Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

Study towards a fully funded degree with no tuition fees as you earn while you learn.

You will gain a fully funded BSc (Hons) Level 6 Degree in Professional Policing Practice on successful completion.

A starting salary of £31,551, which includes a South-East regional allowance of £3,000, working full-time (40 hours per week).

As a police constable, you'll be eligible to receive annual increments up to a salary of £49,044 which includes the regional allowance of £3,000.

You'll enjoy the advantages of a contributory pension scheme, which offers generous benefits based on average earnings. You'll start with 22 days annual leave rising to 30 days, dependent on your length of service.

You will also be classed as a full-time student, able to take advantage of student benefits, with access to savings, discounts and cash back rewards.

Build your career with structured learning and on the job experience, gaining highly valued skills and earn well respected qualifications.

The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) is delivered in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

The apprenticeship runs for three years, you will be based at one of our police stations in Hertfordshire and most of your training will take place on the job, working alongside our experienced police officers, with work-based study and attendance at one of our training centres in Welwyn Garden City or Letchworth.

Your training will begin with an initial period of classroom-based learning and you will join the operational policing team where you will be working.

Your learning will cover a wide range of policing topics including officer safety training, safeguarding, emergency life support, crime investigation and operational policing skills to fully prepare you for your operational role.

Throughout your training you will undertake work-based learning and you’ll be fully supported applying new skills and knowledge as part of your operational duties. You will be immersed in day-to-day policing which will let you contextualise what you are learning, enabling you to develop the skills and experience needed for this challenging role as a fully employed police officer from day one.

Assessment

You will need to successfully complete both operational and academic assessments designed to test the skills, knowledge and qualities you will need before being awarded a degree and becoming a fully-fledged police officer.

You will complete a number of different assessments throughout the apprenticeship, including written reflective reports and essays, exams, presentations (both group and individual) and digital artefacts (such as a case study blog or podcast).

Alongside academic assessments, you will also need to compile an Operational Competence Portfolio over the duration of the apprenticeship and pass a number of operational assessments against a range of critical policing skills.

These will include providing effective initial response to a critical incident, engaging proactively with communities, conducting effective evaluation of intelligence and providing support to vulnerable people, victims and witnesses.

In your final year, you will be required to complete the End Point Assessment, which will be made up of the following:

• Professional discussion based on your Operational Competence Portfolio
• 10,000-word research project based on your policing specialism
• Presentation and Assessment Panel discussion.

You will also be required to evidence operational competence in several areas, such as:

Providing effective initial response to a critical incident.
Engaging proactively with communities conducting effective evaluations of intelligence.

To successfully obtain the apprenticeship and degree you will have provided evidence that you have achieved the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours.

Core modules

• Introduction to Professional Policing
• Application of Police Powers
• Protection and Vulnerability
• Practical Policing
• Policing Communities
• Response and Crime Investigation
• Understanding Vulnerability
• Evidence Based Policing
• Policing, Leadership and Professional Development
• End Point Assessment and Evidence Based Policing
• Leadership and Coaching

To join the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), you will need a minimum of 32 UCAS points and GSCEs at grades C/Level 4 and above in English and Maths.

If you have less than the 32 UCAS points and the GCSE grades required, you will also need to have one year’s experience in a role that has comparable skills to policing or one year in academic study. The skills include customer service, conflict management and high pressure situations.