecting 12 by the end of 2026/27 | Paragraph 127 |
| Forces actively recruiting in April 2026 | 25, of which 15 offered at least two programmes and seven offered only PCEP | Paragraph 132 |
| Forces with accreditation for PCEP (April 2026) | Seven with level 5 accreditation, one with level 6 arrangements | Paragraph 130 |
| Off-the-job learning days | PCDA 190, PCEP 144 | Paragraph 128 |
In practice this means the route you are offered depends heavily on where you apply. If you are still choosing, our entry routes comparison and the PCDA, DHEP and PCEP guides cover eligibility in detail.
Day one: attestation, salary and status
Section 29 of the Police Act 1996 requires every member of a police force to be attested as a constable by making the declaration in Schedule 4. In Wiltshire's published journey this happens on day 1 or 2. From that point you hold the office of constable.
- Paid from the start. The College says that on every route you are a police constable earning a salary from the day you join.
- Pay point. The Home Office pay determination says a constable appointed from 1 September 2024 begins on pay point 1, and from 1 April 2025 a chief officer may assign all new constables to pay point 2 to meet local recruitment needs. See the pay section.
- Same core training. The College says you receive the same core training whichever force or programme you join.
- Probation starts. Your probationary period runs from your last appointment to the force (Annex C).
Most of what happens in your first two years is set out in two places: your force's student officer or probation procedure and, on the PCDA or DHEP, your university's programme handbook. Ask for both in your first week.
Training school: the initial learning phase
Every route starts with an initial period of off-the-job learning, after which training becomes mostly practical and on the job (College joining guide, April 2026). Most training takes place within your force; on the PCDA and DHEP a university partner delivers the academic elements. The College's typical timeframe for this phase is within 5 to 6 months.
The details are set locally. Here is how two forces describe it in their published procedures:
| Element | When | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Attestation | Day 1 or 2 in Wiltshire's procedure | You make the constable's declaration under section 29 of the Police Act 1996 |
| Initial learning | Weeks 1 to 24 in Wiltshire, including two weeks' leave and six modules | Law, powers and procedure, plus IT, officer safety and driving courses. The College guide says this phase is typically within 5 to 6 months |
| Knowledge checks | During and at the end of initial learning (North Yorkshire) | North Yorkshire runs a final knowledge check before accompanied patrol, with a chance to retake it |
| Fitness and officer safety | Before personal safety training (Wiltshire) | The job-related fitness test must be passed. Wiltshire allows two further attempts with a support plan; North Yorkshire treats failure after two attempts as a case that can go straight to its final review stage |
| Academic work (PCDA and DHEP) | Throughout | Assessed by the university partner, under the university's own regulations |
What tends to surprise new students is the pace. The law and procedure content is front-loaded, and both procedures we read treat a failed final knowledge check, fitness test or officer safety course as something that can move quickly to a formal meeting rather than waiting for a pattern to develop. Read our police training guide for a shorter overview, and the annual fitness test guide for the standard.
Leave is usually fixed around courses. Wiltshire's procedure builds a week's leave into initial learning and another week before tutorship, and asks students not to book leave that clashes with learning events. Check your force's rules before booking anything in your first six months.
The tutor phase: learning on patrol with a tutor constable
After initial learning you join a team and patrol with a tutor constable. The College's guide gives a typical timeframe for the tutored patrol phase of within 10 months of joining. Wiltshire's procedure sets a 12-week tutorship from week 25 to week 36 of year one, unless you can show recognised prior learning, and says all students are tutored by a trained tutor constable.
Who tutors you
Wiltshire requires tutors to be confirmed in the office of constable, recommended by their line manager, and to have completed a tutor course and annual development events. That is one force's standard. The Police Leadership Commission reported in July 2026 that selection and training of tutor constables is inconsistent across forces: in a 2021 Police Federation survey of 28 forces, 22 required no formal selection process, 18 had no formal selection criteria, training ranged from under a day to six days, and 13 offered any financial incentive. The Commission also noted there is no national tutor allowance.
What you are working towards
The tutor phase exists to get you to independent patrol. You collect evidence in your operational competence portfolio, your tutor and supervisors give feedback, and at the end your supervisors assess whether you can patrol on your own.
The Commission recommended a new senior constable rank that would incorporate the tutor constable role, with a nationally consistent approach to selecting, training and rewarding those who mentor new recruits. It is a recommendation, not a decision. See our Commission explainer.
Independent patrol status
Independent patrol status (IPS) is the point at which you are signed off to patrol without a tutor beside you. You are still a student and still on probation; you simply no longer need a tutor for routine patrol.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What it is | Sign-off that you can patrol without a tutor alongside you, at a standard Wiltshire's procedure calls safe and lawful |
| Who decides | In Wiltshire, the supervisors overseeing the tutor phase recommend, with the tutor constable, to the student officer training and assessment team |
| Evidence | The operational competence portfolio (OCP), plus all underpinning learning linked to independent patrol, assessed holistically |
| Typical timing | Within 10 months of joining (College guide). Wiltshire: tutorship weeks 25 to 36, then the independent patrol phase |
| If not ready | Wiltshire: a meeting, then an extension of up to 6 weeks with a support plan, and a further period of up to 6 weeks if progress justifies it. A regulation 13 recommendation is the other possible outcome at each meeting |
Independent patrol is a milestone, not the end of assessment. Wiltshire's procedure describes the following period as mentoring on shift while you gather evidence towards full occupational competence. Our independent patrol status guide covers the sign-off, extensions and what to do if you are behind.
The portfolio and full operational competence
Throughout your programme you build an evidence portfolio of your skills and experience (College guide). Forces call it the operational or occupational competence portfolio, or OCP. The College's guide says that around two years after joining you can be signed off as fully competent in operational duties, usually shortened to full operational competence or FOC.
- How it is assessed. In Wiltshire, assessors make decisions from direct observation and witness testimony from line managers, confirmed officers and peers. Completing the OCP also shows competence at PIP level 1 (the first investigative level).
- When it is due. Wiltshire expects the OCP to be complete by the end of year two (week 104) on the PCDA and DHEP, with a final review at week 90 for DHEP, PCEP and pre-join students.
- If it is not complete. You cannot be recommended for confirmation at that stage. Wiltshire places the student on a support plan with at least three reviews, lasting no more than 12 to 15 weeks.
- PCEP. The College says PCEP officers are substantive constables with full operational competence at the end of the programme.
- PCDA. A completed and assessed OCP is a gateway requirement for the apprenticeship's end-point assessment (Skills England assessment plan).
The degree or diploma element
The academic side is what most separates the routes. On the PCDA and DHEP a university partner sets and marks your assignments under its own regulations; on the PCEP there is no national qualification at all.
| Route | Qualification and content | How it ends |
|---|---|---|
| PCDA | Degree in professional policing practice, level 6. The College's entry routes page includes an evidence-based research project; English and maths at level 2 must be achieved before the end-point assessment gateway | End-point assessment after the gateway: operational competence portfolio complete, degree modules achieved, English and maths. Graded pass or fail |
| DHEP | Level 6 graduate diploma in professional policing practice, 120 credits, delivered with a university | Awarded when you complete the programme. Generic study skills content is left out because you already hold a degree |
| PCEP | No qualification nationally. Some forces partner with a university or awarding body for a level 5 diploma (240 credits, per the Commission) | You become a substantive constable with full operational competence at the end of the two years (College guide) |
The PCDA in more detail
Skills England lists the standard as Police constable (integrated degree), ST0304, at level 6 with a typical duration of 36 months, approved for delivery. The assessment plan says apprentices typically spend 35 months on programme. Before the end-point assessment you must pass the gateway: a completed and assessed operational competence portfolio, all required degree modules, and English and maths qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules. The end-point assessment is integrated with the university's examination board and graded pass or fail. Professional recognition is confirmation in the substantive role of constable.
University rules apply to you
Wiltshire's procedure says students on a university course are subject to the university's terms and conditions, student charter and academic misconduct rules. Plagiarism and other academic misconduct are dealt with by the university first, and serious cases can also be treated as a professional standards matter. If English or maths at level 2 is outstanding, find out early when it must be done.
Comparing the two degree-linked routes in more depth? See PCDA vs DHEP: pay and training.
Year by year: one force's published journey
Wiltshire Police publishes week-by-week journeys for each route. We reproduce the outline below because it shows how the gateways fit together. It is one force's design; your own force's dates will differ.
| When | PCDA | DHEP | PCEP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 24 | Initial learning, attestation in the first days | Initial learning | Initial learning |
| Weeks 25 to 36 | Tutoring phase towards independent patrol | Tutoring phase towards independent patrol | Tutoring phase towards independent patrol |
| Weeks 37 to 52 | Independent patrol phase. Gateway 1: independent patrol and 120 credits at level 4 | Independent patrol phase. Gateway 1: independent patrol and 60 credits at level 6 | Independent patrol phase, evidence towards full competence |
| Year 2 | Professional deployments (response, neighbourhoods, roads, intelligence, investigation). OCP complete by week 104. Gateway 2: portfolio and 120 credits at level 5 | Consolidation and specialist area. Final review at week 90. Gateway 2: full occupational competence and 60 credits | Independent patrol phase runs to week 90, then final review and confirmation |
| Year 3 | Advanced development, final modules, end-point assessment. Gateway 3: full occupational competence and 120 credits | Probation ends at two years unless extended | Probation ends at two years unless extended |
The gateways matter because missing one is the trigger for formal action. Wiltshire's procedure says that if a gateway is not met for performance, academic or behaviour reasons, the regulation 13 process must be considered, and that back-coursing (moving you to a later intake) is only acceptable in extenuating circumstances.
Who is who in your training
Several people have a say in your progress, and it helps to know who decides what. The roles below are taken from the two force procedures we read. Titles differ between forces, but the functions are broadly the same.
| Role | What they do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tutor constable | Patrols with you through the tutor phase, gives day-to-day feedback and contributes to the independent patrol recommendation | Wiltshire 6.6, 6.9.5 and 15 |
| Sergeant (line manager) | Sets and reviews support plans, records progress, and can recommend action under regulation 13 | Wiltshire 8.5 to 8.11; North Yorkshire 2.1 |
| Student officer training team (names vary: SOTAT in Wiltshire, PDU in North Yorkshire) | Manages the portfolio, assesses competence and oversees your development across the programme | Wiltshire 6.8 and 6.9; North Yorkshire responsibilities section |
| Inspector | Chairs formal review meetings in both procedures and can recommend discharge or a further plan | Wiltshire 8.6 and 8.12; North Yorkshire 2.2.3 |
| University partner (PCDA and DHEP) | Sets and marks academic work, runs academic misconduct procedures, and shares concerns with the force | Wiltshire 6.15 and 8.2 |
| Apprenticeship consultant (PCDA) | Kept informed of absences and gateway problems because apprenticeship funding rules apply | Wiltshire 6.7.3 and 6.9.12 |
| People services or HR | Advises on the procedure, comments on attendance, and in North Yorkshire decides extensions under delegated authority | North Yorkshire 4.2; Wiltshire 6.9.10 |
| Chief constable | Makes the final decision to dispense with your services under regulation 13 | Regulation 13; North Yorkshire 5.3 |
| Police Federation representative | Can accompany you to meetings and hearings, receive documents and comment on reports | Wiltshire 8.6; North Yorkshire 2.2.2 |
The practical point is that your sergeant and the training team are the people whose written records feed every decision. If you disagree with a record, say so at the time and ask for your comment to be added.
Probation: what regulation 12 and Annex C say
Regulation 12 of the Police Regulations 2003 requires a member of a police force appointed as a constable to serve a period of probation, unless they transferred in having completed probation elsewhere or are a rejoiner. The Secretary of State determines the period and may let the chief officer determine it in a particular case. The current determination is Annex C, republished by the Home Office in Circular 009/2024 on 18 December 2024.
| Who | Period | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Most new constables | First 2 years of service in that force | Annex C paragraph 1 |
| PCDA constables | First 3 years of service | Annex C paragraph 4D |
| Part-time constables | (40 / A) multiplied by the full-time period, where A is your normal weekly hours | Annex C paragraphs 2 and 3 |
| Previously served at least a year on probation elsewhere | Usually one year, or as the chief officer decides, but the total cannot fall below 2 years (3 on the PCDA) | Annex C paragraphs 4 and 4D |
| Rejoiners | 6 or 12 months depending on gap and rank | Annex C paragraph 4C |
| Any of the above | Or such longer period as the chief officer determines in the circumstances of a particular case | Annex C |
What counts towards probation
| Absence | Effect |
|---|---|
| Unpaid leave | Disregarded when reckoning service |
| Maternity leave | The first 52 weeks count as service (all of it if shorter) |
| Parental, maternity support and adoption support leave | Counts as service |
| Statutory transfer between forces | Treated as service in one force |
| Sickness absence | Not mentioned in Annex C. Forces use extension instead: Wiltshire cites prolonged absence from core duties, sickness being an example |
Three consequences of being on probation
- Regulation 13 applies. During probation your services can be dispensed with if the chief officer considers you are not fitted, physically or mentally, to perform the duties of the office, or are not likely to become an efficient or well conducted constable.
- The performance regulations do not. The Police (Performance) Regulations 2020 apply to officers up to chief superintendent excluding constable probationers, so concerns about a student's performance are handled through the force's probation procedure instead.
- Pay progression is easier, not harder. The pay determination says probationers are not required to meet the pay progression standard to move up the scale.
Confirmation is the formal end of probation. North Yorkshire's procedure notes that regulation 13 can only be used before confirmation of successful completion of probation.
Extended probation
Every period in Annex C ends with the same words: or for such longer period as the chief officer determines in the circumstances of a particular case. That is the power to extend. Forces delegate it; in North Yorkshire the Director of People Services decides, and in Wiltshire a delegated board does.
- Common reasons. North Yorkshire lists unsatisfactory attendance, performance or academic progress as examples. Wiltshire mentions prolonged absence from core duties, sickness being an example, and flexible working.
- Timing matters. North Yorkshire's procedure says an extension should be made in good time, because if probation is not extended before the original period expires, the student is deemed to have completed probation satisfactorily.
- It comes with a plan. Both procedures pair an extension with a support or improvement plan and a review before it ends.
The full detail, including what an extension does to your pay and exam eligibility, is in extended police probation explained.
What happens if you fail
There is no single fail point. Different parts of the programme can go wrong, and each is handled differently. In both force procedures we read, the response starts with support and only escalates if that does not work.
| What goes wrong | Usual response | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Academic (PCDA, DHEP) | University regulations govern resubmissions. The force and university agree support. Persistent failure can lead to the probation process | Wiltshire 6.15 and 8.2; North Yorkshire 2.1.2 |
| Independent patrol not reached | Extensions of the tutor phase with a support plan, or a regulation 13 recommendation | Wiltshire 6.9.6 and 6.9.7 |
| Portfolio not complete at final review | Not recommended for confirmation; support plan of at least three reviews, no longer than 12 to 15 weeks | Wiltshire 6.8.6 and 6.9.9 |
| Fitness or officer safety | Further attempts with a support plan; repeated failure leads to regulation 13 in both procedures we read | Wiltshire 9.2 and 9.3; North Yorkshire 2.1.2 |
| Attendance | Occupational health advice first, then informal support and formal meetings | Wiltshire 10; North Yorkshire 2 |
| Conduct | Undisputed misconduct can go through regulation 13; alleged serious or disputed misconduct goes through the conduct regulations | North Yorkshire 1.5; Wiltshire 11.1 |
The regulation 13 process in outline
North Yorkshire's procedure has three stages for performance and attendance: supportive action, a review meeting (at least five working days' written notice, with the option of a Federation representative) and a final review meeting chaired by a senior operational commander (at least seven working days' notice). Only the final stage can recommend discharge, and the chief constable decides on the papers. Wiltshire's procedure is similar in shape, with formal meetings chaired by an inspector and a hearing before the chief constable.
- Notice. A constable whose services are dispensed with is entitled to a month's notice or a month's pay instead (regulation 13(2)).
- Resigning instead. Regulation 13 lets you avoid dismissal by giving written notice to retire on or before the date dismissal would take effect, and that notice must be accepted even if it is less than a month.
- Misconduct is different. Wiltshire's procedure says conduct that could amount to gross misconduct is dealt with under the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, not regulation 13, and that only conduct dismissals put someone on the barred list.
- Employment law. Section 200 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 excludes police service from ordinary unfair dismissal rights, with exceptions for health and safety and whistleblowing dismissals. Section 42 of the Equality Act 2010 treats holding the office of constable as employment by the chief officer for discrimination claims.
Our can you fail the PCDA, DHEP or PCEP guide goes through each failure point, and the regulation 13 explained guide covers the hearing, pension and challenges in depth.
Contact your Police Federation representative before you respond to anything. Both procedures we read give you the right to be accompanied, to see the documents in advance and to comment on reports before a decision.
Your rights during the probation process
Regulation 13 itself is short: it sets the test, the month's notice and the option to resign. The detail of how you are treated comes from your force's procedure. The two we read give these protections:
| Protection | North Yorkshire Police | Wiltshire Police |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of a formal meeting | At least 5 working days for a review meeting and 7 for a final review meeting; 10 for a conduct hearing before the chief constable | At least 5 days with copies of the documents and the policy before a performance or attendance review meeting |
| Being accompanied | Police Federation representative, or a colleague not acting as a lawyer | Police Federation representative or a police officer friend |
| Seeing the evidence | Copies of the report and supporting papers | Copies of any documentation before the meeting |
| Commenting before a decision | You can comment on reports sent to the decision maker, directly or through the Federation | You can make representations to the inspector and at the chief constable hearing |
| Outcome in writing | Decisions confirmed in writing, with notes of the meeting | Notice under regulation 13 signed by the inspector and served on you |
| Resignation | You may resign under regulation 13 and receive a month's pay in lieu | Resignation possible until the start of the chief constable hearing |
- No appeal stage in the regulation. Regulation 13 contains no appeal, and North Yorkshire's procedure says the chief constable's decision is final. If you think a decision was unlawful or discriminatory, take advice from the Federation quickly, because time limits apply to legal challenges.
- Whistleblowing. North Yorkshire's procedure says student officers are entitled to make a protected disclosure and not suffer detriment for it, though a disclosure does not give immunity for your own conduct or performance.
- Off operational duty while a decision is pending. In North Yorkshire, once discharge is recommended you do not perform operational duties until the chief constable decides.
Health, disability and reasonable adjustments
Both procedures put the duty to make reasonable adjustments on the force. Wiltshire's says the responsibility is firmly on the force as employer to identify and start adjustments, working with occupational health and HR. North Yorkshire's requires occupational health advice and consideration of any disability before decisions on attendance, and lists adjustments to the working environment or how work is organised among the remedies a review meeting should consider.
- Tell people early. An adjustment can only be considered once the force knows about the condition. Raise it with your sergeant or training team and ask for an occupational health referral.
- Sickness and probation. Annex C does not stop the clock for sickness, but forces extend probation where absence has kept you from core duties. Ask how any absence will be treated before your final review.
- Restricted or recuperative duties. North Yorkshire lists recuperative duties among the remedies for a return to work. Our restricted duties guide explains the difference.
- Neurodiversity and mental health. The same duty applies. See our support services directory for who to contact.
Detective entry routes
The College's April 2026 guide says forces typically offer a detective degree holder entry programme and a detective police constable entry programme, usually without a degree requirement, and that both involve two-year probation periods and extra post-programme learning. On these routes you also sit the National Investigators' Exam (NIE) and build towards PIP level 2 accreditation as an investigator.
Wiltshire's procedure describes a three-year detective constable entry programme (DCEP): initial learning mirroring PCEP, a tutoring phase, then two weeks set aside in year two for the NIE, a maximum of two attempts with a discretionary third, a volume crime attachment, PIP2 training and a portfolio completed in year three. A student who does not pass the NIE or the PIP2 portfolio may be offered a PIP1 post instead. Other forces run these programmes differently.
If you are on a detective route, start with our NIE hub and the NIE on direct entry detective routes.
Shifts, part-time working and life outside work
The College's guide says you join a shift pattern that includes day and night shifts and weekends. Wiltshire's procedure presumes students work a rotating shift pattern including nights, so that they gain experience in all aspects of policing, with reasonable adjustments negotiated locally.
- Part-time working. Annex C allows a pro-rata probation for part-time officers. Wiltshire only considers applications after the tutorship phase, requires mandated training to be done full time, and extends probation pro rata, up to six years on the PCDA.
- Second jobs. Business interests need force approval. See second jobs and business interests.
- Wellbeing. Sleep, money and the emotional side of the first year are covered in our first 12 months survival guide and early service burnout guide.
Pay during your first two years
We found no separate student or trainee rate in the Home Office pay determination. You are paid on the constable scale from day one.
- Start. Pay point 1, which we calculate at £32,255 a year from 1 September 2026 (official 2025/26 figure £31,164 plus the 3.5% award). Where the chief officer has assigned new constables to pay point 2, £33,609.
- Increments. You move up one point on the anniversary of your appointment. As a probationer you do not have to meet the pay progression standard to do so.
- Top of scale. Pay point 7, which we calculate at £52,015 from 1 September 2026.
- Location. London weighting of £3,150 in the Met and City of London, plus London allowance and South East allowances set by chief officers up to national maximums.
| Point | Gross a year | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pay point 1 | £32,255 | Where new constables start |
| Pay point 2 | £33,609 | Start point where the chief officer has assigned new joiners here |
| Pay point 3 | £34,972 | Typically reached after 2 years from point 1 |
| Pay point 4 | £36,335 | Typically reached after 3 years from point 1 |
| Pay point 5 | £39,058 | Typically reached after 4 years from point 1 |
| Pay point 6 | £44,544 | Typically reached after 5 years from point 1 |
| Pay point 7 | £52,015 | Top of the scale |
The figures, allowances and what they mean after tax and pension are in student police officer pay.
After probation: confirmation and what comes next
Once your probation ends without extension and you are confirmed, you are a confirmed constable. Several things open up:
- Promotion. The College's 2027 NPPF candidate handbook requires two years' service and completed probation as a regular constable by the date of the sergeants' exam. On the PCDA, with three-year probation, that is later. See the promotion hub.
- Tutoring. Wiltshire requires tutors to be confirmed constables, so tutoring is one of the first development roles open to you.
- Specialist roles. Specialist selection is set by each force, and the role guides set out the usual requirements. See our guides to firearms, dog handling and roads policing for what each asks for.
- Transfers. Regulation 12 does not require a transferee who completed probation elsewhere to serve it again, which is why transfers generally come after confirmation. See transfers.
Proposed changes that could affect student officers
The Police Leadership Commission (report dated July 2026) made several recommendations that touch on constable training. None had been adopted when we checked on 18 October 2026, and we found no published Government response.
- PCEP accreditation (recommendation 8). PCEP recruits should gain accreditation of their initial learning, with an option to top up to a qualification equivalent to the degree apprenticeship, and evidence that they reached the standard should go in a professional digital passport.
- Choice of route (recommendation 9). Forces should offer a range of programmes and recruits should not be locked into the programme they chose when they applied.
- Senior constable and tutoring (recommendation 13). A new rank that would incorporate the tutor constable role, with consistent selection, training and reward for those who mentor new recruits.
- Annual reviews and a digital passport (recommendation 10). A mandatory, standardised annual performance review feeding a national record that would support a licence to practise.
For the full list and what is decided, read the Police Leadership Commission report explained.
A practical checklist for your first two years
These steps are our suggestions, drawn from what the regulations and the force procedures we read make important.
- Ask for your force's student officer or probation policy in your first week, and your university programme handbook if you are on the PCDA or DHEP. Those two documents decide most of what happens to you.
- Write down your gateway dates: end of initial learning, independent patrol, portfolio completion, final review and the end of probation. Put them in your calendar.
- Keep your portfolio current every week. Students who leave it to the end are the ones placed on support plans at final review.
- Take every development conversation seriously and keep your own notes with dates. If a support plan is set, make sure it says exactly what you need to show and by when.
- Join or contact the Police Federation early. Its representatives attend review meetings and regulation 13 hearings, and both force procedures we read give you the right to be accompanied by one.
- Tell your supervisors about health issues or disability early. Both procedures require occupational health advice and consideration of reasonable adjustments before decisions on attendance or performance.
- Check your pay point on your first payslip and the date of your first increment. If your force assigns new joiners to pay point 2, you should see it from day one.
- If you are thinking of going part-time, ask how it changes your probation end date before you apply.
Applying, not yet joined? Practise the interview with the mock interview and the first online test with the free SJT practice. Both use original PolicePay practice material, not official questions.
Ten questions to ask your force
Every force runs its programme differently, so the most useful thing you can do early is ask. These are the questions whose answers vary most between forces, with the reason each one matters.
- Which route am I on, and can I change it? Recommendation 9 of the Leadership Commission says recruits should not be locked in, but that is not current policy. Your force decides.
- Where is the student officer or probation procedure, and which version applies to me? Wiltshire's is on version 4.0. Procedures change, and the version in force at the time is the one that counts.
- What are my gateway dates? Missing a gateway is the usual trigger for a support plan or a regulation 13 meeting in both procedures we read.
- How long is the tutor phase, and what happens if I need longer? Wiltshire allows up to two extensions of up to six weeks each. Other forces set their own limits.
- How many attempts do I get at the fitness test, officer safety training and knowledge checks? Wiltshire allows two further fitness attempts; North Yorkshire treats failure after two attempts as a case for its final review stage.
- Who decides an extension of probation, and how will I be told? North Yorkshire delegates it to the Director of People Services and confirms decisions in writing within five working days.
- Am I on pay point 1 or pay point 2? Chief officers may assign all new constables to point 2 from 1 April 2025 to meet local recruitment needs.
- When can I apply for part-time or flexible working, and how will it change my probation? Annex C extends probation pro rata. Wiltshire only considers requests after tutorship.
- For the PCDA or DHEP: where are the university's resubmission and academic misconduct rules? Academic failure is handled under university regulations first, and can then become a probation matter.
- Who is my Federation representative? You have the right to be accompanied at formal meetings in both procedures we read.
Glossary of student officer terms
Training documents are full of abbreviations. These are the ones you will meet most often, with the meaning used in the sources on this page.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PCER | Police constable entry routes: the current name for the national framework of constable programmes, which replaced the PEQF label |
| PEQF | Policing Education Qualifications Framework: the earlier name, still common in older documents |
| PCDA, DHEP, PCEP | The three main programmes: degree apprenticeship, degree holder entry programme and constable entry programme |
| DCEP | Detective constable entry programme, a non-degree detective route (the College guide calls it the detective police constable entry programme) |
| OCP | Operational (or occupational) competence portfolio: your evidence of competence through the programme |
| IPS | Independent patrol status: sign-off to patrol without a tutor |
| FOC | Full operational competence: sign-off as fully competent in operational duties, around two years in |
| EPA | End-point assessment: the final assessment of the degree apprenticeship, graded pass or fail |
| PIP1, PIP2 | Professionalising Investigation Programme levels. Completing the OCP shows PIP1 competence in Wiltshire's scheme; detective routes work towards PIP2 |
| NIE | National Investigators' Exam, sat on detective routes |
| Regulation 12 and Annex C | The rule that you serve probation, and the Home Office determination that sets how long |
| Regulation 13 | The power to dispense with a probationer's services |
| Confirmation | The formal end of probation, after which regulation 13 no longer applies |
| Back-coursing | Moving a student to a later intake to repeat part of the programme; Wiltshire allows it only in extenuating circumstances |
What we could not verify
- A national independent patrol standard. We could not open a College of Policing document that defines independent patrol status or sets a national deadline for it. The timings on this page come from the College's April 2026 guide (typical timeframes) and from two force procedures. Your force's own schedule applies.
- Every force's procedure. We read Wiltshire's (version 4.0, 2 October 2025) and North Yorkshire's (2025) procedures in full. They are examples, not national rules, and other forces differ on extensions, retakes and who decides.
- Pre-join degree holders' probation. Annex C sets two years for constables other than PCDA and rejoiners, and Wiltshire's procedure gives pre-join degree holders a two-year probation. We did not find a College statement on this route's probation in the pages we read.
- IPLDP and older programmes. We have not described the older initial police learning and development programme because we did not read a current source on it.
- Pay figures for 2026/27. The official determination for the September 2026 award had not been published when we checked. Our 2026/27 figures are the official 2025/26 points plus 3.5%, rounded, and may differ by a few pounds.
- Training cost repayment. We found no national rule on repaying training costs if you leave during probation. Check your offer letter and force policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is probation for a student police officer?
Two years for most new constables, and three years if you join on the police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA). Those periods are set by the Home Office determination under regulation 12 of the Police Regulations 2003 (Annex C, as republished in December 2024). Your chief officer can set a longer period in the circumstances of a particular case, and part-time officers serve a pro-rata longer period.
What is the difference between PCDA, DHEP and PCEP?
The PCDA is a three-year degree apprenticeship ending in a degree in professional policing practice. The DHEP is a two-year programme for people who already hold a degree, ending in a level 6 graduate diploma. The PCEP, available since April 2024, is a two-year programme that can be delivered entirely by the force and does not give you a qualification unless your force has arranged accreditation. All three lead to the same office of constable.
When do student officers go on independent patrol?
The College of Policing's April 2026 guide gives a typical timeframe of within 5 to 6 months for initial off-the-job learning and within 10 months for the tutored patrol phase, after which you can be signed off for independent patrol. Forces set their own schedules: Wiltshire Police's published procedure, for example, has a 12-week tutorship from week 25 to week 36 of year one.
Are student officers real police officers?
Yes. You are attested as a constable under section 29 of the Police Act 1996, normally in your first days, and the College of Policing says you are a police constable earning a salary from the day you join. You are on probation, which is what makes you a student officer, but you hold the same office and powers as any other constable.
Can you be sacked during police probation?
Yes. Regulation 13 of the Police Regulations 2003 lets the chief officer dispense with a probationer's services at any time during probation if they consider the officer is not fitted, physically or mentally, to perform the duties of the office, or is not likely to be an efficient or well conducted constable. You are entitled to a month's notice or a month's pay instead. Forces run a staged process with support plans and meetings before it gets that far.
What happens if I fail an assignment on the PCDA or DHEP?
The university partner's academic regulations decide resubmissions and resits, and forces work with the university on support. If you still cannot meet the academic standard, forces can treat it as a probation matter: North Yorkshire Police's procedure lists failure to achieve academic standards despite support among the cases that can go to its final review stage. Ask for your programme handbook early.
Do student officers get paid less?
No separate student rate appears in the Home Office pay determination. New constables start on pay point 1 of the constable scale, which we calculate at £32,255 from 1 September 2026, or pay point 2 (£33,609) where the chief officer has assigned new joiners there. Probationers move up the scale each year without having to meet the pay progression standard.
Can I go part-time during probation?
Sometimes. The Annex C determination sets a pro-rata probation period for part-time officers, so it is possible in principle. Forces set the conditions: Wiltshire Police, for example, only considers flexible or part-time working after the tutorship phase, requires mandated training to be done full-time, and extends probation pro rata up to a maximum of six years on the PCDA.
When can a student officer sit the sergeants' exam?
Not until probation is over. The College of Policing's 2027 NPPF step two candidate handbook (updated 10 September 2026) says you must have completed two years' service and your probationary service as a regular constable by the exam date. On the PCDA, with a three-year probation, that pushes the earliest date back accordingly.
Do probationers get unsatisfactory performance procedures (UPP)?
No. The Police (Performance) Regulations 2020 apply to officers up to chief superintendent excluding constable probationers. Performance, attendance and academic concerns about a student officer are handled under the force's probation procedure, which can lead to regulation 13. Once confirmed, you come under the performance regulations like any other officer.
Who are tutor constables and are they paid extra?
Tutor constables are experienced constables who patrol with you and help assess you for independent patrol. Wiltshire requires them to be confirmed constables who have completed a tutor course. The Police Leadership Commission said in July 2026 that there is no national tutor allowance, and a 2021 Police Federation survey it quoted found only 13 of 28 forces offered any financial incentive.
Is the PCEP being scrapped?
Not as far as we could find. The Police Leadership Commission (July 2026) said 63 per cent of new joiners were trained through PCEP in 2025/26 and recommended that PCEP recruits gain accreditation of their learning, with an option to top up to a degree-equivalent qualification. That is a recommendation, not a decision, and nothing we read closes the route.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 18 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: Police constable entry routes (www.college.police.uk/support-forces/police-constable-entry-routes) : read via the College's production mirror (production.copweb.aws.college.police.uk, same path) because the www host returned an error. Route lengths, qualifications, probation by route, PCEP available from April 2024. Page last updated 5 November 2024 (accessed 18 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Joining as a new police constable : read via the production mirror. Salary from day one, same core training whatever the route, PCEP with or without a qualification (accessed 18 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Guide to joining the police service (PDF, April 2026) : key milestones (initial learning within 5 to 6 months, tutored patrol within 10 months, full operational competence around 2 years), shift pattern, the four routes, detective pathways with two-year probation (accessed 18 October 2026)
- joiningthepolice.co.uk: Common questions : probation is two years, or the duration of the apprenticeship on the PCDA; working alongside experienced officers during probation (accessed 18 October 2026)
- The Police Regulations 2003, regulation 12: probationary service (legislation.gov.uk) : who must serve probation, period determined by the Secretary of State, delegation to the chief officer. Paragraph (1) substituted from 28 May 2025; no known outstanding effects (accessed 18 October 2026)
- The Police Regulations 2003, regulation 13: discharge of probationer (legislation.gov.uk) : the test for dispensing with a probationer's services, a month's notice or pay in lieu, the option to resign, delegation. No known outstanding effects (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 009/2024: changes to Annex C of the determinations under the Police Regulations 2003 (published 18 December 2024) : two-year probation, three years on the PCDA (paragraph 4D), chief officer may set a longer period, part-time formula, what counts as service (unpaid leave disregarded, first 52 weeks of maternity leave counted) (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 001/2018: amendment to probation periods for constables on the police constable degree apprenticeship (PDF) : background: the 2018 determination that first set three-year probation for PCDA constables (accessed 18 October 2026)
- The Police (Performance) Regulations 2020, explanatory note (legislation.gov.uk) : the Regulations apply to officers of chief superintendent and below excluding constable probationers (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Police Act 1996, section 29: attestation of constables (legislation.gov.uk) : every member of a police force is attested as a constable by making the Schedule 4 declaration (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Wiltshire Police: Training and Probationary Procedural Guidance for Student Officers (PDF, version 4.0, 2 October 2025) : one force's worked example: week-by-week journeys for PCDA, DHEP, PCEP and DCEP, the 12-week tutorship, IPS sign-off and extensions, gateways, fitness retakes, part-time rules, tutors. Other forces differ (accessed 18 October 2026)
- North Yorkshire Police: Regulation 13 for Student Officers procedure (PDF, 2025) : a second force example: supportive action, review and final review meetings, extension of probation, discharge decision, when misconduct rules apply instead (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Skills England: Police constable (integrated degree), ST0304, and its end-point assessment plan : level 6, typical 36 months, approved for delivery; the assessment plan's gateway (operational competence portfolio, degree, English and maths) and pass or fail grading (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Home Office Circular 011/2026: Annex F (pay), Police Regulations 2003 (published 31 July 2026) : official 2025/26 constable scales, start on pay point 1, chief officer option to assign pay point 2 from 1 April 2025, probationers not required to meet the pay progression standard, London weighting £3,150 (accessed 18 October 2026)
- NPCC: Government confirms police pay award (15 July 2026) : 3.5% for officers of all ranks from September 2026, used for our calculated 2026/27 figures (accessed 18 October 2026)
- College of Policing: NPPF step two candidate handbook 2027 (updated 10 September 2026) : read via the production mirror. Sergeants' exam eligibility: two years' service and completed probation by the exam date (accessed 18 October 2026)
- The Police (Promotion) Regulations 1996, regulation 3: qualification for promotion (legislation.gov.uk) : a constable is qualified for promotion to sergeant after passing the qualifying assessment, completing two years' service and completing probation (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Police Leadership Commission: Professionalism and performance, police leadership for the future (PDF, July 2026) : chapter 5 on constable training (PCEP share, off-the-job days, accreditation, routes offered by forces), paragraph 175 on tutor constables, recommendations 8, 9 and 13. Recommendations only (accessed 18 October 2026)
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the College of Policing, the Home Office, any university or any police force. Training programmes, timings, assessment and probation procedures are set nationally but delivered locally, so your force's own policy and your offer letter decide how they apply to you. This is general information, not legal advice: if your probation is extended or you are served a regulation 13 notice, speak to your Police Federation representative. Details are as checked on 18 October 2026.