IELTS Academic certificate a valuable English certificate to join the MPS as PC

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.21.022455

I note you seek access to the following information:

Hi, Is the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic certificate recognised a valuable English certificate to join the Met Police as PC?

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Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

An IELTS Academic certificate in English is not an accepted qualification for joining the Met. The required English to join any Police Force in England and Wales is set out by the College of Policing in the Police Regulations and is defined as a minimum, of a GCSE Grade C or above (4-9) in English or equivalent Level 2 Functional English from a UK awarding body. Police Regulations require candidates to demonstrate competence in written and spoken English and be sufficiently numerate, by passing such assessments. This is also an eligibility requirement to join the Met under the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) entry route, under the Apprenticeship Rules as set out by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) who also do not recognise the IELTS Academic Certificate.

A full list of acceptable qualifications can be found in the ‘Specification of apprenticeship standards for England’ 2018 as published by the Department of Education.

Any overseas’ qualifications would need to be verified with an ENIC Statement of Comparability. This service will provide you with the UK equivalent of the overseas qualification that can then be submitted as evidence of your eligibility which should be included with the English Level 2 Functional Skill qualification certificate.