Read our application guidance for G3, G4 and G5 Investigations Roles here:

 Grade 3

• Active PIP2 manager accreditation OR PIP2 manager accreditation that has moved to “inactive” within the past 12 months.
• Current, serving police Detective Inspectors who have completed their force’s detective, detective sergeant and detective inspector training programmes and are signed off as substantive detective inspectors can be accepted as holding PIP2 manager accreditation.
• Police Civilian investigators who hold active (or moved to inactive within the past 12 months) PIP2 manager accreditation. These candidates will be required to provide evidence of the units covered in their original PIP1 and PIP2 accreditations and will be expected to demonstrate competence in any current PIP1 and PIP2 units that did not form part of their original accreditation within 12 months of taking up their post with the NCA.
• All experienced investigations officers will be required to demonstrate competence in the key policing skills of arrest, conflict management, escorting arrested/detained persons and presenting arrested persons to custody through either previous experience or by assessment against these skills during the first 12 months in post alongside the successful completion of any required NCA examinations as appropriate

Equivalent Qualifications

• Police Scotland officers who have completed the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) course (note – this is not equivalent to PIP3 SIO) and who hold the rank of Detective Inspector (or police staff equivalent) can be accepted as PIP2 manager equivalent. These officers will be required to pass the College of Policing National Investigators Exam (NIE) within the first 12 months of taking up their post.
• There are no other qualifications that are accepted by the NCA as being equivalent to PIP2 manager accreditation. Applicants who hold PIP2 (or a recognised equivalent qualification) and who have demonstrable experience in managing investigations and investigators may apply. Upon joining the NCA these officers will be expected to attend the Investigative Supervisor/Manager Programme (ISMP) training within 12 months and submit a portfolio of evidence for accreditation at PIP2 supervisor level followed by a portfolio for accreditation at PIP2 manager level within the specified timescale alongside any other required exams and development.

SOC (Serious and Organised Crime)

• All PIP3 qualified officer details are held on the College of Policing’s register.
• It is expected that NCA investigations G3 officers will complete the SIODP (SOC) and attain PIP3 SIO accreditation. Officers joining the NCA who hold PIP3 SOC having qualified with another agency simply need to complete and submit annual CPD in accordance with the College of Policing (CoP) PIP policy in order to maintain “active” status
• Major Crime PIP3 officers who have completed the SIODP (MC) who join the NCA as investigations G3 officers are required to attain the PIP3 (SOC) accreditation. This involves them registering with the CoP for SIODP – SOC, completion of the SOC training element (week 3) of the SIODP and the SOC Hydra exercise (week 4) and submission of a SOC portfolio, covering only the elements that are not covered in their SIODP – MC portfolio.

Grade 4

• Active PIP2 supervisor accreditation OR PIP2 supervisor accreditation that has moved to “inactive” within the past 12 months.
• Current, serving police Detective Sergeants who have completed their force’s detective and detective sergeant training programmes and are signed off as substantive detective sergeants can be accepted as holding PIP2 supervisor accreditation.
• Police Civilian investigators who hold active (or moved to inactive within the past 12 months) PIP2 supervisor accreditation. These candidates will be required to provide evidence of the units covered in their original PIP1 and PIP2 accreditations and will be expected to demonstrate competence in any current PIP1 and PIP2 units that did not form part of their original accreditation within 12 months of taking up their post with the NCA.
• All experienced investigations officers will be required to demonstrate competence in the key policing skills of arrest, conflict management, escorting arrested/detained persons and presenting arrested persons to custody through either previous experience or by assessment against these skills during the first 12 months in post alongside the successful completion of any required NCA examinations as appropriate.

Equivalent Qualifications

• Police Scotland officers who have completed the Advanced Investigator Programme (AIP) and who hold the rank of Detective Sergeant (or police staff equivalent) can be accepted as PIP2 supervisor equivalent. These officers will be required to pass the College of Policing National Investigators Exam (NIE) within the first 12 months of taking up their post.
• There are no other qualifications that are accepted by the NCA as being equivalent to PIP2 supervisor accreditation. Applicants who hold PIP2 (or a recognised equivalent qualification) and who have demonstrable experience in supervising investigations and investigators may apply. Upon joining the NCA these officers will be expected to attend the Investigative Supervisor/Manager Programme (ISMP) training within 12 months and submit a portfolio of evidence for accreditation within the specified timescale alongside any other required exams and development.

Grade 5

• Active PIP1 or PIP2 accreditation OR PIP1 or PIP2 accreditation that has moved to inactive within the past 12 months.
• Current, serving Police Constables who have passed their probationary period can be accepted as holding PIP1 accreditation. .
• Current, serving police Detective Constables who have completed their force’s detective training programme and are signed off as substantive detectives can be accepted as holding PIP2.
• Police Civilian Investigators who hold active (or moved to inactive within the past 12 months) PIP1 and/or PIP2 accreditations. Officers will be required to provide evidence of the units upon which their accreditation is based and are expected to demonstrate operational competence of any current PIP1 units that did not form part of their original accreditation within 12 months of taking up an investigations post.
• PIP1/PIP2 Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) officers accreditations are accepted as PIP. The Immigration Enforcement Investigators Exam (IEIE) taken for PIP2 candidates is not a direct equivalent to the National Investigators Exam (NIE) and therefore officers joining via this route will be required to take and pass the NIE within 12 months of taking up their post, alongside any other exams and development required.
• All experienced investigations officers will be required to demonstrate competence in the key policing skills of arrest, conflict management, escorting arrested/detained persons and presenting arrested persons to custody through either previous experience or by assessment against these skills during the first 12 months in post alongside the successful completion of any required NCA examinations as appropriate.

Equivalent Qualifications

• Applicants holding accepted equivalent qualifications may apply. In order to be considered equivalent, a qualification must be relevant to the criminal investigation discipline, cover modules that are broadly similar to those covered by the PIP1/PIP2 programmes, consist of taught elements and be followed by a rigorous workplace based assessment process before the qualification/accreditation is awarded.
• Currently the NCA recognises the following as being broadly equivalent to PIP1/PIP2: Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (level 4 award) = PIP 2; Military Police – Royal Military Police Initial Course (RMPIC) = PIP 1; Volume
• Crime Investigation Course (VCIC) = PIP1; Serious Crime Investigation Course (SCIC) = PIP2; Police Scotland officers who have passed their probation can be considered to hold PIP1 equivalent and officers who have completed the Police Scotland National Investigators Exam (NIE) and the Initial Investigators Programme (IIP) can be considered to hold PIP2 equivalent.