Career Apprenticeships

An apprentice is employed as an employee by an organisation.

Apprenticeships are work-based training programmes which combine on-the-job training from experienced staff in the workplace. The apprentice will also undertake off-the-job training with a Training Provider, leading to nationally recognised qualifications. This gives apprentices the unique opportunity to earn while they learn, and gain practical work experience relevant to their desired career path.

It also means employers are able to play a key role in the development of their staff, and build a workforce directly tailored to their business priorities and organisational values.

Each apprenticeship is different and there is no set time to complete the apprenticeship. In general they can take between one to six years to complete.

The College of Policing introduced a new, professional framework for training police officers and police staff in 2020, setting professional qualification levels for the police service.

The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) was the first  apprenticeship programme introduced in Wiltshire in summer 2020, in partnership with the University of South Wales (USW). 

It was introduced to meet the need for policing to have consistent, national education levels and an entry level qualification commensurate with that of a profession.

• For applicants without a degree, we offer the Police Officer Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)
• For applicants who already have a degree we offer the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP) route
• You will need to be at least 17 when you apply and 18 when you start training and will have a Level 3 qualification (or equivalent) as well as Level 2 in English and Mathematics or equivalent prior to entry.
• The PCDA takes three years and at the end of the course successful students will be awarded in Professional Policing Practice by our training education partners The University of South Wales.
• The DHEP route takes two years and successful applicants are awarded a Graduate Diploma in Policing Practice.

• The Level 4 standard for Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) has been approved and in Wiltshire our first PCSOs began training in January 2022
• Typically a PCSO will be 18 or older, and will have achieved a Level 3 qualification (16 UCAS points) or equivalent and a Level 2 in English and Mathematics (or equivalent) prior to entry.
• The apprenticeship will take around a year and at the end of the course a Level 4 Higher Education Certificate in Community Policing Practice will be awarded by our training education partner the University of South Wales

All our career apprenticeships for police staff roles are aligned to the national Apprenticeship Standards.

Apprenticeship opportunities for new police staff roles are advertised on our our staff vacancies page.

Any member of Police staff can apply to take an apprenticeship at any age or stage of their career and we welcome external applicants for apprenticeship opportunities when they are advertised.

For Police Officers anyone up to the age of 55 can be an apprentice. 

If you need a Level 3 qualification to apply and don't have one:

You can get a free level 3 qualification if you:

• are 19 or over and do not already have a level 3 qualification
• already have a level 3 qualification or higher but earn below the National Living Wage annually 
• already have a level 3 qualification or higher but are unemployed

In some areas, there may be a slightly different low wage threshold. Check with your local training provider to find out the low wage threshold in your area.

For more information on qualifications needed to become a Police Officer please visit the educational requirements on our Police Officer careers page 

Your apprenticeship won't cost you anything.  It is funded by the Government and will cover all the costs of your training.

For all successful students, there is a job for you at the end of your apprenticeship.

You will receive the same holiday entitlement as most paid employment – on average 25 days paid holiday per year, plus Bank Holidays.

Your employer is fundamental to your apprenticeship. They give you on-the-job training and experience to support your career, while paying your wage.

Your employer will also ensure you have a manager to guide you throughout your apprenticeship. All our apprentices are also assigned a one-to-one mentor, who will be available to offer advice when you need it.

Apprentices are cost-effective and lead to increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a competent workforce.