The accreditation process is commenced by the candidate applying to one of the Assessment Organisations (AO) to take the written test (unless exempt) and to submit Part A of the portfolio to the AO.

When the written test has been passed, and provided that Part A of the portfolio is approved by the AO, the candidate will be provided with the appropriate form to enable them to register as a probationary representative with the LSC. The LSC registration form must be signed by the candidate’s supervising solicitor and submitted to the LSC within three months of the date on which the AO confirms acceptance of the Part A portfolio. The LSC will then provide the probationary representative with a personal identification number (PIN) number.

Note: Applicants who are exempt from the written test will be required to provide appropriate proof of exemption with the application for probationary registration.

Following registration with the LSC, the candidate may complete the remaining two accreditation assessments, the portfolio, and the critical incidents test (CIT), in any order.

However, a candidate will be suspended from the police station register (which means, amongst other things, that the LSC will not pay for police station advice and assistance provided by the candidate) if they do not pass one of the remaining accreditation assessments within six months, and all of the relevant accreditation assessments within one year from the date of registration with the LSC.

Subject to the time limit for successfully completing the accreditation assessments, there is no limit on the number of times a candidate may attempt the respective assessments.