How to become a police officer

There are various ways into policing, in this guide we look at undergraduate courses, degree apprenticeships and postgraduate opportunities.

CAREER PROSPECTS CHOOSING A COURSE POSTGRADUATE UNDERGRADUATE

Tamsin Mosse 14 Feb 2024

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Routes to becoming a police officer
Skills you’ll need
Finding work experience
How to get a job as a police officer
What it's like to be a police officer

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Routes to becoming a police officer

To become a police officer, you’ll need to undertake academic, practical and medical assessments to help prepare you for this job. Find out more about the different options available to get ahead in your chosen career.

Undergraduate degrees

There are various undergraduate degrees that could help you become a police officer. For example, a professional policing BSc or a BA in criminology and forensic investigation. Depending on the course you choose, it will take between three and four years to complete. Entry requirements vary depending on the university and degree but usually range between 80-130 UCAS points.

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Find an undergraduate Professional Policing degree

Degree apprenticeships

If you’d prefer to learn on the job, a degree apprenticeship could be for you. A degree apprenticeship will take the same length of time as an undergraduate degree but will involve lots of practical experience alongside classroom-based training and online digital learning.
You’ll be trained with a policing team working from a local police station and be paid a suitable apprenticeship wage.

Entry requirements are set by the employer and the classroom-based training provider. Your employer pays for the course, not you. You can search for apprenticeship vacancies via Find an apprenticeship.

Postgraduate degrees

If you already have a degree, you might choose to do a postgraduate qualification to get into policing or to enhance your policing career. A postgraduate degree takes a year to complete full time or two years part time. An undergraduate degree in a related subject is usually a minimum entry requirement.

Skills you’ll need

Aside from having an interest in law and order, you’ll also need to develop the following skills:

Great communication
Tact and diplomacy
Problem solving

Confident and calm under pressure
Respect for others and confidentiality
Teamwork
Self-motivated
Initiative

Ability to act with restraint

You’ll also need to pass a job-related fitness test and medical assessment.

Finding work experience

It’s not essential to have work experience but it will help you decide if this is the right career for you and gives you something to talk about at university and job interviews.

Try looking for work with:

Police-run volunteering opportunities e.g., volunteer police cadets or a police community support officer
Community organisation e.g., local youth group or sports coaching

How to get a job as a police officer

There are currently 45 police forces in the UK, each responsible for its own recruitment. It’s a good idea to contact your local police station directly if you’re interested in future roles as it can be quite competitive. Other employers include the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. If you do a degree apprenticeship, you may be offered a permanent role on successful completion.

What it's like to be a police officer

Depending on your role and specialisation, your tasks could include:

Responding to calls for help from the public
Investigating crimes and offences
Interviewing suspects and making arrests
Giving evidence in court

Traffic and crowd control at large public events and gatherings
Advising the public on personal safety and crime prevention
Promoting respect for people in relation to their race, diversity and human rights

You’ll spread your time between being on patrol and working from a police station. As a newly qualified police officer, you’ll need to complete probationary training. There is a clear ranking system within the police force to progress into more senior roles. You’ll need to show certain competencies and pass examinations before you can apply for a job at the next level. A fast-track programme is also available to support talented officers progress more quickly.

Is a role as a police officer right for you?

Police work can be physically and emotionally demanding but ultimately very rewarding with a clear career ladder to make progress. Think about doing some voluntary work experience with the police first to check if this is the right role for you.