The route, drawn out
DWG BF86 · 5 stops · 3 years to qualify-
Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
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Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
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3 years Fully qualified around £30k
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+3–5 years Experienced up to £48k
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Then Confirmation in rank, then specialist… next step
The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.
What the job is
The police constable degree apprenticeship puts you on the street as a paid officer from early in your training, studying alongside operational duties. Your tuition is funded and you are employed throughout.
It takes about three years to complete and confirm in post. Selection is thorough — fitness, assessment centre, vetting, medical — and the work is demanding, shift-based and confrontational at times, but the range of specialisms afterwards is enormous.
A typical day
- Patrol, respond to incidents and deal with emergencies
- Investigate crime, gather evidence and take statements
- Arrest, interview and prepare case files
- Support victims and work with communities
- Give evidence in court
How you get in
- You must be 18+ and meet nationality and residency requirements
- Level 3 qualifications are usually required for the degree route
- You must pass vetting, fitness, medical and assessment centre stages
- Tattoo, eyesight and financial checks apply — read your force's criteria
Where it leads
- Confirmation in rank, then specialist departments
- CID, roads policing, firearms, dog handling or intelligence
- Sergeant and inspector promotion routes
- Detective and investigative specialisms
Where to train for this
17 colleges and training providers on our list cover Police Constable (Degree Apprenticeship) training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.