Information about exam dates, fees and exam centres for the Diploma in Police Interpreting (DPI)

Advice on how to prepare for the Diploma in Police Interpreting (DPI)

Student Affiliate

Student Affiliate membership is open to all language undergraduate and postgraduate students studying in the UK and internationally. Applicants will normally be working towards achieving:

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We aim to make the online application process as straightforward and smooth as possible but please contact the membership team if you need help or advice.

Wherever you are in your studies, career and life, and however you use or intend to use your language skills, CIOL membership is for you.

Membership of CIOL offers a range of benefits that will enable you to raise your profile as a linguist, support your professional life and connect with our international community of linguists.

About the exam

Is it right for me?

The Diploma in Police Interpreting (DPI) is a professional qualification for those who work, or would like to work, as interpreters for Police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Level: degree level in terms of language skills required.

Dates

Registration for the November 2025 exam session is now open. Please note minimum candidate numbers are required for certain languages to run, so please be ready to register early to avoid disappointment.

The November 2025 exam dates are:

Examiners' Recommendations to DPSI Candidates & Course Providers

Every year, examiners are asked by CIOL Qualifications to provide recommendations on how candidates may be helped to perform better in the DPSI examination. Although not all candidates taking the examination have necessarily followed courses the examiners would like to provide the following advice to candidates, and also to course providers on how they can support their students in their preparations for the DPSI examination. This is a summary of advice gathered from the last few DPSI exam rounds.

Recommendations to Candidates

General advice

• Candidates should bear in mind that the DPSI is a professional examination at degree level and ensure that they are proficient in both English and the target language prior to registering on a DPSI course. It is vital to be able to write well in the target language in order to be able to produce a translation which reads like an original piece of writing.

• Study past exam papers.