PCEP is a two-year programme delivered in partnership with the University of the West of England. It consists of classroom, on-the-job learning and tutorship. This route is suited to military service leavers and those that do not already have a degree.
Successful Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP) applicants obtain a Level 5 Diploma in Professional Police Practice, while working and earning a full salary.
There is no requirement to contribute towards the cost of the Level 5 qualification but they remain on probation for the two-year duration of the programme.
Following completion of the two-year programme, individuals will have the option to pursue an additional year of learning to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
Eligibility and suitability
Police officer eligibility criteria and quizzes for suitability can be found on our is a career in policing right for me page.
In addition to the officer eligibility criteria, individuals must be able to demonstrate transferable skills such as problem solving, communication and teamwork, or have completed at least two-years’ military service in the British armed forces.
Military service leavers
Avon and Somerset Police welcome applications from service leavers. We recognise the unique strengths and skillsets that military personnel bring to the table, from courage and self-discipline to being able to make the right decisions under pressure.
Applicants should either be released or due to be released from service, and be ready to start the PCEP by January 2026.
What makes a good police officer?
For an overview of an officer’s typical day-to-day tasks and what Avon and Somerset Police expect from officers, see our what makes a good police officer page.
Pay scales
Candidates joining through the PCEP will start on pay point 1 of the police constable pay scales. This will increase annually on the anniversary of your joining date.
- Year 1 (pay point 1): £29,907
- Year 2 (pay point 2): £31,164
After probation, this will move to a performance-related pay scale.
Programme hours
As a police officer, you will be contracted to work 40 hours per week and both your classroom and on-the-job training are included in these working hours.
While in tutorship and working as an operational police officer, you will work to a 24/7 shift pattern consisting of:
• two early shifts (07:00 to 16:00)
• two late shifts (14:30 to 23:00) and
• two nights (22:00 to 07:00) followed by rest days
Flexible working patterns will be considered against the requirements of service delivery but periods of learning delivery will be in 40-hour week blocks.
Programme structure
The PCEP programme is delivered in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and includes classroom delivery, practical application and tutorship. The programme is split between the university’s Frenchay and Glenside campuses and Police Headquarters in Portishead. You will be classed as a full-time student, so will be able to take advantage of UWE Bristol student benefits.
In your first six weeks, you will undertake personal protection training, driver training, system training as well as classroom learning based at Police Headquarters.
After this initial period, you will enter into tutorship working with a 24/7 response team to put your acquired skills and knowledge into practice in order to achieve independent police status. If you have already achieved independent police status, by serving as a special constable you will receive coaching and mentoring.
You will then follow a programme to achieve full occupational competence over a two-year probation period.
Recruitment process
Read our step-by-step recruitment process for police officers.
Ready to join us?
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Alternative routes into policing and frontline services
Explore other routes into policing, or read about our wide range of police staff role opportunities such as PCSOs, Communication Centre roles and other specialist staff roles.
To make a recruitment-related query, contact our Talent Acquisition team.