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Recruiting under this scheme is open.
Please note, recruitment does not run in academic years. Intake start dates can vary throughout the year.
The PCDA entry route to policing is a three-year programme with academic modules, course work and exams. The total academic credit value of this course is 360 credits. The academic learning on this course is undertaken and coincides with serving as student police officer, with active frontline duties for Cumbria Constabulary. The normal working hours of a police officer are 40 hours per week.
As per police regulations an officer can apply for part time working and the request will be considered following the initial delivery phase and the officer is confirmed as independent in post.
Please note: we are now using the 2024 CVFs for the Online Assessment.
This route is for someone who would like to work in the role of an operational police officer, whilst studying, and who wishes to gain a degree-level qualification.
To be accepted onto the PCDA, candidates have to meet the Constabulary's PCDA eligibility criteria and successfully pass the stages of the Constabulary's police officer recruitment process.
A PCDA involves a three-year programme of academic modules, course work and exams. This is undertaken and coincides with serving as a student police officer, with active frontline duties for Cumbria Constabulary.
Cumbria Constabulary have selected the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) as a higher education institute partner for the academic learning on the PCDA course.
Apprentices will receive support from a tutor at the University of Central Lancashire with your academic studies and officers and staff from Cumbria Constabulary will support you with your operational role.
You will receive one-on-one support from your UCLan tutor.
You will receive regular meetings to discuss your progress and any support you feel you could benefit from with your line manager within the force.
You can visit UCLan's PCDA page.
The academic costs of this degree are covered by the apprenticeship.
Upon successful competition of your PCDA, you will graduate as a Cumbria Constabulary police officer and obtain a BSc (Hons) Professional Police Practice degree.
Visit our Job Portal to apply.
Please note we require candidates to have a full manual UK driving licence in order to apply.
Please note we require candidates to have a full manual UK driving licence in order to apply.
Need some guidance on applying? See our downloads below.
If you have any questions regarding the interviews/SEARCH assessment centre or would like to visit one of our stations, you can get in touch by email using the details below:
Through the PCDA entry route, officers will undertake a professional degree apprenticeship, licensed and overseen by the College of Policing and delivered through a formal collaboration by the force with University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), a Higher Education Institute (HEI). Officers have a three-year probationary period, whilst undertaking a BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice Degree.
Your first year will begin with a 21-week block of taught classroom learning including a group presentation, two exams, an essay, an Evidence based Policing Presentation with report and a two-week PST (Personal Safety Training) and first aid course.
You then move into the Operational Tutor 'in company' phase which lasts for 10 weeks and includes a three-week driving course. Following this you will spend six weeks on an independent patrol phase.
Finally you will head back into the classroom for three weeks of learning, again followed by five weeks of Independent Patrol Phase. During the first year you will also complete the Independent Patrol Status portfolio, while on the operational tutor phase of the programme.
In your first year you will spend 24 weeks in a classroom environment being taught by some of our tutors and UCLan and will have 22 days (fixed) annual leave.
Your second year starts with a four-week block of taught learning, followed by an independent patrol phase for 24 weeks (where you will have eight protected learning days) and will also complete 25 shift placements.
After this there is another learning block of three weeks where you will complete an academic assessment on Counter Terrorism and a 4,000 word essay, followed by another 15 weeks independent patrol phase.
The final part of year two starts with a one week learning block where you will work on a case study and essay, and then final six weeks on patrol.
In year three your Module 1 and Module 2 are run concurrently over the duration of the final year, delivered during three taught blocks totalling to seven weeks. The final and summative aspect of the PCDA and degree is the End Point Assessment (EPA), based on a research-based project of 10,000 words.
The EPA is embedded within an integrated degree in Professional Policing Practice qualification and is UCLan led. During the third year of the programme you are required to successfully complete the Full Occupational Competency Portfolio.
By the end of year three you will have a minimum of 1047 training hours (over the full three years) classed as off-the-job training hours which are required by the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Both modules will be completed at Level 6 and you will obtain your BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice Degree.
To be confirmed in post as a Police Officer, at the end of the third year you will have completed you Full Occupational Competency Portfolio, taken and passed the apprenticeship End Point Assessment and been awarded a BSc (Hons) Professional Policing Practice Degree.
During the programme you will mostly be carrying out frontline duties. Around 20 per cent of your time (minimum) will be off-the-job learning. As well as lessons in the class room this may include work-related projects, agreed by you and the Constabulary, which could help tackle local policing issues.
Each recruit is allocated a tutor while they learn. Your tutor will provide you with support via email and in face-to-face meetings at the Constabulary's HQ in Penrith.
Recruits will be assessed on their practical work, assessments, course work, exams and a dissertation in year three.
Before joining the PCDA programme you will be required to attend an online Teams interview, successfully pass the SEARCH Assessment Centre to test for initial abilities including common sense approaches and reading and writing skills.
There are also vetting and fitness tests that need to be passed before being enrolled onto the PCDA programme
There are also vetting and fitness tests that need to be passed before you can be enrolled.
Please note that places are limited in each PCDA intake and enrolment is subject to availability. Should the programme prove popular, candidates may experience a waiting period before being offered a place.
To apply to the police service you must be at least 17 years old. You must be 18 at the time of appointment.
There will be no need to attend a university for lectures. UCLan lecturers will hold lessons at a Cumbria Constabulary site, usually at Carleton Hall in Penrith.
At the end of your course your will have a graduation ceremony organised by UCLan. This will be held at Preston with graduates from other UCLan higher education courses.
Visit our PCDA eligibility page to check if you are eligible for this entry route.
Also see our general police officer eligibility criteria.