PCDA
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
A three-year apprenticeship where you are paid as a constable while completing a degree in professional policing practice, delivered by the force with a university.
Also searched as police constable degree apprenticeship, pcda, police degree apprenticeship. We currently see 5 forces referencing this route, with 3 live adverts we can read directly.
Short answer
A three-year apprenticeship where you are paid as a constable while completing a degree in professional policing practice, delivered by the force with a university. New constables start on £32,255 a year, more in London and South East forces that pay allowances. On 1 October 2026 the national joining the police website listed 15 forces recruiting through this route. You apply to the force, not to a national scheme.
Forces listing PCDA on 1 October 2026
From the national joining the police website's PCDA list, read on 1 October 2026. It is a dated reading, not a live feed, and drops off this page once it is more than five weeks old.
Cambridgeshire
East of England · from £32,255
Cumbria
North West · from £32,255
Essex
East of England · from £35,360
Gloucestershire
South West · from £32,255
Hampshire
South East · from £34,325
Kent
South East · from £35,360
the Met
London · from £42,334
Norfolk
East of England · from £32,255
Northumbria
North East · from £32,255
South Wales
Wales · from £32,255
Suffolk
East of England · from £32,255
Surrey
South East · from £35,360
Sussex
South East · from £34,325
Thames Valley
South East · from £35,360
West Midlands
West Midlands · from £32,255
Length
Three years, with a three-year probation
Who it's for
Candidates without a degree who want a degree at the end and are willing to study alongside operational duty.
Pay
£32,255 from day one, more with allowances
What you need
- A level 3 qualification such as two A levels, or experience the chief officer accepts as equivalent, including special constable or PCSO service (Home Office Annex BA)
- Level 2 English (such as GCSE grade 4/C) is commonly required; check the force's maths requirement too
- Aged 17 to apply and 18 to be appointed
- Pass the national sift, online assessment process, force interview, fitness test, medical and vetting
Worth knowing first
- The degree is funded, mainly through the apprenticeship levy; you do not pay tuition fees
- Protected off-the-job learning time is built into the programme
- The degree is awarded only when the full programme is completed
Forces advertising PCDA
Filtered to forces where our last check found this route. Forces whose systems block automated reading won't appear here even if they are recruiting — the full board shows every force with its data source.
55
live vacancies we can read
3
forces with a readable job feed
3
forces confirmed recruiting
Last checked today. We check every force twice a day and show you exactly where each answer came from.
Showing 5 of 43 forces
West Midlands Police
Read from West Midlands Police's own job board, today.
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
North Yorkshire Police
From North Yorkshire Police's own job board — 5 of 10 shown, checked today.
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
Derbyshire Constabulary
Read from Derbyshire Constabulary's careers page today. We can see what they mention, not a vacancy list.
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
Lancashire Constabulary
Read from Lancashire Constabulary's careers page today. We can see what they mention, not a vacancy list.
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
PCDA questions
Which forces are recruiting PCDA in 2026? +
On 1 October 2026 the national joining the police website listed Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Cumbria Constabulary, Essex Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Hampshire Constabulary, Kent Police, Metropolitan Police, Norfolk Constabulary, Northumbria Police, South Wales Police, Suffolk Constabulary, Surrey Police, Sussex Police, Thames Valley Police, West Midlands Police as recruiting through police constable degree apprenticeship. Routes open and close often, so confirm on the force's own site.
What is Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship? +
A three-year apprenticeship where you are paid as a constable while completing a degree in professional policing practice, delivered by the force with a university.
Who is PCDA for? +
Candidates without a degree who want a degree at the end and are willing to study alongside operational duty.
How long does PCDA take? +
Three years, with a three-year probation. The degree is funded, mainly through the apprenticeship levy; you do not pay tuition fees.
What do you need to apply for PCDA? +
A level 3 qualification such as two A levels, or experience the chief officer accepts as equivalent, including special constable or PCSO service (Home Office Annex BA). Level 2 English (such as GCSE grade 4/C) is commonly required; check the force's maths requirement too. Aged 17 to apply and 18 to be appointed. Pass the national sift, online assessment process, force interview, fitness test, medical and vetting.
What does PCDA pay? +
PCDA entrants are paid as police constables from day one: £32,255 a year at pay point 1 on the national scale, more in forces that pay a London or South East allowance. That is roughly £1,952 a month after tax, National Insurance and the police pension contribution.
Compare the other routes
PCEP
Two years, with a two-year probation
DHEP
Two years, with a two-year probation
Detective
Two-year probation, plus the learning needed for PIP 2 accreditation
Transferee
Set by the receiving force; vetting and references are the usual waits
Rejoiner
Probation of 6 months if you rejoin within 12 months at your old rank, otherwise 12 months
Specials
Ongoing, with a minimum monthly hours commitment set by each force
PCSO
Permanent role, starting with an initial learning programme
Staff
Permanent and fixed-term contracts