NYC SCHOOL SAFETY AGENT Exam No. 7324

School Safety Agents are assigned to NYC public schools and perform the following duties:

• Patrol designated areas of school buildings and surrounding grounds
• Identify and prevent infiltration of unlawful or prohibited items through scanning
• Give routine information to visitors and direct them to appropriate personnel
• Request identification from and remove unauthorized persons from the premises
• Aid sick and injured persons; call for medical, police, or fire assistance when needed
• Notify supervisors of all emergency incidents and complete related documentation
• Respond to altercations between students, attempt to separate and resolve conflicts
• Maintain records of persons entering and leaving buildings
• Monitor security camera systems to ensure facility entrances are secure
• Identify persons violating Department of Education Rules and Regulations
• Apprehend persons violating the Penal Law and notify administrative personnel
• Prepare reports and testify at hearings and/or in court regarding violations
• Monitor and use radios to request assistance from co-workers
• May operate motor vehicles

Special Working Conditions: School Safety Agents may be required to work various shifts including nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Physical demands include standing, walking, running, responding to altercations, and functioning in a potentially hostile or stressful environment.

School Safety Agents receive scheduled salary increments over five years. All rates are subject to change.

Want to see how overtime and night differential affect your take-home? Try the NY Government Salary Calculator.

Education: A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s Department of Education or recognized accrediting organization. The education requirement must be met by November 25, 2027.

If you were educated outside the United States, you must have your foreign education evaluated to determine equivalency to U.S. education. Instructions are provided by the Police Department during pre-employment screening.

Special Patrolman Requirements — At the time of appointment, you must meet the following qualifications for Special Patrolman status (NYPD, Administrative Code Section 14-106):

• Be 21 years of age or older
• A citizen of the United States
• A resident of New York City (unless exempted by law)
• If discharged from military service, the discharge must not have been dishonorable
• Be of good moral character with no record of convictions for any felony or serious offense as enumerated in §265.00(17) of the NYS Penal Law

An applicant with a Certificate of Good Conduct or Certificate of Relief from Disabilities for a covered conviction may still be eligible. All candidates undergo a background check conducted by the NYPD.

After two years of continuous employment, NYC residency may be extended to Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, or Putnam county.

The multiple-choice exam is conducted at a computer terminal. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass. Your score determines your ranking on the eligible list. Testing is expected to begin January 19, 2027. The exam covers the following abilities:

• Deductive Reasoning — Applying general rules to specific problems and arriving at logical answers
• Inductive Reasoning — Combining separate pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions
• Information Ordering — Correctly following a rule or set of rules in a specific order
• Memorization — Remembering information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures
• Problem Sensitivity — Identifying when something is wrong or likely to go wrong
• Spatial Orientation — Determining location relative to objects or persons
• Visualization — Imagining how items would look when moved or rearranged (e.g., scanning for prohibited items)
• Written Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs
• Written Expression — Using English words and sentences clearly in writing

For a full overview of how NYC civil service exams work, see our Civil Service Exams 101 guide.

Selective Certification – Assistant School Safety Agent (ASA): If you have at least six months of satisfactory full-time experience as an Assistant School Safety Agent at a NYC public school, you may be eligible for Selective Certification, which provides preferred consideration for positions requiring that experience. Indicate your interest in OASys when applying, or submit a request later via nyc.gov/CivilServiceNowNYC using the “Selective Certification” subject.

Driver License: A motor vehicle driver license is not required for appointment. However, for assignment to Group Leader or Mobile Task Force Member positions, a valid NYS driver license is required and must be maintained for the duration of that assignment.

Investigation: A background check conducted by the NYPD is required prior to appointment. A $82.75 fingerprint screening fee applies. Applicants who fail the background check will not be appointed or will be terminated.