Dates released for online exams

17 June 2020

The College of Policing has put together a series of frequently asked questions for officers sitting exams rescheduled and moved online because of the pandemic.

The college has confirmed the National Police Promotion Framework (NPPF) Inspectors’ and Sergeants’ Exams will take place online in the autumn.

They were initially postponed due to the coronavirus lockdown. Now they are being run over the internet to reduce the risk to officers and invigilators, and a set of FAQs have been produced for officers looking to sit the exams.

Derbyshire Police Federation chair Tony Wetton said: “We appreciate a lot of thought and hard work has gone into moving exams online.  That is absolutely right and proper because so many officers had put so much time and effort into preparing for the exams that had to be cancelled at such short notice.  Officers need to be given the opportunity to take the exam, and policing needs them qualified and available for promotion.

“COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact across many areas of policing, so it’s really pleasing to see the College of Policing coming up with imaginative solutions to allow officers to take these important exams and enable the Force to continue offering promotions.”

Dates identified for the Inspectors’ NPPF Step Two Legal Exam are Monday 12 October and Wednesday 14 October.

Dates identified for the Sergeants’ NPPF Step Two Legal Exam are Monday 9 November and Wednesday 11 November.

Mike Cunningham, chief executive of the College of Policing, said: “We will be working at pace in the coming months to put all necessary steps in place to move to online delivery for exams.

“Candidates will need to reserve all of these dates in the event we’re able to hold the exams on one day. We will advise of this as soon as we’re able to.

“In identifying a date for the rescheduled sergeants’ exam, we’ve considered the notice we need to provide to candidates for revision. We’ve also tried to identify a date that’s least likely to impact on planned leave or those with caring responsibilities.”

He said that the new system could mean that candidates receive their exam results earlier than usual.

“We will aim to have the results of the sergeants’ exam issued by the end of November,” he said.

The NIE scheduled for 2020 will be held, as planned, on 8 September and 24 November.

The Direct Entry Superintendents’ Examination will also be held, as planned, on 17 November.

Read the FAQs.