Policing (3971)

Last Updated: 27 Aug 2025
This suite of qualifications comprises of three initial learning qualifications and two leadership qualifications associated with the promotion process to the rank of Sergeant and Inspector. The suite is as follows:
  • 3971-03 Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing
  • 3971-13 Level 3 Diploma in Policing
  • 3971-23 Level 3 Diploma in Policing
  • 3971-04 Level 4 Certificate in Police First Line Management - aligned to the National Police Promotion Framework (NPFF)
  • 3971-05 Level 5 Certificate in Police Management - aligned to the National Police Promotion Framework (NPPF)
Please use the following links to check funding availability:  
  • England - please check: Ofqual  
  • Wales - please check: QiW 
This suite of qualifications is aimed at those who are looking to gain employment in the police force/first line policing (Police Officer, Police Community Support Officer) or seeking promotion to higher ranks through the NPPF (National Police Promotion Framework) - sergeant and inspector

City & Guilds 3971-03 Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing
Job role: recruitment process for Police Forces – Police Officer
Age: 16+ (Please note: that although the age range for this qualification re learning is 16+ recruitment into any Police Service will be 18+)

City & Guilds 3971-13 Level 3 Diploma in Policing (Police Community Support Officers)
Job role: Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)
Age: 16+

City & Guilds 3971-23 Level 3 Diploma in Policing
Job role: Police Officer
Age: 18+

City & Guilds 3971-04 Level 4 Certificate in Police first line management
Job role: Police Sergeant
Age: 18+

City & Guilds 3971-05 Level 5 Certificate in Police management
Job role: Police Inspector
Age: 18+
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?
City & Guilds 3971-03 Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing:
Age range: Open to learners 16+ (Please note: that although the age range for this qualification re learning is 16+, recruitment into any Police Service will be 18+)
Assessment method: Short Answer questions and on-line MCQs
What will learners cover: The Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing covers different aspects of priority and volume investigations, using police powers and dealing with victims, witnesses and suspects. The objective of the qualification is to develop learner’s knowledge and understanding of policing practice. The qualification recognises the knowledge and understanding required for competence, but does not provide the competences themselves.

City & Guilds 3971-13 Level 3 Diploma in Policing (Police Community Support Officers)
Age range: Open to learners 16+ (Please note: that although the age range for this qualification re learning is 16+, recruitment into any Police Service will be 18+)
Assessment method: Portfolio of evidence
What will learners cover: The Level 3 Diploma in Policing (Police Community Support Officer) covers areas such as supporting law enforcement objectives, applying an evidence-based approach to community issues, initial responses to incidents, managing conflict, effective communications with the community and supporting victims and witnesses.

City & Guilds 3971-23 Level 3 Diploma in Policing
Age range: Open to learners 18+
Assessment method: Portfolio of evidence
What will learners cover: The Level 3 Diploma in Policing covers different aspects of priority and volume investigations, using police powers and dealing with victims, witnesses and suspects and assesses competence on the job to undertake the role of Police Officer.

City & Guilds 3971-04 Level 4 Certificate in Police first line management
Age range: Open to learners 18+
Assessment method: Portfolio of evidence
What will learners cover: The Level 4 Certificate in Police First Line Management covers areas such as supervising investigations and responses to critical incidents, police operations, conducting briefings and debriefings and managing staff, with the main aim to support individuals to develop the specific knowledge, understanding and skills that are required within first line management in the police service.

City & Guilds 3971-05 Level 5 Certificate in Police management
Age range: Open to learners 18+
Assessment method: Portfolio of evidence
What will learners cover: The Level 5 Certificate in police Management covers areas such as managing operational threats, developing and implementing operational plans, managing people and providing leadership and managing police investigations, with the main aim to support individuals to develop the specific knowledge, understanding and skills that are required for police management within the police service.
What Careers Can This Lead To?
City & Guilds 3971-03 Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing:
Job role: recruitment process for Police Forces – Police Officer (Please note: that although the age range for this qualification re learning is 16+ recruitment into any Police Service will be 18+)

City & Guilds 3971-13 Level 3 Diploma in Policing (Police Community Support Officers)

Job role: Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)


City & Guilds 3971-23 Level 3 Diploma in Policing

Job role: Police Officer


City & Guilds 3971-04 Level 4 Certificate in Police first line management

Job role: Police Sergeant


City & Guilds 3971-05 Level 5 Certificate in Police management

Job role: Police Inspector

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?
City & Guilds 3971-03 Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing:
Who can deliver: Colleges, PTPs, Police Forces
Age range: Open to learners 16+ (Please note: that although the age range for this qualification re learning is 16+, recruitment into any Police Service will be 18+)
Assessment method: Short Answer questions and on-line MCQs 
GLH: 96 hours 
TQT: 290 hours 
Approval: To deliver the Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing, centres must have gained City & Guilds centre and qualification approval and also be a College of Policing “approved provider” If centres are approved to offer the qualification Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing (3945-30) they can apply for the new Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing (3971-03) approval using the fast track approval form, available from the City & Guilds website if: 
  • there have been no changes to the way the qualifications are delivered 
  • they meet all of the approval criteria in the fast track form guidance notes
Support materials: To find all the resource requirements; download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section:
  • Qualification handbook, 
  • Assessment pack 
Additional support: Through the College of Policing - please note: centres must be approved providers in order to access these: 
  • Practice tests – MCQs and scenarios 
  • Tutor resources 

City & Guilds 3971-13 Level 3 Diploma in Policing (Police Community Support Officers)
Who can deliver: Police Forces
Age range: Open to learners 16+ (Please note: that although the age range for this qualification re learning is 16+, recruitment into any Police Service will be 18+)
Assessment method: Portfolio of evidence
GLH: 170 hours
TQT: 500 hours
Pre entry requirements: Where learners have previously achieved the Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing, they will be able to gain Recognition of Prior Learning for some assessment criteria. 
Approval: To deliver the Level 3 Diploma in Policing (Police Community Support Officer), centres must have gained City & Guilds centre and qualification approval. If centres are approved to offer the qualification Level 3 Certificate in Policing (Police community support officers) (3935-03) they gain automatic approval for the new Level 3 Diploma in Policing (Police Community Support Officer) (3971-13) if there have been no changes to the way the qualifications are delivered 
    Support materials: To find all the resource requirements; download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section
    • Qualification handbook
    Additional support: Through the College of Policing Managed Learning Environment 
    • Programme specifications

    City & Guilds 3971-23 Level 3 Diploma in Policing
    Who can deliver: Police Forces
    Age range: Open to learners 18+
    Assessment method: Portfolio of evidence
    GLH: 320 hours
    TQT: 840 hours
    Pre entry requirements: Learners must be in a Police Officer role. Where learners have previously achieved the Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing, they will be able to gain Recognition of Prior Learning for some assessment criteria. 
    Approval: To deliver the Level 3 Diploma in Policing, centres must have gained City & Guilds centre and qualification approval. If centres are approved to offer the qualification Level 3 Diploma in Policing (7467) they can gain automatic approval for the new Level 3 Diploma in policing (3971-23) if there have been no changes to the way the qualifications are delivered 
      Support materials: To find all the resource requirements; download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section
      • Qualification handbook
      Additional support: Through the College of Policing Managed Learning Environment 
      • Programme specifications 

      City & Guilds 3971-04 Level 4 Certificate in Police first line management
      Who can deliver: Police Forces
      Age range: Open to learners 18+
      Assessment method: Portfolio of evidence
      GLH: 146 hours
      TQT: 344 hours
      Pre entry requirements: Learners must be Practicing Managers within the police sector; for example Police Sergeant.          
      Approval: : To deliver the Level 4 Certificate in Police First Line Management, centres must have gained City & Guilds centre and qualification approval. If centres are approved to offer the qualification Level 4 Certificate in police first line management (3931-41) they can gain automatic approval for the new Level 4 Certificate in Police First Line Management (3971-04) if there have been no changes to the way the qualifications are delivered
        Support materials: To find all the resource requirements; download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section
        • Qualification handbook
        Additional support: Through the College of Policing Managed Learning Environment 
        • Programme specifications  

        City & Guilds 3971-05 Level 5 Certificate in Police management
        Who can deliver: Police Forces
        Age range: Open to learners 18+
        Assessment method: Portfolio of evidence
        GLH:  Min - 152 hours, Max - 157 hours
        TQT:  Min - 313 hours, Max - hours
        Pre entry requirements: Learners must be Practicing Managers within the police sector; for example Police Inspector.         
        Approval: To deliver the Level 5 Certificate in Police Management, centres must have gained City & Guilds centre and qualification approval. If centres are approved to offer the qualification Level 5 Certificate in police management (3931-51) they can gain automatic approval for the new Level 5 Certificate in Police Management (3971-05) if there have been no changes to the way the qualifications are delivered
          Support materials: To find all the resource requirements; download the qualification handbook from the additional documents section
          • Qualification handbook
          Additional support: Through the College of Policing Managed Learning Environment 
          • Programme specifications

          Level 4

          Who is the Qualification for?
          This qualification is for individuals who are practicing managers, such as Police Sergeants, within the police sector.

          What does the qualification cover?
          The Level 4 Certificate in Police First Line Management covers areas such as supervising investigations and responses to critical incidents, police operations, conducting briefings and debriefings and managing staff, with the main aim to support individuals to develop the specific knowledge, understanding and skills that are required within first line management in the police service.
          What Careers Can This Lead To?
          This qualification creates a number of opportunities for progression. Learners may progress:
          • To Inspector or above (dependent on successful completion of additional assessments and assessment Boards)
          • into other specialist areas of policing.
          • into other policing qualifications as aligned to the National Police Promotion Framework (NPPF), for example the:
          • 3791-05 Level 5 Certificate in Police Management
          Level 4 Certificate in Police First Line Management (3971-04)
          Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2027

          Level 4 Certificate in Police First Line Management

          • Accreditation No: 603/0486/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
          • Type: VRQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
          • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
          • Guided Learning Hours: 320 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
          • Total Qualification Time: 344 The total time for the qualification
          • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
          • Last Certification: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
          • Qualification fees in the UK: £122.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

          Level 5

          Who is the Qualification for?
          This qualification is for individuals who are practicing managers, such as Police Inspectors, within the police sector. 

          What does the qualification cover?
          The Level 5 Certificate in police Management covers areas such as managing operational threats, developing and implementing operational plans, managing people and providing leadership and managing police investigations, with the main aim to support individuals to develop the specific knowledge, understanding and skills that are required for police management within the police service.

          What Careers Can This Lead To?
          There is a wide variety of qualifications that learners can progress onto after successfully completing this qualification.
          Level 5 Certificate in Police Management (3971-05)
          Last Registration Date: 31 Dec 2027

          Level 5 Certificate in Police Management

          • Accreditation No: 603/0487/X This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
          • Type: VRQ This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
          • Credits: Data unavailable Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
          • Guided Learning Hours: 157 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
          • Total Qualification Time: 313 The total time for the qualification
          • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
          • Last Certification: 31/12/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
          • Qualification fees in the UK: £138.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

          Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

          By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

          Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

          Interested in delivering this qualification?

          Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

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