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There is no residency requirement for the exam, but future officers will have to be a New York State resident upon appointment, according to Thomas Joy with the department’s Community Relations Bureau. There are no citizenship requirements for the test, but appointed officers will have to become U.S. citizens. This is a great opportunity for those who are in the citizenship pathway, i.e., Green Card holders, to get on the list to become an officer, Joy said.
The department will give priority to Spanish speakers in future hiring, but the test is in English, Joy pointed out. When signing up for the exam, applicants can choose one of two options: Police Officer or Police Officer (Spanish Speaking). Those selected to take the next step to become an officer will have to show proficiency in spoken Spanish, but no reading and writing proficiency in Spanish will be tested.
Both exams are in English, on the same date, and there is no additional cost in picking one or the other. “If you pick Police Officer (Spanish Speaking), you are placed on a separate list and 10% of every hire will be from that list,” Joy explained. Veterans will receive an extra five points on the exam (10 points for disabled veterans). Applicants need only a high school diploma or GED, no college required, to take the test. “If you miss this exam, the next one is scheduled for 2027,” Joy said.
The application fee is $125 and there are waivers available for veterans, firefighters, EMTs, Police Explorers, and those on public assistance. If you don't meet any of the criteria for an application fee waiver and are still unable to pay for the exam, there are organizations who have pledged to help with the fee. One is EOC of Suffolk at www.eoc-suffolk.com, phone number: 631-289-2124.
Successful candidates should know that the police academy is seven months long and they will be paid during the academy, along with benefits. Starting salary is $43,000. Officers receive a pay raise every six months for the next 11.5 years for a top base pay of $158,000 plus benefits, not including overtime, according to Joy. An officer on top pay can expect to receive about $200,000 in salary without overtime. “We currently have a 20-year retirement plan with 50 per cent of pay as your pension. You are not obligated to retire after 20 years of service,” he noted.
Officers also receive medical, dental and optical benefits, along with a Deferred Compensation Plan (similar to a 401k).