Garda FAQ's

An Garda Síochána launched a Garda Recruitment campaign in January 2024. Deadline for applications was 3.00pm Thursday 8th February 2024. The force has stated that it intends on running recruitment campaigns on an annual basis to ensure a steady stream of trainees entering the Garda college. The next campaign is expected in 2025. We also offer a Free Job Alert service which you can sign up to in order to stay informed of the next campaign. Start preparing for the next campaign with our renowned Garda preparation courses.

The competition for the selection of Garda Trainees attracts a very high number of applicants. Accordingly, the selection process to become a Garda Trainee is comprehensive, with candidates required to undertake a range of relevant assessment tests and exercises over a number of selection stages.

Stage 1 – Garda Online Aptitude Tests

Applicants are first invited to complete a series of online assessments. These assessments are completed at home / in an unsupervised environment on a laptop or PC.

Stage 2 – Competency Based Interview

A competency based interview is a highly structured interview where candidates are informed in advance of a number of key competencies. The competencies which are predefined by the interview board are key skills deemed necessary to serve effectively as a member of An Garda Síochána. Examples of the competencies could include ‘Problem Solving’, ‘Resilience’, ‘Motivation for the Role’ etc. During the interview candidates are asked to give examples of instances when they displayed each of the competencies effectively. Most people pick examples from their previous work experience, voluntary experience, educational experience or a hobby.

Stage 3 – The Physical Competence Test

This is the final stage of the Garda recruitment process and passing cannot be taken for granted, even if you consider yourself fit and healthy, as the physical competency test is very challenging. The Department of Justice released figures in January 2023 showing that more than 1 in 6 Garda recruits failed the fitness test, rising to more than 1 in 3 based on reports at the end of February 2023. A Medical Examination, Substance Misuse Testing and Garda Vetting is also carried out at this stage.

If successful in the recruitment process, candidates will be placed on a panel and as spaces become available they will be called to the Garda College in Templemore for training.

Garda Training
Once candidates successfully complete all the selection stages of the recruitment process, and provided they pass a personal background check, successful candidates are invited for intake to the Garda Training College in Templemore, Co. Tipperary.  Training takes place for an initial 34 weeks in the Garda College where recruits will reside for the duration. Upon completion of this residential training, Garda trainees are then assigned to a Garda Station where they will continue their training. Garda trainees will return on occasion to Templemore to complete further classroom based studies. Throughout training in its entirety, a Garda Trainee will undergo a 104 week training programme. Upon completion they will have attained a BA Degree in Applied Policing (level 7) accredited by the University of Limerick.

The recruitment process can range from several weeks to several months depending on a candidate’s performance and order of merit at each stage. A candidate must pass all stages of the selection tests before being accepted into Garda college. Candidates are called forward based on their ‘Order of Merit’. Those that score the highest at each stage will be called forward first, followed by further groups. In other words, the higher your marks in the selection tests, the quicker you will move through the recruitment process.

Eligibility criteria is set out at the start of each respective campaign. With regard to age requirements, the Information Booklet released by the PAS for the most recent campaign stated;

To be eligible for selection as a Trainee, an applicant must:

be 18 years of age but not yet 50 years of age at midnight on Thursday, 8th of February 2024;

As these notes are from the most recent campaign, we would expect that the birth date ranges would naturally update for the next campaign, but that this would remain the upper age limit for candidates.

The most recent campaign stated the following for applicants in terms of education requirements:

by the closing date:

(a) have obtained an Irish Leaving Certificate with a grade D3 or O6 minimum in five subjects at Ordinary Level*, or

(b) hold a minimum of a Level 5 Major award (120 Credits) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or

(c) hold a recognised qualification (at Level 5 or greater), deemed comparable to the above in terms of both level and volume of learning as determined by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

In terms of educational requirements a Level 5 Certificate (Major award) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or a recognised qualification (at Level 5 or greater), deemed comparable to the above in terms of both level and volume of learning as determined by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) can be used instead of Leaving Certificate.

be proficient in either or both of the following:

i) the Irish language

ii) the English language

With regard to the residency requirements for An Garda Síochána, on page 4 of the Notes for Candidates booklet they state:

“To be eligible for selection as a Trainee, an applicant must:

(a) Be a national of a European Union Member State, or

(b) Be a national of a European Economic Area State or the Swiss Confederation; or

(c) Be a Refugee under the Refugee Act, 1996; or

(d) Have had a period of one year’s continuous residence in the State on the closing date of the advertisement for the competition for the vacancy to which the admission relates, and during the eight years immediately preceding that period, has had a total residence in the State amounting to four years;

(e) Has been granted subsidiary protection, or is a family member of such a person, in compliance with the Admissions and Appointments Regulations 2013.”

Source: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2017-03-21/105/

Members of An Garda Síochána are eligible to apply for additional increments based on their educational qualifications as per Section 13.10 of The Garda Síochána Finance Code on successful completion of their probationary period.

Under the Garda Code, members of An Garda Síochána who, on appointment to An Garda Síochána, hold any of the qualifications listed below may, after completion of two years’ service, apply for additional increments as follows:

(i) One additional increment in respect of at least one Grade ‘B’ and two Grade ‘C’ in three subjects (which must include Mathematics and English or Irish) at Honours level in the established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme;

or

(ii) Three additional increments in respect of a Diploma or Degree from a third level educational institution. The Degree or Diploma must be full time, of two or four years duration, and be awarded by a third level institution recognised by the HETAC, or a recognised Irish statutory authority.

These increments are payable in addition to the increments for which the member might qualify under paragraph (i) above.

The Code makes no provision for payment of additional increments to serving members who complete Diploma or Degree level courses following their appointment to An Garda Síochána.

I am further informed that where the applicant completed a full time Degree/Diploma over five years due to for example taking a year off, repeating exams, etc, the member would still qualify under the code.

Each application is, considered on its own merits and is processed in accordance with the Garda Code.

Ordinarily new members of the service must spend at least three years on normal uniformed policing duties. After that, they are free to apply for any vacancies which may arise in specialist areas. Each section will have its own unique selection procedures.

According to official sources; tattoos and body art on the face, visible above the collar or below the cuff of your uniform, are not permitted. In order to retain a professional image, all other tattoos and body art must be covered while on duty. You must make An Garda Síochána aware if you have visible tattoos as early as possible as they may prevent you from being permitted to commence training.

If you would like to seek further clarification we recommend contacting the official recruiter. Public Appointments Service Tel: 01-8587400 Email: info@publicjobs.ie

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide official advice for this query. However, there are a few sources you can contact to try to get an answer to this query.

Firstly, you can contact Garda Headquarters on (01) 666 0000 as they may be able to direct your query to the correct department. It is possible that the Garda Recruitment, Human Resources and People Development section may be able to help answer your query (Tel: 01 666 2571, email: appointments@garda.ie ).

Secondly, your local garda station may be able to answer this question for you. To the best of our knowledge, when it comes to any background checks during a recruitment campaign, it is the candidate’s local station who deals with this. Therefore, they may be able to share their knowledge in this matter.

Thirdly, you could contact the Public Appointments Service for official advice as they are the recruiter for Garda Trainees. Therefore, they will be very familiar with question relating to eligibility. They can be contacted by email at info@publicjobs.ie or by phone on (01) 858 7400 for advice.

The Garda training programme is delivered over 104 weeks leading to a B.A. Degree in Applied Policing.

Phase I is 34 weeks including two weeks leave. During Phase I of the training the Trainee Gardaí will reside at the Garda College, Templemore. Co. Tipperary – Monday to Friday inclusive. On successful completion of Phase I training the Trainee Garda will be attested and will progress to Phase II of their training. The Trainee Garda will now be a Probationer Garda and will be appointed as a member of An Garda Síochána.

Phase II is 34 weeks in total. It will be an operational phase where the newly appointed Probationer Garda will commence training in the operational field at a designated Garda Station. He/she will work alongside a Garda assigned to assist them.

Phase III is completely autonomous. In this phase of the training, the Probationer Garda will work independently.

With our Garda Recruitment Preparation Courses you will give yourself the best chance at success in this competitive recruitment campaign. We have undoubtedly established ourselves as Ireland’s leading provider of Garda recruitment preparation courses, with over 35 years of experience our track record and expertise are second to none. We have helped thousands of candidates just like you to succeed in the selection stages of Garda recruitment campaigns. Find out more here

Email Us: info@careerservices.ie