Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

West Midlands Police; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Staff networks

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

West Midlands Police offers the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), a three-year programme that lets you earn a Level 6 degree in Professional Policing Practice while serving your community from day one.

You train in-house and with a partner university through blended learning, practical frontline policing, and ongoing support, with probation and clear paths into specialist units and leadership roles after completion.

Qualifications

• Must have Level 2 English (Grade C/4 or above).
• Must have Level 3 qualification worth at least 80 UCAS points, OR Level 4 or 5 qualification.

Responsibilities

• As a Police Constable, you’ll help keep communities safe and tackle crime.
• Training is three-year blended learning to a Level 6 Degree in Professional Policing Practice.
• Once probation is completed, opportunities for specialist units and leadership roles.

Education

Level 2 English (Grade C/4 or above)

Level 3 qualification worth at least 80 UCAS points, OR Level 4 or 5 qualification

Job description

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship Route (PCDA)

Are you looking for a career like no other? Do you want the opportunity to study for a degree while gaining hands‑on experience from day one? If so, join West Midlands Police through our Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) programme.

As a Police Constable, you’ll play a vital role in keeping our communities safe, protecting the vulnerable, and tackling crime. This is a challenging but hugely rewarding career where no two days are the same.

About the PCDA Programme

• Earn & Learn, you’ll be a fully employed police officer from day one, while studying towards a Level 6 Degree in Professional Policing Practice over three years.
• Blended Learning, most of your training will be delivered in-house at West Midlands Police, supported by a partner university. Classroom learning will be combined with frontline policing and digital study.
• Ongoing Support, training is practical and designed to prepare you for real‑life policing, with guidance from experienced officers.
• Future Opportunities, once you’ve completed your probation, you’ll have access to a wide range of career paths, from specialist units such as Firearms, Dogs, Roads Policing, and Investigations, to progression into leadership roles.

Please note: This is not a direct Detective route. However, after initial training, you may apply to join our Detective Academy pathway.

What’s in it for you?

• Starting salary: £31,164 , rising annually up to £50,256 within seven years.
• BA Degree in Professional Policing Practice (on successful completion).
• 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 after five years.
• Extensive benefits, including a pension scheme, employee support, staff networks, and professional development opportunities. See our benefits webpage for more details.
• A career that matters – make a lasting impact on communities while developing your skills and future.

Who can apply?

You must have:

• Level 2 English (Grade C/4 or above) AND
• One of the following:
  • Level 3 qualification worth at least 80 UCAS points, OR
  • Level 4 or 5 qualification

Fitness, Medical & Vetting

• Must meet the bleep test standard of 5.4.
• Must pass medical checks, which may include drug and fitness testing.
• Must pass our required vetting checks. See our Vetting FAQ for more information.

Residency & Nationality

• Lived in the UK for the past 3 years.
• Must be a British or EEA national, or have the right to work in the UK without restrictions.