The highest standards

To be eligible to apply, Police Scotland “expect the very highest standards” from applicants, with a number of “essential criteria” that must be met to get past the first stage.

Those include:

You must be 18 years of age to be appointed as a police officer, although you can apply at the age of 17½ years of age.

You must be physically and mentally able to undertake police duties. The fitness assessment will be based on the Scottish Police Service National Fitness Standard.

Your Body Mass Index should be between 18 – 30. However this will not be assessed until the medical stage which is at the very end of the selection process.

You must meet the mandatory national eyesight standard. Candidates’ eyesight will be not be assessed until the medical stage at the very end of the selection process. Failure to meet the standard means you cannot be appointed.

Therefore to minimise disappointment applicants may wish to consider consulting with a qualified optician.

Only applications from British citizens, EU/EEA nationals, Commonwealth citizens, or foreign nationals with indefinite leave to remain in the UK will be accepted. You should also have been resident in the UK for a minimum of three years immediately prior to application.

We are Disability Confident Committed to the recruitment and selection of people with disabilities. We guarantee an interview to any applicant who has a disability as defined under the Equality Act 2010 who meets the essential criteria for the role.

Please note, vetting checks are carried out upon successful completion of the Assessment Centre as part of the Final Stages of the selection process.