What gcse should i take to be a police officer

You'll usually apply to one police force at a time. If your application is successful, you'll be invited to an assessment centre where you'll:. You can search for forces that are recruiting at Joining the Police.

This route is gradually being withdrawn and replaced by the degree apprenticeship or degree entry routes. If you want to go back into police work, you can find out about options for former officers from the College of Policing.

If you're aged 13 to 18 you could become a police cadet. You can find out more about routes into policing from Joining the Police. You'll need to contact your local police force to apply, as each force has its own recruitment rules. You can find out more about careers in the police from the College of Policing.

You will also need to pass a fitness test. Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and physically and emotionally demanding. Once your training is complete you'll need to pass a probationary period as a police constable. There are clearly defined ranks in the service which you can move through with experience as well as taking additional examinations. There are opportunities to specialise in a particular type of policing, for example:.

With experience, you may be able to apply for promotion to sergeant, inspector or chief inspector. In the CID you'll also have the title of detective added to your rank, for example detective sergeant or detective chief inspector.

Generally you will need to have lived in the UK for three years and be over the age of You will also have to pass background and security checks. You will also have to pass physical and medical tests. An applicant may still be accepted even with several poor marks on his credit.

In order to stand the best chance of receiving a job offer, you should review your credit score. Do the research necessary to ensure that it demonstrates financial responsibility and minimal debt.

The upper age limit is typically 57 years old, allowing for completion of the probationary period before the compulsory retirement age of You can communicate better with individuals in the community that you work in if you understand their native language, and this can benefit you in so many ways.

You can also understand and interpret information that people provide better. An A-Level in a Language also gives you the opportunity to understand the culture of a particular country in incredible detail, and therefore could also improve your knowledge of different cultures and customs.

There is not one set of specific grades that you will need overall to become a Police officer, as long as you get passes in your A-Levels. However, you should obviously aim to achieve the highest grades possible in your exams, and make sure that you check the entry requirements of the specific University courses that you are interested in.

If you achieve higher grades, chances are that it will be a result of a better understanding of the content, and that is the really important thing overall. If you want to be able to apply any of your knowledge that you have learned in your time at Sixth Form to your career, a deep understanding of the content is vital. The content that you learn during your A-Level courses can be used as a basis for further learning, making your progression into a career as a Police Officer a lot easier!

If you are interested in becoming a Police Officer, it is not necessary for you to do a degree, as you can usually complete a degree-apprenticeship with a Police Force, where you learn on the job while also completing a degree in Professional Policing Practice. However, some may want to do a degree before joining the Police, and it is possible to do a degree in Professional Policing.

This could lead to shorter on-the-job training. An Article which may be useful for those looking at pathways into becoming a Police Officer can be found here , and I would recommend that you take a look at it to decide what option is best for you.

If you would like to do a degree that is related to Policing, you should take a degree in Professional Policing.

This would be a 3-year Bachelor of Science course. Some examples of the different courses which are available are listed below:. Although this is a great degree to choose if you would like to pursue a career as a Police Officer, you do not have to do this specific degree.

Once you have done a degree, you will have to do further training, which will be discussed in the next section. It is incredibly important that you know what A-Level subjects or grades you need for specific University courses. Additionally, if you would like to know about how to earn more UCAS Points, take a look at this useful article.

If you want to join the Police straight after your time at Sixth Form, this is another route which you can take! In fact, you can do a degree apprenticeship with the Police Force of your choice, and will be able to learn on the job while also earning a degree in Professional Policing Practice. If you would like to find out which forces are recruiting, you can take a look at this useful website , which will enable you to find routes into the Police according to your position whether you have a degree or not and your location.

Because there are different routes into the Police, the steps that you should take after graduating will vary. The federation aims to keep members fully informed of decision-making within the force, maintain the highest level of professionalism and integrity, and act in the interest of the public. Becoming a police officer is a highly rewarding job. You will spend your day helping people and making decisions that improve the community in which you live.

There are core competencies that are perceived as essential, which are covered in the Competency and Values Framework. These include being resolute, compassionate and committed. You are expected to be inclusive, enabling and a visionary. You will also be expected to have intelligence, creativity and to keep yourself informed.

Added to this are integrity, impartiality and a commitment to public service and transparency. If you feel you have these values and qualities, then you will find the work of the police perfect for you. You can start at the basic levels of qualification or enter as a graduate. Therefore, it is a career choice for people who are academic or want to progress through practical experience.

Browse courses by Police Officers explained. Related courses you may also like. See all related courses. Want to know more? How it works. Pay point.