AFP College, Canberra
recruit training for national and ACT police

The AFP College in Barton is where every AFP police recruit trains, whether you're heading for national policing or ACT Policing. It's a registered training organisation offering nine qualifications, and it's run as a residential college: you're expected to live on site, with a free room, meals and the equipment you need.

The AFP's recruit rate is mid-table on base pay, but the total package is stronger than it looks. Employer super of 15.4% is second only to Queensland's 18%, and with accommodation and meals free, almost all of your take-home pay is yours to keep. ACT Policing has been graduating squads of around 19 at a time in 2026, as part of a funded plan for 126 extra officers over five years.

The College is in Barton, between the city and Lake Burley Griffin. The AFP doesn't publish a street address on the College page.

The ACT Policing page says recruits live on site for the 26 weeks. If you already live in Canberra, you can ask to live off-site, but nothing in the sources says that request will be granted.

Three official sources give three numbers. They're probably measuring different things.

For planning, use 26 weeks: it's what the AFP's own recruiting pages say. The 19-week figure is a pay rule, not the course length. The 27-week figure may include induction or a squad-specific schedule.

Plan for 26 weeks. The 19 in the enterprise agreement is a pay-point minimum, not the course.

The AFP and ACT Policing pages list the core content of the Federal Police Development Program. Completing it gives you the opportunity to receive the Diploma of Policing (POL50124).

The emphasis on investigations, briefs of evidence and intelligence reflects the AFP's federal role. Even if you're heading for ACT Policing's general duties, expect more investigative and paperwork training than some state academies describe.

The AFP says recruits sit the Physical Competency Assessment (PCA) up to three times at the College, including on entry and before graduation. It's a different test from the Entry Physical Competency Assessment you pass to get in.

The entry standard in full:

Our AFP fitness test guide explains both tests.

Police recruits are paid at Band 2.3 from day one: $69,698 base from 9 December 2025, rising to $71,580 from 9 December 2026. The AFP adds 15.4% employer super. The 22% Core Composite that lifts sworn pay appears not to be paid during training: the careers table shows no composite for College recruits, though that isn't confirmed.

With no rent or food bills while you live in, a College recruit can save a large share of that take-home. Compare the AFP with the states in our recruit pay comparison.

The AFP covers more of the cost of training than any other force in our data. There are no course fees, and the College covers your room, meals, phone, laptop and travel to and from the College.

The main cost you'll carry is any home you keep elsewhere while you're at the College. If you rent, decide early whether to keep the lease for 26 weeks.

The ACT Policing page gives the clearest picture of College life. Training runs Monday to Friday in squads of up to 30, with physical training three times a week and some assignments out of hours.

1. 1

   Day one

   Arrival

   Room key, security pass, briefings and a barbecue.

2. 2

   Week one

   Induction

   Uniform fitting, team-building and overnight exercises.

3. 3

   A typical week

   Mon to Fri

   Classes in law, investigations and procedure; practical tactics, firearms and driving; scenarios; PT three times a week.

4. 4

   Out of hours

   Evenings

   Some assignments and study in your own time.

The AFP doesn't publish daily start and finish times on the pages we read. The structure above is from the ACT Policing page; ask the College about weekend leave and rules on site, including the bar.

You apply for either national policing or ACT Policing, and your posting location is confirmed in your job offer. Both streams do the same College training on the same pay.

In March 2026, 19 new ACT Policing constables were deployed across five ACT stations. See the AFP salary guide for how pay rises through the bands.

Police graduates are probationary officers at Band 2.4 and stay there for at least 12 months and until the AFP workbook is signed off (by a supervisor who has supervised them for 3+ months), then move to 3.1. A formal probation period beyond this is not stated. PSO recruits start at 2.1 for at least 12 months, including training.

1. 1

   Graduate at Band 2.4

   Graduation

   You're a probationary constable on $72,317 base plus the composite.

2. 2

   Complete the AFP workbook

   Year 1

   Signed off by a supervisor who has supervised you for at least 3 months, and by the Commissioner.

3. 3

   Move to Band 3.1

   12 months+

   Only once the workbook is signed off and you've had at least 12 months at Band 2.4.

4. 4

   Diploma of Policing

   After year 1

   The ACT Policing page says you complete the workbook in your first year, followed by the Diploma of Policing (POL50124).

PSO recruits do a separate 15-week course leading to the POL41225 Certificate IV in Protective Services, then have a dedicated mentor for their first 6 months. They're told whether they'll train at the College in Canberra or at Pinkenba in Brisbane.

PSO recruits start at Band 2.1 for at least 12 months, including training. For the PSO role in full, see our AFP joining guide.

Most people reach the College through the standard recruit process. A few other routes exist, but not all of them lead to sworn policing, and the experienced-officer pathways are closed or unclear.

ADF members and veterans use the standard recruit process, and a current NV1 clearance may be recognised. Under the enterprise agreement the Commissioner can set a higher starting pay point for experienced recruits, so if you've served elsewhere, ask about it at the offer stage.

The AFP's base recruit pay is mid-table, but with free board and 15.4% super, its training package is one of the most generous.

Still applying? See the AFP entrance exam guide.