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Is it difficult to get onto a PCDA?

Oliver062035

I’ve heard from a few people that it’s really hard to get on to a PCDA but the highest qualifications needed are just 1 A level or equivalent. Is it true it’s hard to get on? Any advice from successful or unsuccessful candidates would be great!

Reply 1

Trinculo

These things are always going to depend on the force. Some of the smaller ones have very small annual recruitments - maybe just one class per year. Others, like GMP or West Mids - take on a lot. The Met take on thousands of officers per year.

If you are going for the larger forces, it should be relatively easy - especially as there is a shortage of police officers and its getting worse.

Just don't make the mistake of equating "difficulty" with "time taken". It has always (and I mean for decades and decades) taken a long time to be recruited into the police. From first application to starting your first day of training, anywhere between 10-18 months is normal and below 10 months is very quick.