NEW YORK — The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the NYPD announced new measures aimed at expanding access to the police officer exam and addressing department staffing shortages, according to a news release.
Beginning in July, the police officer exam will be offered monthly, with application fees waived through September 2025.
The minimum age to apply has also been lowered from 21 to 20.5 years, marking the first adjustment to the age requirement in 25 years.
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“Our officers work tirelessly to keep crime down and protect our communities, but it’s no secret that the NYPD is facing a staffing crisis,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said. Keeping the greatest city in the world safe requires recruiting and retaining the best people for the job and this will help us build the next generation of NYPD officers.”
The changes also include the launch of a new testing model by DCAS, which adds scheduled monthly open competitive exams to the city’s annual civil service exam schedule. Starting in October, the application fee will return to $40.
Mayor Eric Adams said the changes come as the city reports declining crime for the sixth consecutive quarter.
“This is an open call to the next generation of police officers,” Adams said. “Now is the time, and best of all, the application is free.”
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