5. Entry routes
There are a variety of entry routes that are available, please check the options below and what is required to be eligible to apply.
Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship
Join as a constable and follow an apprenticeship in professional policing practice – you earn while you learn!
The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) is a three year professional degree apprenticeship, with both on and off-the-job learning. On completion, successful candidates will achieve a Level 6 Degree in Professional Policing Practice.
To apply for the PCDA, entrants must hold Level 2 qualifications (GCSE A*-C or 9-4 or equivalent) in English Language and Maths and have achieved a Level 3 qualification (two A levels or equivalent)** or complete a competency based personal statement to pass the eligibility stage.
The force covers all fees relating to this entry route.
**College of Policing requirement:
- A level
- Access to higher education diploma
- Advanced apprenticeship
- Applied general
- AS level
- International Baccalaureate diploma
- Level 3 award
- Level 3 certificate
- Level 3 diploma
- Level 3 ESOL
- Level 3 national certificate
- Level 3 national diploma
- Level 3 NVQ
- Music grades 6, 7 and 8
- Tech level
Degree Holder Entry Programme
The Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) is for those who already hold a degree in any subject area. This is a two-year academic and practice-based programme.
On completion, successful candidates will achieve a Graduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice. The Force covers all fees relating to this entry route.
Pre-join degree entry
If you want to study first, you can do a three year Degree in Professional Policing at your own expense and then apply to our force and follow a shorter on-the-job training programme.
The Degree in Professional Policing (PPD) is for those who choose to complete the honours degree at a Higher Education Institution of their choosing at their own cost. Candidates recruited via this route will also undertake academic and practice based training to develop specific skills assessed against national assessment criteria and operational competence.
For more information and to see the full list of universities that offer the courses, please visit the College of Policing website.
Being a special constable can be included in this route.