Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Constabulary
Permanent
Full Time
Local Policing Command
Forcewide
£29,907 (plus a £3000 South Eastern Allowance)

Please note, if this is a paid role and the role is part time then the salary quoted will be pro rata based on the hours worked per annum.

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31/03/2026, 23:55

Join Hertfordshire Constabulary as a Police Constable (PCDA) – September 2026 Intake

Are you ready for a career where no two days are the same?
Hertfordshire Constabulary is now welcoming applications for the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA), starting September 2026

This is your chance to earn a fully funded degree, gain outstanding on‑the‑job training, earn a competitive salary from day one, and make a lasting difference to communities across Hertfordshire.

From your very first day, you’ll be a police officer, supported by experienced colleagues and high-quality academic learning. If you’re looking for a role with purpose, variety, and exceptional development opportunities, this is it.

Programme information:

Duration – 3 years

Starting salary - £34,164 (includes south-east regional allowance)

Hours – Full-time (40 hours per week)

Qualification level – level 6 degree

Why Choose the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship?

  • Earn while you learn – gain a fully funded degree through Anglia Ruskin University
  • Start your policing career immediately – you are a warranted officer from day one
  • Competitive salary & benefits

 A role with real impact on the safety and wellbeing of local communities

  • No student debt and access to unparalleled training, mentoring, and career pathways
  • Diverse progression options including investigations, roads policing, community roles, specialist teams, and more

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome people from all backgrounds, life experiences, and communities. Policing thrives on diversity of thought and perspective.
If you are compassionate, resilient, a team player, and committed to public service, we want to hear from you.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is proud to be a fair and inclusive employer, and we strongly encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

Entry Requirements

As part of the police officer application process, you will then be asked to provide evidence of your academic qualifications for assessment by Anglia Ruskin University of the following:

  • GCSE Maths and English at a minimum of grade C or 4 (or equivalent qualification, such as level 2 functional skills in Maths and English)
  • English level 2 must have been sat in England.

In addition to the Maths and English requirements, the following criteria will also be applied: 

  • Applicants will need a level 3 qualification (two A Levels grade E or above or an equivalent qualification equal to 32 UCAS points)
  • Applicants with less than 32 UCAS points will be considered if they can provide evidence of at least one year’s employment in a role with comparable skills to policing or academic study. These applicants will be invited to a skills review panel where an assessment will be made on their ability to meet the academic demands of the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship.  Applicants who pass the suitability discussion criteria will have met the university entry requirements.

Further information on UCAS points can be found here. 

If you need replacement exam certificates, please visit:
https://www.gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate

If these are not supplied when requested, this will either result in us being unable to continue with your application or delays to your progress.

Driving Licence

You must hold a full UK manual driving licence at the time of application.
If you hold an automatic-only licence, please contact recruitment@bch.police.uk.


What to Expect from the Recruitment Process

  1. Application submission and academic review (via Anglia Ruskin University)
  2. National Police Online SIFT
  3. National Police Online Assessment Centre
  4. In force interview
  5. Pre-employment checks (Vetting, Medical, Employment reference, Fitness)

Applicants with previous service as a Police Officer should apply via the Transferee/Rejoiner pathway instead.

Important Information

Please note: This role has been identified as high-risk in relation to potential DNA and Fingerprint contamination within forensic processes. As such, successful candidates will be required to provide a DNA and Fingerprint elimination sample as part of their pre-employment checks.

The sample will be used to conduct a speculative search against our database and then solely for contamination elimination purposes and held on a secure elimination database in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

Provision of this sample is a condition of employment for roles identified as high-risk.

Apply Now

Begin a career where you can truly make a difference.
Applications close: Tuesday 31st March 2026 at 23:55

Help us deliver outstanding policing for everyone.
We believe that to serve our communities effectively, we need people from all backgrounds, bringing a wide range of life and professional experiences. This helps us reflect the communities we serve and ensures we deliver the best possible service.


Why Choose a Career in Policing?
Hertfordshire Constabulary is recognised as a pioneering and forward-thinking service, responsible for policing a large, diverse, and multicultural population.

If you're looking for a meaningful and rewarding career—where you can make a real difference, take on new challenges, and gain a wide variety of experiences—then we want to hear from you.


What We Offer
We’re proud to support our people with a comprehensive benefits package, including:

  • Pension Schemes: Access to the Police Pension Scheme, with employer contributions and death-in-service benefits.
  • Generous Annual Leave: 25 to 30 days (depending on rank and length of service).
  • Sick Pay: Up to six months full pay and six months half pay (depending on service).
  • Family Leave: Occupational maternity, adoption, and paternity pay (depending on service).
  • Carers and Discretionary Leave
  • Flexible Working: Including compressed hours, flexible shifts, job sharing, annualised hours, and agile working (role dependent).
  • Wellbeing Support: Local wellbeing teams, on-site gym facilities and exercise classes (location dependent).
  • Sports & Social Clubs: Enjoy discounts, trips, and events through our dedicated clubs.
  • Cycle to Work Scheme
  • Blue Light Card App: Option to sign up for discounts in-store and online for emergency service workers.
  • Financial Support: Access to Police Mutual for savings plans, insurance, loans, and independent financial advice.
  • Employee Assistance Programme: Confidential support for personal and professional wellbeing.
  • Staff Support Networks: Including groups for Black and Minority Ethnic colleagues, LGBTQ+ colleagues, disability awareness, menopause support, faith-based groups, and more.
  • Access to Federation/Supts Association/COPSA (rank dependant).
  • Career Development: Opportunities for progression, promotion, and continuous improvement training.


Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to building a workforce that is inclusive and truly representative of the communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, especially those currently under-represented in policing, including:

  • Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities
  • People of all ages and abilities
  • All faiths and religions
  • LGBTQ+ communities
  • Individuals from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds

All applications are assessed fairly and based on the evidence you provide and your suitability for the role.

Disability Confident Logo



Police Barred and Advisory Lists
Individuals placed on the Police Barred and Advisory lists will not be considered for employment by the police for a minimum of 5 years from the date of listing in the case of gross misconduct, or 3 years from the date of listing in the case of poor performance.


Vetting and Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and operate safer recruitment processes, to ensure a police service that employees are proud to work for because they feel safe, valued and part of a happy and supportive work environment. All employees and volunteers therefore will be subject to background checks including vetting and references.

Hertfordshire Constabulary recognises the growing use of AI tools in preparing job applications. While these tools can support you in expressing your skills and experience more effectively, their use must align with the principles of honesty, integrity, originality, and personal accountability. We want to learn about you and your own personal experiences and how these make you suitable for the role, this will be assessed throughout the recruitment process including at interview, which AI cannot replace. Please click HERE to find out more about the acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in our recruitment process.