PCDA
The Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) is a three-year programme where student officers earn a full-time salary while working as police officers and studying for a fully funded BSc (Hons) degree with Anglia Ruskin University. After completing the programme, officers can pursue various career paths within Bedfordshire Police.
This entry route was created to support progression and reflect the complexity of modern policing, which involves problem-solving, addressing social issues, and evidence-based practices—not just catching criminals. The role has evolved significantly, now requiring skills in digital investigation and safeguarding vulnerable people. Training has been updated to meet these modern demands.
22-week initial training phase
- learn how to use our IT programmes
- the basic dos and don’ts of policing
- personal safety training
- law
- role plays
- preparing you for life as a police officer.
You will be awarded your warrant card during a ceremony called an Attestation, where family and friends can also join and watch this special moment in your policing career.
15-week tutorship
- gain independent patrol status
- work on response with a tutor on a one to one basis. They will guide you through each of the different jobs you will attend as a student officer and help you to achieve independent status.
Proctected learning
From then your time will be split between working on response and class room based/protected learning time.
- first year: your time will be split approximately 50/50 between off the job, classroom-based learning time and on the job, learning in response.
- the remaining two years: you will spend 80% of your time as a police officer on response with 20% classroom-based learning time. You will be expected to work towards and complete written assignments during the classrooms based/protected learning time.
Modules on the course include crime investigation, understanding vulnerability, leadership and coaching, and specialist policing.
Once the three years are complete and you have passed the degree programme you will graduate and be a fully ranked officer. Officers and tutors are on hand to help you if you need more time or need to go to certain jobs to pass the course.
As a fully ranked officer you will be able to take advantage of different training opportunities that are available and apply to work in different departments like community policing, firearms, cybercrime and more.