Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) thread
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AzzyArslan
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#1
General thread for anyone wanting to do or doing the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship.
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Quick guides to apprenticeships
AzzyArslan
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#2
I'm currently in the PCDA candidate. I have my SEARCH assessment centre coming up in April.
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ms05056128
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#3
Hey! I’ve just applied for the PCDA. How long did it take for you to get an email to say you’ve been shortlisted for the SEARCH centre??
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AzzyArslan
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#4
(Original post by ms05056128)
Hey! I’ve just applied for the PCDA. How long did it take for you to get an email to say you’ve been shortlisted for the SEARCH centre??
Hey! I’ve just applied for the PCDA. How long did it take for you to get an email to say you’ve been shortlisted for the SEARCH centre??
9/12/19 Registered interest in PCDA and completed online questionnaires
20/01/20 Online Behavioural Styles Questionnaire v2
03/02/20 Online Situational Judgement Test
04/04/20 Received date for SEARCH
08/05/20 SEARCH
25/04/20 SEARCH cancelled because of coronavirus
Hope this helps

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Hoc est Bellum
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#5
Hi,
I am applying for the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and the application requires providing 2 references who can comment on conduct at work and/or school.
I am currently working at my company so I am unable to use my manager as a reference (as they do not know I am applying). As I am on an apprenticeship scheme currently, I can't request a reference from a college instructor due to their links to my company.
Any help is appreciated
Thanks
I am applying for the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and the application requires providing 2 references who can comment on conduct at work and/or school.
I am currently working at my company so I am unable to use my manager as a reference (as they do not know I am applying). As I am on an apprenticeship scheme currently, I can't request a reference from a college instructor due to their links to my company.
Any help is appreciated
Thanks
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CoryDeAth
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#6
Originally, this was the path I was going to use, but I've now decided to go to university prior to training to become a PC, so I'll be taking the degree holder entry method!

Last edited by CoryDeAth; 2 years ago
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mrcadettt796
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#7
(Original post by AzzyArslan)
Okay so here's a rundown of the dates so far
9/12/19 Registered interest in PCDA and completed online questionnaires
20/01/20 Online Behavioural Styles Questionnaire v2
03/02/20 Online Situational Judgement Test
04/04/20 Received date for SEARCH
08/05/20 SEARCH
25/04/20 SEARCH cancelled because of coronavirus
Hope this helps
Okay so here's a rundown of the dates so far
9/12/19 Registered interest in PCDA and completed online questionnaires
20/01/20 Online Behavioural Styles Questionnaire v2
03/02/20 Online Situational Judgement Test
04/04/20 Received date for SEARCH
08/05/20 SEARCH
25/04/20 SEARCH cancelled because of coronavirus
Hope this helps

Thanks!
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AzzyArslan
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#8
(Original post by Hoc est Bellum)
Hi,
I am applying for the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and the application requires providing 2 references who can comment on conduct at work and/or school.
I am currently working at my company so I am unable to use my manager as a reference (as they do not know I am applying). As I am on an apprenticeship scheme currently, I can't request a reference from a college instructor due to their links to my company.
Any help is appreciated
Thanks
Hi,
I am applying for the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and the application requires providing 2 references who can comment on conduct at work and/or school.
I am currently working at my company so I am unable to use my manager as a reference (as they do not know I am applying). As I am on an apprenticeship scheme currently, I can't request a reference from a college instructor due to their links to my company.
Any help is appreciated
Thanks
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AzzyArslan
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#9
(Original post by mrcadettt796)
Quick one on this, I applied for the PCDA and my portal has just changed to Await SEARCH Assessment Centre, did the same thing happen to you before finding our next steps?
Thanks!
Quick one on this, I applied for the PCDA and my portal has just changed to Await SEARCH Assessment Centre, did the same thing happen to you before finding our next steps?
Thanks!
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Xxuserxx
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#10
Hi,
When did the applications open?
I didn’t know such policing apprenticeships existed so I’m now doing an engineering apprenticeship 🙄🙄🙄
When did the applications open?
I didn’t know such policing apprenticeships existed so I’m now doing an engineering apprenticeship 🙄🙄🙄
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AzzyArslan
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#11
(Original post by Xxuserxx)
Hi,
When did the applications open?
I didn’t know such policing apprenticeships existed so I’m now doing an engineering apprenticeship 🙄🙄🙄
Hi,
When did the applications open?
I didn’t know such policing apprenticeships existed so I’m now doing an engineering apprenticeship 🙄🙄🙄
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Xxuserxx
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#12
(Original post by AzzyArslan)
Different for every force. There's 43 police forces so have a look around and pick one to apply to when recruitment opens. Hope this helps 😊
Different for every force. There's 43 police forces so have a look around and pick one to apply to when recruitment opens. Hope this helps 😊
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JOSH4598
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#13
(Original post by CoryDeAth)
Originally, this was the path I was going to use, but I've now decided to go to university prior to training to become a PC, so I'll be taking the degree holder entry method!
Originally, this was the path I was going to use, but I've now decided to go to university prior to training to become a PC, so I'll be taking the degree holder entry method!

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AzzyArslan
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#14
(Original post by Xxuserxx)
Oh I wish I knew about this earlier, already got offers for engineering degree apprenticeships 😭😭😭
Oh I wish I knew about this earlier, already got offers for engineering degree apprenticeships 😭😭😭
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AzzyArslan
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#15
(Original post by JOSH4598)
Hoping to pursue a similar route into policing - 3 years at uni then join. Out of interest, would you chose the DHEP or Police Now? I know they're very different programmes but just curious what other people think of them.
Hoping to pursue a similar route into policing - 3 years at uni then join. Out of interest, would you chose the DHEP or Police Now? I know they're very different programmes but just curious what other people think of them.
Police Now gives you the option for direct entry as a detective. Serving officers have said that it's better the get a taste of frontline policing first and then specialise as a detective rather than direct entry. Plus, you might find you enjoy being on the frontline and if you don't you can always specialise in CID and become a detective.
Another thing is that the test to become a detective is said to be one of the hardest tests in policing which would be much easier if you already have two years of experience but if you go direct through Police Now then it you'll be at a disadvantage.
I must say my knowledge on this topic is very limited and its best to speak to people that know more about Police Now. I'm just going off of what I've heard.
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JOSH4598
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#16
(Original post by AzzyArslan)
With DHEP you're going be on frontline policing for two years at least until you complete the probation period and earn a post grad diploma in policing. After that you can specialise in whatever you like as long as there's a vacancy.
Police Now gives you the option for direct entry as a detective. Serving officers have said that it's better the get a taste of frontline policing first and then specialise as a detective rather than direct entry. Plus, you might find you enjoy being on the frontline and if you don't you can always specialise in CID and become a detective.
Another thing is that the test to become a detective is said to be one of the hardest tests in policing which would be much easier if you already have two years of experience but if you go direct through Police Now then it you'll be at a disadvantage.
I must say my knowledge on this topic is very limited and its best to speak to people that know more about Police Now. I'm just going off of what I've heard.
With DHEP you're going be on frontline policing for two years at least until you complete the probation period and earn a post grad diploma in policing. After that you can specialise in whatever you like as long as there's a vacancy.
Police Now gives you the option for direct entry as a detective. Serving officers have said that it's better the get a taste of frontline policing first and then specialise as a detective rather than direct entry. Plus, you might find you enjoy being on the frontline and if you don't you can always specialise in CID and become a detective.
Another thing is that the test to become a detective is said to be one of the hardest tests in policing which would be much easier if you already have two years of experience but if you go direct through Police Now then it you'll be at a disadvantage.
I must say my knowledge on this topic is very limited and its best to speak to people that know more about Police Now. I'm just going off of what I've heard.
The DHEP looks more policing-orientated, especially as you're put on a response team. But you do get a post-grad diploma which PN doesn't offer. The PN Detective programme looked ok, but I haven't heard a good word about it (workloads were ridiculous with recruits carrying 30+ investigations). Thanks for your reply though, so many different way to be a 'copper' at the moment!!
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mrcadettt796
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#17
This is interesting as I wasn’t aware of that. I’ve always been told that SEARCH is still a thing, appreciate that. One thing I have noticed is that there have been a lot of automated emails etc. Did you have this, what did you find the best way to get in contact with the recruitment team was? Via email or phone?
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AzzyArslan
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#18
(Original post by mrcadettt796)
This is interesting as I wasn’t aware of that. I’ve always been told that SEARCH is still a thing, appreciate that. One thing I have noticed is that there have been a lot of automated emails etc. Did you have this, what did you find the best way to get in contact with the recruitment team was? Via email or phone?
This is interesting as I wasn’t aware of that. I’ve always been told that SEARCH is still a thing, appreciate that. One thing I have noticed is that there have been a lot of automated emails etc. Did you have this, what did you find the best way to get in contact with the recruitment team was? Via email or phone?
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AzzyArslan
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#19
(Original post by JOSH4598)
No worries and thanks for the reply. I do know a fair amount on policing as it's been my intention to join for a while now. Spoken to serving officers online and done my research and you're completely right about joining then specialising. I was comparing the Police Now 'National Graduate Leadership Programme' which puts you into a neighbourhood policing team for your whole two years to seemingly use your graduate skills in improving the area. Not very welcomed by long-serving officers, especially given most PN NGLP recruits seem to climb the ranks rapidly!
The DHEP looks more policing-orientated, especially as you're put on a response team. But you do get a post-grad diploma which PN doesn't offer. The PN Detective programme looked ok, but I haven't heard a good word about it (workloads were ridiculous with recruits carrying 30+ investigations). Thanks for your reply though, so many different way to be a 'copper' at the moment!!
No worries and thanks for the reply. I do know a fair amount on policing as it's been my intention to join for a while now. Spoken to serving officers online and done my research and you're completely right about joining then specialising. I was comparing the Police Now 'National Graduate Leadership Programme' which puts you into a neighbourhood policing team for your whole two years to seemingly use your graduate skills in improving the area. Not very welcomed by long-serving officers, especially given most PN NGLP recruits seem to climb the ranks rapidly!
The DHEP looks more policing-orientated, especially as you're put on a response team. But you do get a post-grad diploma which PN doesn't offer. The PN Detective programme looked ok, but I haven't heard a good word about it (workloads were ridiculous with recruits carrying 30+ investigations). Thanks for your reply though, so many different way to be a 'copper' at the moment!!
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mrcadettt796
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#20
(Original post by AzzyArslan)
Definitely email. Go on the force website and look for an email in HR or recruitment. Which force is it may I ask? I'm extremely disappointed that they haven't told you SEARCH has been abolished. It's been over a month now!!
Definitely email. Go on the force website and look for an email in HR or recruitment. Which force is it may I ask? I'm extremely disappointed that they haven't told you SEARCH has been abolished. It's been over a month now!!
Last edited by mrcadettt796; 2 years ago
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