If you want to become a police constable in England and Wales, one of the first decisions is which entry route fits your circumstances. Since the introduction of the Police Education Qualifications Framework, most forces recruit through one of three nationally recognised routes. They lead to the same job but differ in cost, study commitment and the qualification you end up with. Current vacancies are listed on our police jobs page.
Route 1: Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)
The PCDA is an apprenticeship that lets you earn a salary while you study for a degree in professional policing practice. It usually runs for around three years, blending paid frontline work with academic study delivered in partnership with a university. You do not pay tuition fees, and you are a serving officer from the start.
- Best for: people without a degree who want to earn while they learn.
- Outcome: a full degree plus qualification as a police constable.
- Commitment: around three years combining work and study.
- Cost: no tuition fees; you are paid throughout.
Route 2: Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP)
The DHEP is designed for people who already hold a degree in any subject. It is a shorter work-based programme, usually around two years, that leads to a graduate diploma in professional policing practice alongside confirmation as a constable. As with the apprenticeship, you are paid from day one and learn on the job.
- Best for: existing graduates from any discipline.
- Outcome: a graduate diploma plus qualification as a police constable.
- Commitment: typically two years of work-based learning.
- Cost: no tuition fees; you are paid throughout.
Route 3: Pre-join professional policing degree
The third route is to complete a degree in professional policing at your own expense before applying. After graduating you apply to a force and complete a shorter on-the-job conversion period. This route suits people who prefer to study full time first and want flexibility about which force they ultimately join, but you fund the degree yourself.
How to choose
The decision usually comes down to whether you already hold a degree and whether you would rather earn while you learn or study first. If you have no degree and want to be paid from the outset, the PCDA is the natural choice. If you already have a degree, the DHEP gets you to qualification more quickly. The pre-join degree is the route for those happy to invest in study upfront. Whichever you pick, the application and assessment process is broadly the same, and our overview of how to become a police officer explains the wider steps.
Preparing your application
All three routes use values-based assessment, so be ready to evidence the policing values and competencies with concrete examples. Structuring answers with the STAR method helps you stay clear and specific. A well-written application is just as important here as in any other public role, and the principles in our public-sector CV guide carry over directly.
This is general information rather than formal careers advice. Entry routes and their availability vary between forces and change over time, so confirm the current options with the force you wish to join.