To become a police officer in the UK, you apply to a police force and join through one of its entry routes: a 3-year Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship, the 2-year Police Constable Entry Programme, a degree holder programme, or a Professional Policing degree followed by an application. You'll need to be over 18, pass enhanced background checks and pass a fitness test.
Every force runs its own recruitment, so the routes on offer and the exact entry rules depend on where you apply. That's the first thing to check.
The routes and requirements below come from the National Careers Service police officer profile, read on 26 October 2026, which covers England. If you're applying in Scotland or Northern Ireland, check with that force directly.
Police entry routes side by side
| Route | Length | Usual entry requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Police Constable Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship | 3 years, work-based, ends in a degree in Professional Policing Practice | 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 and A levels, or equivalent |
| Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) | 2 years | GCSEs in English and maths and 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent; relevant experience counts |
| Degree Holder Entry Programme | Not stated on the NCS profile; ask the force | A degree in any subject |
| Professional Policing degree | 3 years at a participating university, then apply | 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent |
| National Detective Programme | 2 years | A degree and at least 2 A levels, or equivalent |
How to join, step by step
- Check you meet the basics: over 18, able to pass enhanced background checks and a fitness test.
- Pick the force you want to join and see which routes it's recruiting for, because each force sets its own rules.
- Choose your route based on your qualifications: apprenticeship, PCEP, degree holder entry or the National Detective Programme.
- Apply. If your application is successful, you'll be invited to an assessment centre with written tests and an interview.
- Pass the checks and the fitness test, then start training.
- Complete your probationary period as a police constable.
The policing degree doesn't guarantee you a job
This is the catch people miss. The National Careers Service says a 3-year Professional Policing degree doesn't guarantee you a job at the end. You still have to apply for police constable roles, and you must do it within 5 years of finishing the degree.
So if you're choosing between a policing degree and a degree apprenticeship, weigh that up. The apprenticeship means you're already working for a force while you study. The policing degree gives you the qualification, but the job is a separate application with a time limit.
Ways to get experience first
- Become a special constable, a volunteer role that gives you a taste of police work.
- Work as a police community support officer (PCSO) before applying for officer training.
- If you're aged 13 to 18, join the police cadets.
- Bring in experience from the armed forces, other emergency services, Border Force or the prison service, which the National Careers Service says can count for the PCEP.
Experience like this can strengthen an application and help you decide whether the job is right for you before you commit to two or three years of training.
If you want to be a detective
You don't have to start in uniform. The Detective Constable Entry Programme lets you apply directly to train as a detective, and the 2-year National Detective Programme is open to people with a degree and at least 2 A levels. Once you're in the CID, the word detective is added to your rank, for example detective sergeant.
What the job involves
Police officers respond to calls for help, investigate crimes, collect witness statements and evidence, interview suspects, make arrests and give evidence in court. They also manage traffic and crowds at large events. The work can be outdoors in all weathers, and it's physically and emotionally demanding.
The skills the National Careers Service lists include staying calm in stressful situations, negotiation, sensitivity with people going through trauma, and legal knowledge of court procedures. Interview preparation helps for the assessment centre, and these prompts for job interview practice are a useful way to rehearse. It's also worth understanding how vetting works; our guide to background check rules covers the basics.
Preparing for the assessment centre
If your initial application succeeds, the National Careers Service says you'll be invited to an assessment centre with written tests and an interview. Prepare the way you would for any competitive job: know the force's values, have clear examples of times you stayed calm under pressure or handled a difficult conversation, and practise your written answers against the clock. Keep your fitness up too, because the fitness test is part of the process.
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Career progression
After probation, you can specialise in areas such as CID, road traffic, drugs or firearms, counter-terrorism, air support, underwater search, dog handling or mounted policing. With experience and extra training, you can apply for promotion to sergeant, inspector or chief inspector.
My verdict
The best route depends on what you already have. No degree? The degree apprenticeship or the PCEP gets you working for a force straight away. Already a graduate? Look at degree holder entry or, if investigation is your thing, the National Detective Programme. Be wary of doing a policing degree on the assumption that a job follows, because it doesn't, and the clock starts when you graduate.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications do you need to be a police officer in the UK?
It depends on the route. The degree apprenticeship usually needs 4 or 5 GCSEs and A levels, the PCEP usually needs GCSEs in English and maths and 1 or 2 A levels, and degree holder routes need a degree.
How old do you have to be to join the police?
The National Careers Service says you'll need to be over 18.
Does a policing degree guarantee a job?
No. You have to apply for police constable roles, and you must do so within 5 years of completing the Professional Policing degree.
How long does police training take?
The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship takes 3 years and the Police Constable Entry Programme takes 2 years, followed by a probationary period.
Can you become a detective straight away?
Yes. You can apply for the Detective Constable Entry Programme or, with a degree and at least 2 A levels, the 2-year National Detective Programme.
What checks do police applicants go through?
Enhanced background checks and a fitness test, plus an assessment centre with written tests and an interview if your application succeeds.
