NYC Police Officer Exam

๐Ÿ“… Exam No. 7315 filing opens November 2, 2026 โ€” the next opportunity to apply. The 7314 application window has closed. Mark your calendar: the 7315 window runs November 2โ€“16, 2026, with testing December 1โ€“5, 2026. Application is 100% free. Apply at nyc.gov/examsforjobs.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is hiring Police Officers through 12 rolling civil service exam cycles running from July 2026 through July 2027. Each cycle has its own application window, scheduling period, and test date โ€” and every cycle is completely free to apply. If you miss one window, you can apply in the next one.

Police Officers start at $55,942 per year and reach $109,352 after five and a half years โ€” plus uniform allowance, holiday pay, health insurance, and pension contributions. This is a competitive civil service exam position with strong promotion pathways to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. The 7314 application window has closed; the next window (Exam 7315) opens November 2, 2026.

๐Ÿ’ฐStarting: $55,942/yr
๐Ÿ“ˆAfter 5.5 yrs: $109,352/yr
โœ…No Application Fee
๐ŸŽ“24 College Credits or 2 Yrs Military
๐Ÿ—“๏ธ12 Exam Cycles (2026โ€“2027)
๐Ÿ“NYC Residency Required
๐Ÿ“… Exam Schedule โ€“ All 12 Cycles

The highlighted row shows the currently active or upcoming cycle. You must apply during the application window to be scheduled for that testing period.

Exam No. Application Opens Application Closes Testing Period
7311July 1, 2026July 14, 2026Aug 3โ€“8, 2026
7312Aug 3, 2026Aug 17, 2026Sep 1โ€“4, 2026
7313Sep 1, 2026Sep 14, 2026Oct 5โ€“9, 2026
7314Oct 1, 2026Oct 14, 2026Nov 2โ€“7, 2026
7315 โ† Filing Opens Nov 2Nov 2, 2026Nov 16, 2026Dec 1โ€“5, 2026
7316Dec 1, 2026Dec 14, 2026Jan 4โ€“9, 2027
7317Jan 4, 2027Jan 19, 2027Feb 1โ€“6, 2027
7318Feb 1, 2027Feb 16, 2027Mar 1โ€“6, 2027
7319Mar 1, 2027Mar 15, 2027Apr 5โ€“10, 2027
7320Apr 1, 2027Apr 14, 2027May 3โ€“8, 2027
7321May 3, 2027May 17, 2027Jun 1โ€“5, 2027
7322Jun 1, 2027Jun 14, 2027Jul 6โ€“9, 2027
๐Ÿ’ฐ Salary & Benefits
$55,942
Starting annual salary
$109,352
After 5.5 years of service

In addition to base salary, Police Officers receive:

  • Annual uniform allowance
  • Holiday pay
  • City-paid health insurance
  • City contributions to Welfare and Annuity Funds
  • 2.25% differential (of base salary) for neighborhood policing
๐Ÿ‘ฎ What the Job Involves

Police Officers perform general police duties and community relations work across the five boroughs. Core duties include:

  • Patrolling assigned areas on foot or by vehicle to prevent crime and apprehend suspects
  • Intervening in crimes in progress, aided cases, emotionally disturbed persons, and complaints
  • Responding to and investigating vehicular accidents and specific offenses
  • Interviewing witnesses, victims, and complainants; issuing summonses
  • Handling situations involving maltreated, abused, or missing children and interactions with juveniles
  • Crowd control at demonstrations, rallies, and parades
  • Preparing forms, reports, and testifying in court

Special Working Conditions: Officers work various shifts including nights, weekends, holidays, and rotating tours, and may be required to work overtime per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

๐Ÿ“‹ Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience (by date of appointment)

  • Four-year high school diploma or equivalent, AND one of the following:
  • 24 college semester credits at an accredited college or university with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA, OR
  • Two years of honorable full-time U.S. military service

Age Requirements

  • Minimum age to take the test: 17 years old
  • Minimum age for appointment: 20 years and 6 months
  • Maximum age to file: under 43 years old (veterans may deduct up to 6 years of qualifying military service)
โœ… Additional Requirements

Residency & Citizenship

  • US Citizenship required at time of appointment
  • Must reside in NYC or Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland, or Putnam counties

Driver License & Language

  • Valid, unrestricted NYS Motor Vehicle Driver License required by appointment date; must be maintained throughout employment
  • Must be able to understand and be understood in English

Background & Character

  • Good character and satisfactory background required
  • Persons convicted of a felony or domestic violence misdemeanor are not eligible
  • $82.75 fingerprint screening fee required at investigation

Medical, Physical & Drug Testing

  • Must pass qualifying physical test and periodic physical evaluations
  • Must pass medical and psychological assessments
  • Must pass drug screening prior to appointment; zero tolerance policy for illegal drug use
  • Must qualify โ€” and remain qualified โ€” in firearms usage semiannually
๐Ÿ“ The Multiple-Choice Test

The test is computer-based and administered at a terminal. You must score at least 70% to pass. Your score determines your place on the eligible list. The test assesses 9 abilities:

Deductive Reasoning Applying general rules to specific problems; determining correct dispatch codes.
Inductive Reasoning Combining pieces of information to form general conclusions; used in investigating offenses.
Information Ordering Following a set of rules or actions in correct order; used when storing seized property.
Memorization Remembering words, numbers, pictures, procedures; used when identifying wanted individuals.
Problem Sensitivity Identifying what is wrong or likely to go wrong; used when apprehending suspects or assisting victims.
Spatial Orientation Determining your location relative to objects; used when navigating a precinct on foot or by vehicle.
Visualization Imagining how objects look when moved or rearranged; used when identifying suspects who may have changed their appearance.
Written Comprehension Understanding written English; used when reading policies, laws, and traffic documents.
Written Expression Expressing ideas in writing so others understand; used when recording information in memo books and reports.

Note: No calculators, phones, smart watches, cameras, or electronic devices are permitted at the test site. Prohibited devices will be placed in a Yondr pouch. Violation may result in score nullification and a 5-year civil service testing ban.

๐ŸŽ–๏ธ Score Credits & Preferences

Additional Points You May Qualify For

Veterans’ Preference CreditAdditional points for honorably discharged veterans; must pass exam first
Disabled Veterans’ CreditAdditional points; must pass exam first
Legacy CreditFor candidates whose parent/sibling died in the line of duty as Police Officer, Firefighter, EMT, or Paramedic (including 9/11)
NYC Residency Credit+10 points for candidates who are NYC residents from test date through list establishment; must apply on test day
โญ Selective Certification

If you qualify in any of the following areas, you may receive preferred consideration for positions requiring that experience. Indicate your interest on the day of the test. The requirements may be met at any time during the life of the list.

  • Municipal Government Experience (MGE): 1+ year full-time in a city with over 1 million population
  • Federal Government Experience (FGE): 1+ year full-time with the U.S. federal government
  • AmeriCorps (AMC): 10+ months full-time as an NYC Service AmeriCorps member with 100+ hours of workforce preparedness training
  • Civil Service Pathways Fellowship (FEL): 1+ year in the Fellowship program
  • Foreign Language: Ability to speak a foreign language (requires a qualifying test)
๐Ÿ“ˆ Promotion Pathways

Police Officers can be promoted through civil service exams and may also be designated Detective. Promotion education requirements:

Police Officer โ†’ DetectiveDesignation by Department; no exam required
โ†’ SergeantCivil service exam + 64 college credits / Associate degree
โ†’ LieutenantCivil service exam + 96 college credits (3 years of coursework)
โ†’ CaptainCivil service exam + Baccalaureate degree

Police Academy credits count toward college education requirements for promotion.

๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ How to Apply

Apply online through OASys (Online Application System) at nyc.gov/examsforjobs. Select “No Fee” as your payment method. A valid email address is required. You can also apply in person at any DCAS Computer-based Testing & Application Center (Monโ€“Fri, 9 AMโ€“5 PM):

Manhattan2 Lafayette Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Brooklyn210 Joralemon Street, 4th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Queens118-35 Queens Blvd, 5th Floor
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Staten Island135 Canal Street, 3rd Floor
Staten Island, NY 10304
Bronx1932 Arthur Avenue, 2nd Floor
Bronx, NY 10457

Centers are closed on: Jul 3, Sep 7, Oct 12, Nov 3, Nov 11, Nov 26, and Dec 25, 2026. Bring one valid, non-expired photo ID to the test site. Name on ID must match your application. For disability accommodations, contact testingaccommodations@dcas.nyc.gov at least 30 days before your test.

The application is 100% free. Apply during your preferred exam window at the OASys portal. The eligible list is typically active for four years.

Apply at nyc.gov/examsforjobs โ†’ Special Circumstances Guide โ†’

โš ๏ธ Disclaimer

This article is an informational summary, not an official government notice. Requirements, salaries, deadlines, and schedules are subject to change without notice. Always verify current information directly with the hiring agency before applying. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any government agency. Nothing on this page constitutes legal, employment, or career advice.

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