Becoming a police officer in England and Wales is a structured process, and most forces now recruit through one of a small number of national entry routes. Whichever route you take, you will join as a student officer, complete a period of probation, and qualify as a substantive police constable. This guide walks through the main steps so you know what to expect before you apply. You can browse current openings on our police jobs page.
Basic eligibility
Each force sets some of its own requirements, but the core criteria are broadly consistent across England and Wales. Before you spend time on an application, check that you meet the essentials.
- You are aged 17 to apply (you must usually be 18 to start training).
- You are a British citizen, an EU/EEA national, or a Commonwealth or foreign national with leave to remain and no restrictions on staying in the UK.
- You have lived in the UK for the required residency period set by the force.
- You can pass medical and eyesight standards, and a fitness test.
- You hold a full UK manual driving licence (some forces accept this being obtained during probation).
Choose an entry route
There are three main routes into the role: the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) for people who already hold a degree, and a pre-join degree in professional policing. The right route depends largely on your existing qualifications. We cover the differences in detail in our guide to police officer entry routes.
The application and assessment
Applications are made directly to the force you want to join. Most forces use the College of Policing online assessment process, which includes situational judgement exercises, a written exercise, and a competency and values-based interview. Your answers are scored against the policing values and the Competency and Values Framework, so it pays to prepare structured examples. The STAR method is a reliable way to shape your interview responses.
Fitness, medical and vetting
The fitness test is commonly the multi-stage shuttle run (the bleep test), with the standard set at a level that is achievable with regular preparation. You will also have a medical assessment covering general health, eyesight and hearing. Vetting is thorough: it covers your own record, your finances, and close associates and family members. Be honest on the forms, because undisclosed issues are far more damaging than the issues themselves.
- Pass the job-related fitness test, often at the standard endurance level.
- Meet eyesight and colour-vision standards.
- Clear management vetting and disclose any cautions, convictions or debts.
- Provide referees and a full address history.
Probation and qualifying
Once you start, you are a student officer for roughly two years. You combine classroom learning with supervised frontline duties, building a portfolio of evidence and passing assessments along the way. At the end you are confirmed as a police constable. Pay is set on the national police pay scale and rises with each year of service, and you build entitlement under a public-sector pension. If you are weighing policing against other public roles, our comparison of public-sector careers may help.
This article is general information to help you plan, not formal careers advice. Always check the specific requirements published by the force you intend to apply to, as criteria and processes can change.