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How to join Police Service of Northern Ireland

Application process, entry routes and requirements for Police Service of Northern Ireland, summarised from the force's own careers site.

Back to Police Service of Northern Ireland

Apply to Police Service of Northern Ireland

Candidates who have reached the age of 17 by the closing date of the campaign are welcome to apply and progress through various stages of the recruitment process.

Apply on psni.police.uk

Application stages

  1. 1

    Initial Selection Test

  2. 2

    Assessment Centre

  3. 3

    Vetting

  4. 4

    Physical Competence Assessment

  5. 5

    Health Assessment

  6. 6

    Substance Misuse Test

  7. 7

    Online Learning

All UK forces share the same core regulatory framework (College of Policing entry routes, NPPF fitness standards, vetting levels). For a general explainer that applies to every force, see Entry routes (PCDA / DHEP / IPCDP), the fitness test and vetting.

Source: https://www.psni.police.uk/foi-disclosure-log/recruitment-age · Updated 2026-06-20