Overview
Garda Trainee recruitment selects candidates to join An Garda Síochána, the Irish national police service, as trainee Gardaí. The process is run jointly: the application and selection stages are carried out by publicjobs (the Irish Public Appointments Service), while appointment and the Foundation Training Programme are delivered by An Garda Síochána itself at the Garda College in Templemore.
Who can apply
Eligibility criteria (age, education, citizenship/residency, and character requirements) are published in each competition's information booklet on publicjobs.ie; recent competitions attracted a wide age range of applicants, including candidates in their 30s and 40s, subject to the specific age limits set for that competition.
Exam pattern
The competitive selection process has three stages:
Stage 1 — Online Assessment: online verbal and numerical reasoning tests, an assessment questionnaire, and a written exercise.
Stage 2 — Competency-Based Interview: an interview and roleplay exercise, carried out remotely for candidates who pass Stage 1.
Stage 3 — Eligibility Checks: a fitness test, medical examination, substance misuse (controlled drug) testing, and Garda vetting.
After the exam
Successful candidates are placed on a panel and called forward to the Garda College in Templemore for the Foundation Training Programme as places become available. For the 2026 competition, publicjobs states that trainees receive an allowance of €354 per week for 36 weeks of training, and the programme includes a Level 7 Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Policing accredited by the University of Limerick. Trainees attest after 36 weeks and start on a base salary of €39,194.
For the 2026 competition, publicjobs reports that Stage 1 assessments finished on 21 July 2026, results were issued on 11 August, and Stage 2 online interviews (an interview and roleplay by Zoom) were expected to begin on 24 August for those highest in the order of merit.
Preparation tips
Because Stage 1 combines timed reasoning tests with a written exercise before any interview takes place, building speed and accuracy on verbal and numerical reasoning practice first gives the strongest return, since only candidates who clear Stage 1 are invited to the competency-based interview at Stage 2.
Who runs Garda Trainee recruitment?
Application and selection are run by publicjobs; appointment and training are delivered by An Garda Síochána at the Garda College, Templemore.
How many stages does the Garda Trainee selection process have?
Three: an online assessment, a competency-based interview, and eligibility checks (fitness, medical, substance testing and vetting).