Police forces across England have begun offering a revamped police constable degree apprenticeship (PCDA) which aims to offer entrants a more work-based pathway into policing.
The PCDA, officially introduced as of April 2025, has been redesigned so its focus is now more on workplace skills and on-the-job-learning.
Provided by forces in partnership with local HEIs and universities, its new format now more closely resembles the regulated professional work-based model used to deliver nursing degree apprenticeships in England. It also gives police degree apprentices an opportunity to specialise in one of the core areas of policing as well as a degree in professional policing practice.
The PCDA standard has been agreed with IfATE, The Institute for Technical Education - and the reworked programme has been approved by Education secretary Bridget Phillipson for increased government funding. As a result, English forces can access an extra £3,000 from their apprenticeship levy for each PCDA student officer, with the funding band now £27,000 against the previous £24,000.
Welcoming the revised PCDA, the College of Policing said its introduction will help maintain high standards while 'giving forces more freedom to align local courses with the real-world challenges faced by recruits and operational demands.'
Jo Noakes, the College's Interim Deputy CEO, added: "The increased flexibility with the PCDA supports forces to recruit more diverse candidates and future leaders - particularly those individuals who may have been discouraged from applying because they felt the apprenticeship was too academic, and not for them."
PCDA entry requirements
To be considered for the PCDA, entrants will need:
Education eligibility criteria may differ though from force to force, so applicants are advised to check with their chosen force first.
For example, as an alternative to A levels or level 3 qualifications, some forces will consider applications from people who've served as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), a Special Constable, or been in the Armed Forces, subject to them having completed the minimum term and holding an exemplary reference.
Among the many forces, some being Onefile customers, offering the new PCDA are Leicestershire Police, in partnership with De Montfort University in Leicester, West Yorkshire Police who have partnered with Leeds Trinity University and Northumbria Police who are working with Northumbria University in Newcastle.
Successful applicants to the Metropolitan Police's PCDA programme will do their academic learning with Brunel University, the University of West London or Anglia Ruskin University.
But whichever force they join, all police constable degree apprentices will be employed as police officers from day one - earning while learning and having their training fully funded.
Training will consist of classroom learning blended with on-the-job work so apprentices can put theory into practice in everyday scenarios. Police powers and legislation, safeguarding and professional practice communities are among the key subjects covered on the course.