PCDA vs DHEP vs PCEP.
Four ways to become a police constable in England and Wales. Same powers, same pay, different paths. Here they are side by side.
Side by side
| Compare | PCDA | DHEP | PCEP | Pre-join degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Police constable degree apprenticeship | Degree holder entry programme | Police constable entry programme | Professional policing degree |
| For | People without a degree who’d like one | Graduates in any subject | People who don’t want to study for a degree | People who want to study before applying |
| How long | 3 years | 2 years | 2 years | Degree first (usually 3 years), then about 2 years’ training |
| You finish with | A degree in professional policing practice | A graduate diploma in professional policing practice | No degree | You already have the degree |
| Who pays for study | Your force | Your force | No degree to pay for | You do, before you join |
| Pay while training | From £32,255 | From £32,255 | From £32,255 | From £32,255 once you join |
Entry requirements vary by force: many ask for a level 3 qualification (such as A levels) for the PCDA and PCEP.
Which one is for you?
- No degree, and you’d like one, paid for? The PCDA.
- Already have a degree in anything? The DHEP. Look out for detective DHEP if CID is the goal.
- Want to get on with the job without a degree? The PCEP.
- Not ready to apply, but sure about policing? A pre-join professional policing degree.
Whichever route you take
The law’s the same.
Every route teaches the same offences, powers and PACE, and tests them. Our student officer plan covers it all, from£8.99 a month. See how you’d do now.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between PCDA, DHEP and PCEP?
They’re routes to becoming a police constable. The PCDA is a 3-year apprenticeship that ends with a degree. The DHEP is a 2-year route for people who already have a degree. The PCEP is a 2-year route with no degree. All three pay a full constable’s salary from day one.
Can you join the police without a degree?
Yes. You can join on the PCEP, which has no degree, or on the PCDA, where you earn a degree while you work and your force pays for it.
Which police entry route is quickest?
The DHEP and PCEP both take about two years to finish training and probation. The PCDA takes three.
Do all forces offer every route?
No. Each force chooses which routes it runs and when it recruits. Check the careers pages of the forces you’re interested in.
Is the pay the same on every route?
Yes. Every route starts on constable pay point 1, £32,255 from 1 September 2026, and rises the same way.