Recruitment Timeline
There is no national timescale. Enter your own force's figures to plan your route to a start date.
Adjust Your Scenario
There is no national timescale for any stage, and forces vary. The week ranges below are placeholder assumptions for planning only, not official figures. Replace them with what your own force tells you. The buffers added by the toggles are also illustrative assumptions.
National Application Form
1-4 wksThe national application form for the force you are applying to.
Online Sift Tests
2-6 wksOnline sifting tests that assess judgement and behaviours.
Online Assessment (OAC)
4-12 wksThe online assessment: an interview, a written exercise and a briefing exercise.
Face-to-Face Interview
2-6 wksA face-to-face interview with the force you are applying to join.
Vetting & References
6-12 wksVetting checks run by your force. There is no national vetting timescale. Lancashire Constabulary, for example, says six to eight weeks.
Medical & Fitness
4-8 wksHealth checks and the fitness test, run by your force. The order of these checks varies by force.
Offer & Start Date
4-12 wksWaiting for a start date. Forces set their own start dates.
Disclaimer: This is a planning aid built from your own assumptions and illustrative starting values. It is not an official timescale and there is no national timescale for police recruitment. Sources for the stage names: College of Policing, 17 March 2026. Your force sets the order and timing of vetting, medical and fitness checks.
The Short Answer
There is no national timescale for police recruitment. The process has four stages (national application form, online sift tests, online assessment, and a face-to-face interview with your force), with vetting, medical and fitness checks run by your force. Even once you clear every check, your start date can depend on when your force's next training course begins.
Source: College of Policing, 17 March 2026. Last reviewed 30 September 2026.
Where Delays Happen
Vetting Backlogs
Where there is more to check, such as time abroad, complex finances or associates with a record, vetting may take longer. There is no national vetting timescale, so ask your force.
GP Reports
Your force may ask for medical information, which can depend on how quickly your GP or other providers respond. If something comes up, the force may ask for more detail.
Start Dates
Forces set their own start dates and training course schedules. Missing one course could mean waiting for the next, so ask your force how it schedules them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does police recruitment take?
There is no national timescale, and forces vary. Recruitment for England and Wales has four stages (a national application form, online sift tests, the online assessment, and a face-to-face interview with your force), with vetting, medical and fitness checks run by your force. Ask your force how long its own process usually takes and enter those figures into the planner.
Why does police vetting take so long?
Vetting has a lot to check, including five years of address history and three years of continuous UK residency. Delays are more likely where there is more to verify, such as time spent abroad, or where the forms are incomplete and need follow-up. There is no national vetting timescale. Some forces publish their own figure, for example Lancashire Constabulary says six to eight weeks. Since 13 July 2026 the Police (Vetting) Regulations 2025 say you can only apply for clearance after the four recruitment stages, and it must be granted within the six months before your start date.
Can I speed up my application?
You can't speed up the force, but you can avoid slowing it down. Respond to emails and requests promptly, have your GP and address details ready, and make sure your application and vetting forms are complete and accurate.
What happens if I fail a stage?
It depends on the stage and the force. For the online assessment, the College of Policing's candidate guide sets a default wait of three months before a resit. For vetting, since 13 July 2026 the force must give candidates written reasons for a refusal, and you can appeal on limited grounds to someone not involved in the decision. Check the College guidance and your force's own recruitment FAQs for the current rules.
Do I get paid during training?
Yes. Police constables are paid employees from their start date, including during initial training. Starting salaries are on our police pay scales pages.
Does the Met Police recruit faster?
There is no published comparison that shows one force is faster than another, so this planner does not assume it. Ask the force you are applying to how long each stage usually takes.