MTA Fare Enforcement Agent — Exam No. 7602

MTA New York City Transit is accepting applications for Fare Enforcement Agent, Exam No. 7602. Fare Enforcement Agents perform surveillance, investigative, and enforcement work on NYC Transit revenue vehicles — primarily buses — ensuring passengers comply with current fare policies. They issue summonses, investigate violations, testify at hearings, and assist customers with fare payment systems.

This is a civil service title with one of the strongest salary trajectories in fare enforcement anywhere in New York. Most fare enforcement roles in the private sector or with smaller transit operators pay $10–$17/hr. This MTA position starts at over $63,000/yr and reaches nearly $100,000/yr by year six — a career-level position, not a stopgap. But it requires three years of qualifying security enforcement experience, a NYS driver’s license, and a NYS Security Guard Registration Card at the time of appointment.

This is one of the most important things to understand about this position: the MTA civil service salary scale is dramatically higher than what most “fare enforcement” job listings pay.

The MTA starting salary essentially matches what the average fare enforcement officer earns at the median of all employers in Brooklyn — and then doubles it by year six. Add night/weekend differentials, paid holidays, a pension, and full medical coverage, and this is an exceptional compensation package for security enforcement work that doesn’t require a college degree.

Fare Enforcement Agents work under supervision to perform surveillance, investigative, and enforcement work on NYC Transit revenue vehicles — primarily buses. The role blends security enforcement, customer service, investigation, and administrative reporting.

• ✓Check the validity of customers’ fare receipts on NYC Transit revenue vehicles to ensure payment in accordance with fare policy
• ✓Issue summonses to fare evaders; exercise de-escalation techniques with agitated customers
• ✓Investigate alleged violations of fare enforcement policies
• ✓Participate in monitoring and coordinating activities of team members and assist as necessary
• ✓Testify at hearings and in court regarding the details of summonses issued
• ✓Provide route and fare-related information to customers; assist and instruct customers to use fare receipt issuance machines
• ✓Record daily actions in memo books and prepare detailed reports
• ✓Perform special assignments as needed; operate a motor vehicle

• !Standing for lengthy periods of time on moving buses
• !Conducting visual inspection of documents; walking up and down stairs
• !Frequently boarding and alighting buses throughout the shift
• !Working outside in all weather conditions; various shifts including nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays

Both requirements below must be met. Experience must be met by July 28, 2026. Education must be met by July 28, 2027.

• ✓Education: A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization.
• ✓Experience: Three years of full-time, satisfactory security experience primarily involving the enforcement of policies, procedures, and regulations governing the behavior and actions of the general public, including the performance of associated investigations and the issuance of summonses or the writing of comprehensive reports. Qualifying part-time experience is credited on a prorated basis.

Passing the written exam places you on the eligible list. Before you can be appointed, you must meet these additional requirements:

• !NYS Driver’s License: At the time of appointment, you must hold a Motor Vehicle Driver License valid in the State of New York with no disqualifying restrictions. Serious moving violations, license suspensions, or an accident record may result in disqualification. The license must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• !NYS Security Guard Registration Card: At the time of appointment, you must possess a valid NYS Security Guard Registration Card or show valid proof of filing for one between the start of the application period and your appointment date. By the end of the probationary period, you must possess the full registration card as required under Article 7-A of the NYS General Business Law (Section 89-h). Failure to obtain this card will result in termination. It must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• !Medical examination: Medical guidelines have been established. You’ll be examined to determine whether you can perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations provided for qualifying disabilities.
• !Drug screening: Required before appointment.
• !Probationary period: You must complete a probationary period. Training may be required during this period — failure to complete it successfully may result in termination.

The competitive multiple-choice test may be given at a computer terminal or using paper and pencil/pen. A score of at least 70% is required to pass. Your score — plus veterans’ credits if applicable — determines your place on the eligible list. You’ll be assigned a test date and location and cannot request changes unless you qualify for a special accommodation or make-up test.

Apply through the MTA Online Application System (OASys) at a856-mtaexams.nyc.gov. This is a separate MTA portal — not the NYC DCAS system at nyc.gov/examsforjobs. New accounts require email verification; most verify instantly, but allow up to 5 business days if manual review is needed.

The $82 fee may be waived for veterans and candidates participating in certain public assistance programs. Requests require mailed documentation — not an online form — by August 11, 2026:

• !Prohibited devices: No cellular phones, smart watches, smart glasses, beepers, pagers, cameras, portable media players, or other electronic devices. No devices with alphabetic keyboards or word processing/data recording capabilities.
• ✓Calculators allowed — hand-held, battery or solar powered, numeric only. No functions beyond addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• !Medical assistive devices that alert, notify, or vibrate require prior written authorization — email examsmakeups@nyct.com before the test.
• !ID required: One valid, non-expired photo ID with signature. Name must match your application exactly. Accepted: state driver’s license, state ID, US passport, military ID, Alien Registration Card, IDNYC, employer photo ID, student photo ID.
• !No companions, no re-entry: No one may accompany you or wait inside the test site. Leaving after fingerprinting prevents re-entry — attempting to re-enter may result in score nullification and fee forfeiture.