How Do I Join?

• The first stage of the recruitment process is the Application Stage.
• All applicants are required to fully complete the Online Application Form which includes an Equality Monitoring Form during this period. By completing these forms you are providing PSNI with your consent to process your personal and sensitive data for the purpose of the recruitment process.
• The application form can only be accessed via www.joinpsni.co.uk and only one application will be accepted for each applicant.
• When completing your online application you will be given the opportunity to declare any reasonable adjustment needs, which you may have, which would allow you to participate fully in the recruitment process (including the Initial Selection Test and the Assessment Centre). Please refer to our Reasonable Adjustment Request Process guidance for full details on the process to follow to request and evidence any reasonable adjustment needs.
• All applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
• Age: You can apply from the age of 17. However on appointment, you must have reached the age of 18 and be no more than 57. The Application Form will check that applicants have attained the age of 17 and be no more than 57 by the end of the application window..
• Nationality: Applicants must be eligible to work permanently in the UK.
• Education: Applicants must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at A*–C grade, including English Language.
• Computer Literacy: Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the level of computer literacy required to effectively perform the role of a constable. This will be tested at a number of stages in the recruitment process but there is no requirement for a formal IT qualification.
• Upon completion of your online application you will receive a message on-screen to confirm "Application Submitted". We will be in contact with you by email within ten working days once your application has been processed. (Please note, we do not provide immediate email acknowledgement of the submission at the time of application). If you have not received email confirmation of your application by the end of the ten working days, it is important that you contact us to follow-up on your application so that we can be sure everything is in order. Please email us via info@joinpsni.co.uk to check in this way.

Below is a screenshot from the Application Form.

Initial Selection Test (IST)

With your application form now successfully submitted, you will be invited to complete the online Initial Selection Test (IST). You will receive a unique individual link for you to access the test to the email address that was input on your application form. 

The IST is made up of two assessments. Verify Interactive - Deductive Reasoning and the Global Skills Assessment (GSA).

You have only ONE OPPORTUNITY to complete the tests per campaign so we would advise you to wait until you are fully prepared before starting your IST.

You should also be aware that the IST may be re-tested at Assessment Centre. For access to a high level introduction of the IST element please click here.

Providing Evidence in relation to the Education Eligibility Criteria and Right to Work

Online Evidence Uploader 

When completing your application you will be asked to confirm that you can provide full and final evidence of your eligibility in relation to the Eligibility Criteria (Education and Right To Work in the UK) when required.

Later in the recruitment process, you will be required to upload your evidence via an online Evidence Uploader.  

Only candidates who are successful in the Initial Selection Test will be required to present evidence using the Evidence Uploader.   

Detailed instructions will be provided to guide you on the use of the Evidence Uploader. 

The online Evidence Uploader will be available for a specific period during the recruitment campaign. Further guidance will be provided at the relevant time. You will be expected to provide evidence within a set timeframe. You will be required to upload images / electronic files of your paperwork.  

The online Evidence Uploader phase is not intended as an opportunity to log all your paperwork with PSNI. You simply need to provide evidence of how you meet the minimum Eligibility Criteria. Keep things simple. Applicants are discouraged from being excessive in presenting paperwork, as this can lead to delays in the processing of applications. 

Education

You must be able to provide evidence that you have attained a minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at A*-C grade, including English Language. 

If you have lost your original GCSE (or equivalent) certificates we recommend that you contact your examination board NOW, in order to request either replacement certificates, or a final certifying statement of results. 

While candidates may present school reports, ‘results-day’ information slips or other similar documentation as evidence, we encourage the use of formal certificates or a Final Certifying Statements of Results. 

When the next campaign is launched, the certification due date for the completion of qualifications for this campaign will be communicated. 

In exceptional cases, where the qualification has only recently been completed but not yet certified, exceptions to the certification date may be considered, providing formal supporting evidence is available.

Please refer to our Education FAQs for information on preparing to show evidence in relation to the Education Eligibility Criteria.

Right to Work in the UK

In addition, you must be able to provide evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. All applicants, regardless of where they are from are required to present evidence of their Right to Work in the UK.

For UK / Ireland citizens, the most straightforward way to provide evidence of your Right to Work in the UK, is to provide evidence of the photo page of either your British or Irish Passport.

For non-UK / Ireland citizens, there are various options to prove your Right to Work in the UK, however most applicants find it most straightforward to provide your "Share Code", along with evidence of the photo page of your passport. 

Refer to our Right to Work FAQs for more detailed guidance. 

You are required to be vetted as part of the recruitment process. 

You will be required to complete vetting questionnaires, which must be completed and returned within two weeks of receipt. If you fail to return your completed vetting questionnaire within this timeframe, your application may be discontinued. You can assist with the process being as smooth as possible by ensuring that you complete the vetting questionnaires and answer all the questions in full.

The success of the vetting process depends largely on your honesty. Therefore, absolute honesty is required and any dishonesty at any stage during the process may affect your application. Lying, concealing the truth, or deliberately withholding information when completing your vetting questionnaire, or during a vetting interview is a very serious matter, whether it becomes known during the vetting process or after and is likely to be regarded as evidence of unreliability. 

Vetting is a complex process and involves various checks to be completed. This includes everyone declared on your vetting applications as well as your wider family circle, other close associates and your previous behaviour. All applications are considered on their own individual merits. Dependent on your personal circumstances your vetting may take longer than others.

All applicants are required to have a three year checkable history, and if you have spent time in the last three years outside the UK or Republic of Ireland you should be aware that you may be required to provide a copy of your criminal record from the country/countries you have resided in.

If the Police Service of Northern Ireland cannot carry out the necessary checks your vetting application may not be processed further.

As part of your vetting application, you will be asked to provide a five-year employment history including a declaration from your previous employers that you were not the subject of any misconduct and that you left your previous employment in good standing. Further information relating to how these checks are conducted can be found in the Guidance for Applicants.

Detailed information regarding Vetting (including examples of the certain types of offences that mean you will not be considered for appointment) can be found in the Guidance for Applicants. 

For FAQs regarding vetting, click here.

You will be required to undertake and successfully complete approximately 16 hours of eLearning material within a 4 week period. The modules you will cover in the eLearning package include:

• Observation and experience
• Understanding community relationships
• Communicating in your community
• Problem Solving and Decision Making

• It is expected that candidates will have already been living a healthy lifestyle in terms of diet and exercise before the health assessment.
• If you are invited to attend a health assessment you will be assessed by an Occupational Health Nursing Adviser to ensure you are able to enter training and carry out your role as a Police Officer. If appropriate, you may also be examined by a Medical Adviser.
• You can help the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team by providing them with all information and documentation relevant to any current or previous medical condition/s.

Some Key Medical Standards...

You will be required to meet some key medical standards as part of your application to be a Police Officer. Click on the tabs for more information:

• You will be required to undergo a pre-employment Substance Misuse Test prior to being offered an appointment as a Student Officer.
• This is normally completed at the same time as the Health Assessment. 
• The biological material to be sampled as part of the pre-appointment process will be hair.
• You will be expected to provide 2 samples of hair of 3cm in length and containing at least 50 -100 strands of hair per sample. This will primarily be taken from your head, however, on occasion armpit, back, leg, arm or chest hair may be used. 
  
• If you have any concerns regarding provision of three centimetres of hair, or have medical or religious reasons that would prevent you from completing the test, contact should be made immediately with substancemisuse@psni.police.uk explaining the reasons why you are unable to provide a sample. If necessary you will also be required to provide medical evidence as to why you may be unable to provide a sample.
• If you are on any prescribed medication, you should bring proof of prescription to your pre-employment test.
• Deliberately attempting to obstruct the process will be treated as failing the test, and no re-test will be provided in these circumstances. 
• If you attend your appointment and have insufficient hair for your pre-employment test to be completed and you have not contacted the Substance Misuse Manager prior to your appointment, you will not be tested. A new test will not be offered until such times as you are able to provide a sample.
• You will be required to attend a Substance Misuse Re-Test after 12 months of your initial result, if at that stage you have not been appointed.   

Confirmed Positive Results

• If you have a confirmed positive result you will be written to by PSNI. You will have 7 calendar days to notify PSNI that you wish to have your retained second sample analysed by an independent laboratory.
• If so, this is done at your instruction and expense and you should also identify the laboratory you wish to be used and arrange same. A list of accredited UKAS laboratories will be supplied to you on confirmation of your positive result.     

Negative Result of Second Sample 

• Where analysis of your second sample results in a negative result, a further hair test will be arranged. Should this return a negative result, the initial positive result will be regarded as a false positive. 
• Where a false positive is recorded, the PSNI will reimburse any costs associated with analysis of the second sample. 

Positive Result of Second Sample

• If the analysis of the second sample is positive you will not be offered appointment with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
• You will have no further right of appeal and any offer of appointment will be rescinded. 

Please note that the Health Assessment and Substance Misuse Test are assessed independently, and you must pass both assessments in order to progress!