Our recruitment process
To apply to become a police officer you need to:
- create an account and register on our job portal
- fill in the application form
Our application process is different for each person. You manage your account online and we will contact you with each step. It’s up to you how quickly you complete each step.
You can find out the status of your application by logging into your account.
If you fail the pre-screening, you can reapply when you meet the criteria.
You can also email us at recruitmentpoliceofficer@scotland.police.uk if you have answered a question incorrectly and want us to correct it.
When logged in you can change your:
- home address
- email address
- contact number
You can get help if you forget your username and password.
Things we will ask you
We will ask you to declare any:
- criminal convictions
- tattoos you have
Each case will be considered on its own merits and checks will be made by the vetting unit at the pre-appointment stage of the process.
Preparing for the entrance test and assessment day
The Police Scotland Entrance Test (PSET) evaluates your:
- understanding of language
- information handling
- numeracy skills
Access example PSET questions and answers.
We do not endorse any study materials.
Fitness assessment
At your fitness assessment we expect you to physically fit and prepare before your application.
We will assess whether you are fit for the job and are ready for Officer Safety Training, where you learn to protect yourself and others.
You will take part in a multi-stage fitness test (bleep test).
The test involves running up and down a 15-metre track. It’s timed against a series of audio beeps. You must beat the bleep and complete the length of the track before you hear the sound.
At the end of each level, the time between beeps gets shorter, meaning you must run faster.
The standard you need to pass is level 5.4, which means running at least in time with the bleeps for four lengths at level 5.
We recommend accessing Copstrong, which is our online training for functional strength and conditioning. This will help you to prepare for the test.
