Next up · National Investigators’ Exam (NIE)
17 November 2026
Register by 21 October 2026 (your force may close earlier). Start revising now.
15days to go
Police exam dates 2027.
Every sergeants’, inspectors’ and NIE sitting, when to register, when results land, and the day to start revising. Pick yours and we’ll build your plan to it.
Updated 2 November 2026 · From the College of Policing’s handbooks
Next up · Sergeants’ exam
16 to 18 March 2027
Register by 18 February 2027 (your force may close earlier). Start revising by 24 November 2026.
134days to go
Next up · Inspectors’ exam
11 to 13 May 2027
Register by 15 April 2027 (your force may close earlier). Start revising by 19 January 2027.
190days to go
Next up · Sergeants’ exam
5 to 7 October 2027
Register by 9 September 2027 (your force may close earlier). Start revising by 15 June 2027.
337days to go
Sergeant exam dates 2027
Twice a year, in March and October. Constables with two years’ service who have finished probation can sit it. NPPF step two legal exam: 150 questions in 3 hours, 55% to pass. Read the full guide.
- Sergeants’ · March 2027In 19 weeks
16 to 18 March 2027
- Registration
- 18 January 2027 to 6pm, 18 February 2027
- Results by
- Thursday 8 April 2027
- Start revising
- by 24 November 2026
- Sergeants’ · October 2027In 48 weeks
5 to 7 October 2027
- Registration
- 3 August 2027 to 6pm, 9 September 2027
- Results by
- Thursday 28 October 2027
- Start revising
- by 15 June 2027
Inspector exam dates 2027
Twice a year, in May and November. You need to be a substantive sergeant, with step four of the sergeants’ process done. NPPF step two legal exam: 150 questions in 3 hours, 65% to pass.
- Inspectors’ · November 2026Tomorrow
3 to 5 November 2026
- Results by
- Thursday 26 November 2026
- Start revising
- now
- Inspectors’ · May 2027In 27 weeks
11 to 13 May 2027
- Registration
- 15 March 2027 to 6pm, 15 April 2027
- Results by
- Thursday 3 June 2027
- Start revising
- by 19 January 2027
- Inspectors’ · November 2027In 52 weeks
2 to 4 November 2027
- Registration
- 6 September 2027 to 6pm, 4 October 2027
- Results by
- Thursday 25 November 2027
- Start revising
- by 13 July 2027
NIE dates 2026 and 2027
The National Investigators’ Exam, for PIP2 and the route to detective. Four sittings a year, each on a single day. The detective exam: 80 questions in 2 hours, 55.7% to pass.
- NIE · November 2026In 2 weeks
17 November 2026
- Registration
- Closed
- Results by
- Tuesday 8 December 2026
- Start revising
- now
The College of Policing hasn’t published the 2027 NIE dates yet. In 2026 it ran in March, June, September and November; we’ll add 2027 here as soon as the dates are out.
Your date, your plan
Pick the date. We’ll do the rest.
Tell the study plan your exam date and shift pattern. It books short sessions round your shifts, puts your weak spots first and changes gear as the day gets closer.
- 01
Build Until 6 weeks out
New questions and flashcards across the syllabus, weak spots as they show up.
- 02
Strengthen 6 to 2 weeks out
Weak topics first, a timed mock every week, reviews kept on top of.
- 03
Sharpen The last 2 weeks
Full mocks in the real format, and clearing everything due back.
- 04
Final days The day before
Light touch. Sleep matters more than one more question.
How registration works
You can’t book these exams yourself. It all goes through your force.
- Talk to your force exams officer (for the NIE, your NIE liaison contact). They check you’re eligible.
- Get registered on AIMS, the College’s exam system, inside the registration window.
- Watch your force’s deadline. The College’s closing date is the last day forces can register you; many close earlier.
- Sit it online on a day in the exam window, between 8am and 8pm, somewhere quiet that meets the rules.
- Get your feedback report through AIMS about three weeks later. Keep it: it’s your proof of the result.
Questions people ask
When is the sergeant exam in 2027?
The sergeants’ exam runs twice in 2027: 16 to 18 March, and 5 to 7 October. You can sit it on any of the three days, between 8am and 8pm.
When is the inspector exam in 2027?
The inspectors’ exam runs 11 to 13 May 2027 and 2 to 4 November 2027. The November 2026 inspectors’ exam runs 3 to 5 November 2026.
When are the NIE dates for 2027?
The College of Policing hasn’t published the 2027 NIE dates yet. In 2026 it ran four times: March, June, September and November, with the last sitting on 17 November 2026. We’ll add 2027 as soon as it’s out.
When do sergeant exam results come out?
About three weeks after the exam. For March 2027 the College aims to release results by 8 April 2027, and for October 2027 by 28 October 2027. You get them as a feedback report through AIMS.
How do I register for the sergeant or inspector exam?
Through your force examinations officer, who checks you meet step one and registers you on AIMS. For March 2027 the College’s window is 18 January to 6pm on 18 February 2027, but forces often close earlier, so ask early.
Can I choose which day to sit the exam?
Yes. The sergeants’ and inspectors’ exams run over three days, and you can sit on any of them between 8am and 8pm. There are no other dates.
How long before the exam should I start revising?
The College recommends at least 14 weeks for the NIE. For the sergeants’ and inspectors’ exams, we suggest at least 16 weeks: for March 2027, that means starting by 24 November 2026.
Dates from the College of Policing’s NPPF step two candidate handbook 2027 and NIE candidate handbook 2026. Check with your force before you register. Points to Prove is independent and isn’t connected to the College of Policing. More guides: the sergeant exam, police pay scales andpolice ranks.