How Do I Join?

• The application period will run from 2nd November - 19th November 2021 (by 12 noon)
• 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 here 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 as of 19th November 2021.
• 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.

Below is a screenshot from the Application Form.

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 you provide in your application form. You will receive this link by 24th November 2021.

The IST is made up of two assessments designed by Deloitte for this recruitment process; a situational judgement test and a verbal reasoning assessment.

You have only ONE OPPORTUNITY to complete the test 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 detailed briefing on the IST please click here. 

To have a go at some practice questions then please click here.

Providing Evidence in relation to the Education Eligibility Criteria

Online Evidence Uploader - 4th January - 13th January 2022

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 Education Eligibility Criteria when required.

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

During this recruitment campaign, 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 from 4th January to 13th January 2022. You must ensure that you submit your evidence within this timeframe as it cannot be accepted after the deadline.

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. 

The certification deadline for this campaign will be 13th January 2022 (for the completion of qualifications). 

In exceptional cases, where the qualification has only recently been completed (e.g. during late 2021 / early 2022), 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.

Below is a screenshot of the Online Initial Selection Test

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

You will be asked to complete vetting questionnaires, which must be returned within two weeks of receipt. If you fail to adhere to this your application may be discontinued. You can ensure that the process is 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 you are advised to disclose all information as required within your vetting application. Failure to disclose relevant circumstances or information can be regarded as evidence of unreliability and will be taken into account when assessing your suitability.

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 extended family and other close associates. 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 any criminal record you have received in another country.

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

Detailed information regarding Vetting (including examples of the certain types of offences that mean you will not be considered for appointment e.g. motoring offences, drugs offences, cautions, and financial) 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.

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. 
  
• 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 in writing by email two weeks prior to your Substance Misuse Test appointment, as follows:



Substance Misuse Manager - Email: substancemisuse@psni.police.uk



• If you return a positive result in this test, you will not be offered an appointment with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
• Where you consider that the process was not correctly applied, you can appeal this decision and can opt to have your second sample tested at your own expense.

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