Career Paths: How to Become a Police Officer

Being a police officer is challenging (and rewarding) work. Police officers work with the regions they serve to protect members of the community and their property—as well as work to prevent crimes, and investigate them when they occur. Beat police officers may work on foot, by car, bicycle, or even horse, and respond to a variety of calls throughout the day—and also the night.

There are a couple steps to becoming a police officer, according to the National Careers Service. Those steps will be different depending on the route you take, however, and they may include:

1. Take a college course or get an apprenticeship. According to the National Careers Service, you can take a level 2 or level 3 diploma in public service before applying to the police force. Or, “you could start by doing a police constable degree apprenticeship,” according to the service.
2. Apply to a police force. Once you’re ready, you can apply to a police force. But according to the National Career Services, you can only apply to one police force at a time.
3. Take an assessment. If your application is successful, the police force will invite you to an assessment center, where you will have an interview and take written tests, the service says.
4. Take a physical exam. If you pass your interview and written tests, you will be asked to take a physical test, too. (And you will also need to have a medical check, according to the service.)
5. Pass a security background check. All police officers will undergo security and background checks, according to the National Careers Service.

Police officers need a multitude of skills to be successful, but here are four essential skills:

Teamwork: As a police officer, you’ll often have to work with others to respond to calls and solve cases. As such, it’s very important that you work well with others and are a team player.

Communication skills: Whether you’re talking to victims or reading a suspect his or her rights, it’s imperative that you have solid communication skills so that you can obtain and convey the information you need.

Physical fitness: You’ll undergo a fitness examination to become a police officer, but it’s important to stay in shape even after you’ve landed the job. Being a police officer can be physically demanding, from riding a bicycle on patrol to chasing a suspect on foot.

Sensitivity: You’ll often be faced with difficult and traumatic situations. So, it’s essential that police officers can empathize, understand, and be compassionate to people during those times.

According to Glassdoor salary data, the average police officer can expect to make £37,739 a year. However, that amount might change depending on your years of service and background.

Police officers are assigned to specific police forces and precincts. But depending on your specific job, you might work at that precinct or outside on patrol.

You may not want to be a police officer but there are plenty of other jobs in related fields you may enjoy. Here are a few other options:

Firefighter

Average salary: £31,237 per year

Education required: Level 2 or 3 diploma in public services

Paramedic

Average salary: £31,575 per year

Education required: Level 2 or 3 diploma in public services

Security Officer

Average salary: £24,110 per year

Education required: Some GCSEs, usually including English and math, or equivalent

Attorney

Average salary: £57,983 per year

Education required: A law degree

Prison Governor

Average salary: £55,492 per year

Education required: Complete two-year training program