Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to become a police officer in New York
- Certification
- Basic Course for Police Officers (BCPO) certificate of completion issued by the DCJS Commissioner (GML §209-q)
- Minimum age
- Civil Service Law §58(1)(a): at least 20 at appointment and no more than 43 on the date of the written exam (current NY Senate text, 2025 amendment; formerly 35); up to 6 years of military service may be subtracted. Applies to competitive-class police of counties, cities, towns, villages, housing authorities and police districts.
- Education
- High school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, or equivalent GED certification (Civil Service Law §58(1)(b)).
- Citizenship
- U.S. citizen: Public Officers Law §3(1) requires holders of civil office to be U.S. citizens and state residents (police residency exceptions in later subdivisions).
- Disqualifiers
- Lack of good moral character per 9 NYCRR 6000.10: within 3 years of application, any felony, sex offense, Penal Law 265 'serious offense', official misconduct/bribery/perjury/forgery/fraud/assault-type crimes, unlawful controlled-substance use, application falsification; dishonorable discharge at any time. A felony conviction also vacates public office (Public Officers Law §30(1)(e)); medical, fitness and psychological standards also apply (Part 6000).
- Basic academy
- Basic Course for Police Officers (BCPO): DCJS states the MPTC minimum is 'over 700 hours' (classroom/skills plus supervised field training), not fixed in regulation (9 NYCRR 6020.3). Delivered by police employers and regional academies approved by DCJS; a pre-employment college option exists.
- State exam
- None required
- Fitness standard
- MPTC physical fitness screening test (sit-ups, push-ups, 1.5-mile run at the 40th percentile of Cooper norms by age/sex), given pre-offer at entry by the municipal civil service commission (9 NYCRR 6000.8).
- Time to certify
- Must complete the BCPO and receive the certificate within 1 year of original appointment or forfeit the position; the Commissioner may extend for exigent circumstances up to a total of 2 years (GML §209-q; 9 NYCRR 6020.7).
- Officers from other states
- Police Equivalency: officers formerly permanently appointed in another U.S. jurisdiction (at least 12 months' service out of state, per DCJS) may apply through their NY employer; DCJS waives the equivalent parts and the officer completes noted deficiencies (DCJS says typically 264-535 hours) at an approved BCPO within the 1-year limit (9 NYCRR 6020.8).
CSL §58 and Part 6000 set no driver-license rule (it is left to civil service and the agency). The BCPO ends in academy-run written exams (70% minimum), not a state licensing exam. MPTC sets in-service standards that employers provide 'at their discretion', with no statewide hour mandate. NY State Police troopers train at the NYSP Academy under the Executive Law and are not certified through this municipal BCPO track; NYPD runs its own MPTC-approved academy and may add standards. Criminal-side deputy sheriffs are police officers (CPL 1.20(34)) and take the BCPO; correction-side deputies are peace officers on a separate track.
Source: State POST commissions and legislatures, State peace officer standards: statutes, administrative rules and POST commission pages. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Pay in New York, all employers Sourced
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (SOC 33-3051) in New York, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | NY |
|---|---|
| Workers | 53,470 |
| 10th percentile | $53,000 |
| Median | $92,790 |
| 90th percentile | $118,250 |
| National median, government employers | $76,300 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pension in New York
Local employees: Local police and firefighters
| Plan | Accrual | Normal retirement | Employee pays | Social Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYSLRS Police and Fire Retirement System - Tier 6 PFRS Tier 6 | — | special plans: required 20 or 25 years of service at any age | Set by the employer | Not stated |
The statewide plan a new hire usually joins. Some cities and counties run their own plans; check with the employer. Each plan's formula, vesting, cost-of-living adjustment and retiree health are on the New York pension plans list.
Source: State retirement systems, Official state retirement system pages, member handbooks and statutes. Data captured October 2, 2026.
Employers in New York
422 police departments in New York.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for New York
New York Municipal Police Training Council Certification ExamNew York exam · free on Open Exam Prep- NYPD Police Officer Exam (NYC DCAS)Practice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- IPMA-HR / PSHRA Entry-Level Police Officer Test (PO-EL)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory (NCJOSI-3)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- National Police Officer Selection Test (POST)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NTN FrontLine National - Law Enforcement ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Police Aptitude and Character Test (PACT)Entrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Police Officer page.
Police Officer in other states
More government jobs in New York
New York government jobs · New York public pension plans · police officer standards in New York · exam practice in New York