What A Levels Do I Need to Be a Police Officer?

Police officers work with communities. They serve a community and help prevent crime and ensure that those who break the law are prosecuted. The ultimate goal of policing is to ensure that communities are protected and safe. 

Uniformed officers work in various regions to ensure that neighbourhoods and communities feel safe. Becoming a uniformed officer is a great aspiration and takes a lot of determination and heart to accomplish.

Within the police force, you could choose to investigate crime scenes, work on road traffic accidents, or become a community support officer. The police also work closely with others, such as the criminal justice system, schools, health trusts, social workers, local businesses, community groups, and housing authorities. 

You do not have to have a university degree to become a police officer, but you will need to complete some A Levels. In this article, you’ll learn what A Levels you need to become a police officer, as well as optional A Levels to consider. 

Essential A Levels for Police Officers

Depending on what segment of law enforcement you decide to work in, you may not need a university degree. However, you will need to complete some A Level studies. There are no A Level courses required, but some subjects are more beneficial based on your career aspirations.

A Level Law

Having a solid understanding of the law and the criminal justice system is essential for those desiring to become a police officer. A Level Law provides the foundational knowledge of criminal law, criminal procedures, the legal system, and a variety of aspects of law enforcement.

A Level Sociology

Police officers should have a solid understanding of communities and the challenges each may face. In A Level Sociology, aspiring officers gain valuable perspectives on human interactions, social behaviour, and societal structures. 

These insights are particularly helpful since officers often work in diverse communities and need to understand how various social factors may influence criminal behaviour.

A Level Psychology

A police officer can benefit from having a good grasp of human behaviour and common mental health issues learned in A Level Psychology. This knowledge can be especially beneficial when interacting with individuals facing a crisis. Understanding the basics of psychology can help an officer de-escalate situations effectively.

Optional A Levels for Aspiring Police Officers

A Level Physical Education

The police officer must be physically fit. This makes it necessary to build a strong foundation in PE, which helps the officer maintain peak physical health. In A Level Physical Education, the aspiring police officer will learn proper nutrition, exercise, and overall well-being to help improve their performance in the field.  

A Level English Literature or Language

Mastering the English language and being able to communicate orally and in writing is necessary for police officers. They will spend much time communicating with the public. But they will also need exceptional writing skills for preparing reports. A Level English Language will help the officer develop essential communication and language skills.

A Level Mathematics

Problem-solving and critical thinking skills are useful for police officers who often deal with tricky situations. A Level maths can help individuals develop these types of skills. But mathematics is also helpful for those who consider pursuing other related fields, such as crime scene analysis. 

Best A Level Combinations for the Police Officer

The police officer career path requires a multi-faceted skill set, which includes being able to work with people and having a good understanding of the law.  Even though there are no specific A Level subjects required, a well-balanced combination for aspiring police officers includes Law, Psychology, and Physical Education. 

Another A Level combination that would be beneficial for candidates may include Law, English Language, and Sociology. Either of these combinations will help lay a strong foundation for a career as a police officer.

Requirements for Top UK Universities

Cardiff Metropolitan University A Level Requirements 

Cardiff Metropolitan University offers a BA Professional Policing Program. Students will need at least three A Levels with CCC grades. The school doesn’t require any specific A Level classes. Students will need a GCSE Grade C/4 or above in English Language and Mathematics. 

University of Hull A Level Requirements

The BSc (Hons) Professional Policing degree at the University of Hull will take three to four years to complete, depending on your choices. To apply to the university, you will need 112 UCAS points and three A Level courses with BBC grades. They do not require any specific A Level courses.

Nottingham Trent University A Level Requirements 

To enter the Professional Policing BA program at Nottingham Trent University, students with a standard offer need 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four A Level subjects. For a contextual offer, students need to earn 96 UCAS Tariff points from up to four A Level courses. The degree program focuses on police powers, the criminal justice system, and hands-on experience. 

How to Choose Your A Level Subjects

Strengthen Core Skills

Since there are no specific subject requirements to enter university-level studies, you can choose the A Level combination that works best for you. If you are strong in communication skills but weaker in maths, you may either take maths to strengthen those skills or focus your studies on other academic endeavours. 

Career-Related Choices

If you hope to branch out from police work into other areas such as investigative or detective sectors, consider taking related subjects. If you plan on doing anything along the lines of crime scene investigation or forensics, you’ll want to focus your studies on sciences and maths to build a strong foundation. 

Do What You Love

Since you only have to complete A Level subjects, with universities not having specific requirements, choose courses you enjoy. Without the need to meet certain requirements, you are free to choose from among the A Level subjects. Pick the ones you know you can excel at and the topics you know you’ll gain insights from and enjoy. 

Alternative Pathways for Police Officers

PCDA- Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship

The apprenticeship is a three-year Level 6 degree apprenticeship. Just like most apprenticeships, students have the advantage of earning while they complete the programme. 

Once the apprenticeship programme has been completed successfully, the student will have achieved the B.Sc. Professional Policing Practice as well as the probation period for a police constable.

DHEP — Degree Holder Entry Programme 

Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any subject can choose the DHEP programme. This route will take about two years to complete. Successful completion yields a level 6 Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Policing Practice.

Professional Policing Degree Holder

Aspiring officers who haven’t yet been to university can pick a three-year B.Sc. Professional Policing programme before they apply to the force. This is followed by shorter on-the-job training. However, students who pursue this route will need to fund the degree program themselves.

What Happens If I Don’t Choose These Subjects?

There is not just a single pathway to becoming a police officer.  Even if you do not take the recommended A Level subjects, there are other ways to achieve your goal. However, it may take you a bit longer to reach your dream career. 

The fastest way to become an officer is to complete your A Levels to improve your chances of acceptance into university coursework. It’s not the end of the world if you do not take them, but you may have to take a longer, more difficult route. 

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