PCEP
Police Constable Entry Programme
A two-year, non-degree route to becoming a police constable, delivered by the force. Forces can choose to accredit it with a level 5 professional policing qualification.
Also searched as police constable entry programme, pcep, non degree police route. We currently see 6 forces referencing this route, with 4 live adverts we can read directly.
Short answer
A two-year, non-degree route to becoming a police constable, delivered by the force. Forces can choose to accredit it with a level 5 professional policing qualification. 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 19 forces recruiting through this route. You apply to the force, not to a national scheme.
Forces listing PCEP on 1 October 2026
From the national joining the police website's PCEP 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.
Cleveland
North East · from £32,255
Cumbria
North West · from £32,255
Derbyshire
East Midlands · from £32,255
Essex
East of England · from £35,360
Gloucestershire
South West · from £32,255
GMP
North West · from £32,255
Hampshire
South East · from £34,325
Kent
South East · from £35,360
Leicestershire
East Midlands · from £32,255
the Met
London · from £42,334
Northamptonshire
East Midlands · from £32,255
Nottinghamshire
East Midlands · 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
Warwickshire
West Midlands · from £32,255
West Midlands
West Midlands · from £32,255
Length
Two years, with a two-year probation
Who it's for
Candidates without a degree who want to learn mainly on the job rather than study for a degree alongside it.
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, which can include service as a special constable or PCSO (Home Office Annex BA)
- Aged 17 to apply and 18 to be appointed (Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10)
- If not a UK or EEA national, indefinite leave to remain, plus enough checkable UK history for vetting
- Pass the national sift, online assessment process, force interview, fitness test, medical and vetting
Worth knowing first
- You are paid as a constable from your first day
- No degree is awarded; a force may add a level 5 professional policing qualification
- Not every force runs PCEP, and those that do open it at different times
Forces advertising PCEP
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.
63
live vacancies we can read
4
forces with a readable job feed
4
forces confirmed recruiting
Last checked today. We check every force twice a day and show you exactly where each answer came from.
Showing 6 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
South Yorkshire Police
Read from South Yorkshire Police's own job board, today.
Starting salary
£32,255
national scale
≈ £1,952/mo take-home
Cleveland Police
From Cleveland Police's own job board — 4 of 8 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
PCEP questions
Which forces are recruiting PCEP in 2026? +
On 1 October 2026 the national joining the police website listed Cleveland Police, Cumbria Constabulary, Derbyshire Constabulary, Essex Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Greater Manchester Police, Hampshire Constabulary, Kent Police, Leicestershire Police, Metropolitan Police, Northamptonshire Police, Nottinghamshire Police, South Wales Police, Suffolk Constabulary, Surrey Police, Sussex Police, Thames Valley Police, Warwickshire Police, West Midlands Police as recruiting through police constable entry programme. Routes open and close often, so confirm on the force's own site.
What is Police Constable Entry Programme? +
A two-year, non-degree route to becoming a police constable, delivered by the force. Forces can choose to accredit it with a level 5 professional policing qualification.
Who is PCEP for? +
Candidates without a degree who want to learn mainly on the job rather than study for a degree alongside it.
How long does PCEP take? +
Two years, with a two-year probation. You are paid as a constable from your first day.
What do you need to apply for PCEP? +
A level 3 qualification such as two A levels, or experience the chief officer accepts as equivalent, which can include service as a special constable or PCSO (Home Office Annex BA). Aged 17 to apply and 18 to be appointed (Police Regulations 2003, regulation 10). If not a UK or EEA national, indefinite leave to remain, plus enough checkable UK history for vetting. Pass the national sift, online assessment process, force interview, fitness test, medical and vetting.
What does PCEP pay? +
PCEP 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
PCDA
Three years, with a three-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