Functional Skills Level 2 for Police Applications: Is It Accepted and How to Get It Fast

Thinking about joining the police but stuck on the qualifications page? You are not alone. Almost every force in England and Wales asks police constable applicants to show a Level 2 qualification in English and maths, and for many adults that one line is the only thing standing between them and a completed application.

The good news is that a Functional Skills Level 2 qualification is accepted by many forces, it can be sat online from home, and it does not mean waiting for the next GCSE exam series. This guide explains which police entry routes ask for Level 2 English and maths, how forces treat Functional Skills, and the quickest way to get the certificate in your hand before you apply.

Why police applications ask for Level 2 English and maths

Police constables write statements, take notes that may be read out in court, work out times, distances and quantities, and explain decisions clearly. That is why most forces set Level 2 English and maths as a minimum standard.

Level 2 is the same level as a GCSE at grade 4 (the old grade C) or above. A Functional Skills Level 2 qualification sits at that same level on the national framework, which is why so many employers, apprenticeship providers and police forces list it alongside GCSEs.

The police constable entry routes, and where Level 2 fits

The College of Policing sets out the main ways to become a police constable in England and Wales. Each force chooses which routes it offers and when it opens recruitment, so always start with the careers page of the force you want to join.

Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA)

The PCDA is a three year paid apprenticeship. You work as a constable while studying for a degree in professional policing practice. The College of Policing says PCDA entrants need Level 2 English and maths “before or during the programme”, but many forces ask to see it at the point you apply. This is the route where Level 2 English and maths matters most.

Police Constable Entry Programme (PCEP)

The PCEP has been available since April 2024. It is a two year, in force training programme that does not lead to a degree. Forces that offer it often ask for the same Level 2 English and maths as the PCDA. Devon and Cornwall Police, for example, lists a Level 2 qualification in both English and maths for both its PCEP and PCDA routes.

Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP)

The DHEP is a two year route for people who already have a degree in any subject other than professional policing. Your degree is the main entry qualification here, although some forces still ask for evidence of English and maths, so check before you apply.

Professional Policing Degree

This is a degree you fund and study before applying to a force. Entry is set by the university, and many universities ask for Level 2 English and maths as part of their own requirements.

Do police forces accept Functional Skills Level 2?

Many do, but not all in exactly the same way. Here is what some forces say on their own recruitment pages:

• ✓ Thames Valley Police asks for GCSE English and maths at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications. It adds that any Functional Skills qualification must be regulated by Ofqual.
• ✓ City of London Police lists Level 2 GCSE or Functional Skills in English for its PCDA route. For maths it asks for a GCSE, and says it will support applicants who do not yet hold Level 2 maths to achieve it.
• ✓ Devon and Cornwall Police publishes a qualifications guidance document listing exactly which Level 2 English and maths qualifications it accepts. If you are applying there, read that list before you book anything.

The lesson is simple. Before you pay for any exam, open the eligibility or FAQ page of the force you want to join and check two things:

• ✓ Does it accept Functional Skills Level 2 for English, for maths, or for both?
• ✓ Do you need the certificate at the point of application, or can you achieve it during training?

If the page is not clear, email or call the force’s recruitment team and ask. It is a common question and they will be used to answering it.

Why the Ofqual regulated part matters

Not every online “Level 2” certificate is a regulated qualification. Thames Valley Police specifically says Functional Skills must be regulated by Ofqual, and it suggests checking the qualification on the government’s register of regulated qualifications.

At Functify Learning, your Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications are awarded by Highfield and regulated by Ofqual, and we are a Highfield Approved Centre. That means the certificate you receive is a nationally recognised Level 2 qualification, not a training certificate.

How long does it take to get Functional Skills Level 2?

This depends on where you are starting from. Some applicants only need to sit the exam. Others have not touched fractions or formal writing for ten or twenty years and need some help first.

• ✓ You feel confident: book the exam. With Functify Learning your exam is booked within 5 days and your certificate usually arrives within 10 days of your result.
• ✓ You are rusty: a 5 Day Revision Course from £19.99 gets you exam ready in about a week of evenings.
• ✓ You have been out of education for years or failed before: a live 10 Week Course from £197 per subject, in a small group of no more than 10 learners, with a mock exam included.

If you are not sure which group you are in, take our free Functional Skills pass quiz at quiz.functifylearning.co.uk. It only takes a few minutes and it tells you whether to book now or revise first.

A simple plan if you want to apply this winter

Many forces open and close recruitment at different points in the year, so the safest approach is to have your Level 2 certificates ready before your chosen force opens its next round. Here is a plan that works around a full time job:

1. This week: check your force’s eligibility page and confirm it accepts Functional Skills Level 2.
2. Next: take the free pass quiz to see where you stand in English and maths.
3. If you need it: book a £35 mock exam per subject to find any gaps before the real thing.
4. Revise: use a 5 Day Revision Course or join a 10 Week Course. With half term coming up for many families, parents may find a quieter week to get started.
5. Book your exam: sit it online from home, with technical setup support beforehand.
6. Apply: upload your certificates with your application, or keep them ready for when your force asks.

What is in the Functional Skills Level 2 exams?

Knowing what to expect takes a lot of the fear away.

English Level 2

The English qualification has three parts: reading, writing, and speaking, listening and communicating. The writing tasks ask you to write clearly for a purpose, such as an email or a report, which is excellent practice for the written work a constable does every day. Our Highfield Functional Skills English Level 2 guide explains each part in more detail.

Maths Level 2

The maths exam covers number, measures, shape and space, and handling data, with calculator and non calculator sections. Questions are based on real life situations, such as working out costs, times, rates and percentages. If maths is the subject that worries you, read our guide to the Functional Skills Maths Level 2 online course.

How much will it cost?

At Functify Learning:

• ✓ English Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ Maths Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ English and maths together: £250, instead of £320 booked separately
• ✓ Mock exam: £35 per subject
• ✓ Klarna available at checkout on orders of more than £35

For a full breakdown, see our guide to how much a Functional Skills Level 2 exam costs in 2026.

Why police applicants choose Functify Learning

• ✓ Highfield Approved Centre for Ofqual regulated Functional Skills qualifications
• ✓ Exams online from home, booked within 5 days, so you do not need to take time off work
• ✓ Small live groups of no more than 10 learners
• ✓ Part of Geek School Tutoring, which has taught more than 1,000 students since 2013

Functional Skills Level 2 for police applications: frequently asked questions

Is Functional Skills Level 2 accepted for police applications?

Many forces accept it. Thames Valley Police, for example, accepts equivalent Level 2 Functional Skills qualifications in English and maths. Each force sets out what it accepts, so always check your own force’s eligibility page before you book.

Do I need Level 2 English and maths before I apply to the PCDA?

The College of Policing says Level 2 English and maths are needed before or during the PCDA, but many forces ask for evidence when you apply. Check the wording on your force’s recruitment page.

Does my Functional Skills qualification need to be Ofqual regulated?

Yes. Forces such as Thames Valley Police state that Functional Skills must be regulated by Ofqual. Functify Learning’s qualifications are awarded by Highfield and regulated by Ofqual.

Can I sit Functional Skills Level 2 online from home?

Yes. You sit the exam online from home, and we help you set up your laptop, camera and connection beforehand.

How quickly can I get my certificate?

Your exam is booked within 5 days and your certificate usually arrives within 10 days of your result.

I already have a degree. Do I still need Level 2 English and maths?

For the Degree Holder Entry Programme your degree is the main entry qualification, but some forces still ask for English and maths. Check with the force you are applying to.

What if I only need maths, or only English?

You can book one subject on its own for £160. You do not need to sit both.

Get your Level 2 sorted before your force opens recruitment

Book your English or maths exam today, sit it from home, and have your certificate ready for your application. Not sure where to start? Message us on WhatsApp and we will point you in the right direction.