One of the first steps when going through police training in New York is to fulfill or exceed the specifications of the department to which you apply. The next thing is to pass the police exam and the civil service exam. Then there are multiple tests and/or interviews, plus a background check, which you must pass to be accepted for training. Upon passing the required tests and steps, you could be selected to attend police academy training.
Requirements for Being Employed as a Police Officer in NY
The subsequent list comprises the basic conditions for those who may be interested in working as law enforcement officials in New York City. Other cities in New York may have less stringent requirements, so please check with each location to see what the minimum requirements are for that specific department. Here are the NYC requirements:
- Must have a valid New York State driver’s license
- Must be a citizen who resides in the United States legally
- Must be at least age 21
- Live in one of the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Westchester, Rockland, Suffolk, Putnam, or Orange County
- Hold at least a high school level diploma or better
- Have successfully attended an accredited college or university and earned either 60 college credits (with at least a 2.0 GPA) or have two years of full-time military service
You might be disqualified from getting a New York City police job if you:
- Have been convicted of a crime concerning a lack of good moral character or violence
- Have served time for an offense that is punishable by one or more years in prison
- Received a military dishonorable discharge
- Have been fired from a job because of poor behavior or disrespect
- Have been convicted of domestic violence
New York Police Officer Salary
The average salary for officers in the state of New York is around 64,000 a year. Keep in mind though, that that reflects the higher paid officers in New York City and the lower paid officers in rural parts of the state. Where you work in the state of New York influences how much you make (so does your education and years of experience). Higher ranking officers and supervisors can make around or over 80-90 thousand a year.
Police Officer Related Schooling Programs in NY
Since one of New York’s minimum requirements involves meeting a minimum college education level (or 2 years of full time military service), it is important that those interested in working on the New York police force first accomplish their college work. The list below shows New York colleges and universities which provide degrees in law enforcement as well as criminal justice. Many options exist for those who don’t want a simple “criminal justice” degree and it may be wise to set yourself apart by having a more focused degree.
- Adelphi University
1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530
800-233-5744
- Alfred University
1 Saxon Drive, Alfred, NY 14802
607-871-2115
- ASA College
81 Willoughby Street, New York City, NY 11201
718-522-9073
- Canisius College
2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208
716-883-7000
- Cayuga County Community College
197 Franklin Street, Auburn, NY 13021
315-255-1743
- Clinton Community College
136 Clinton Point Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518-562-4200
- Corning Community College
1 Academic Drive, Corning, NY 14830
607-962-9222
- CUNY-Bronx Community College
2155 Dr. Martin L King Jr. Blvd., Bronx, NY 10453
718-289-5100
- CUNY-Hostos Community College
500 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
718-518-4444
- Dominican College
470 Western Highway, Orangetown, NY 10962
845-359-7800
- Elmira College
1 Park Place, Elmira, NY 14901
607-735-1800
- Finger Lakes Community College
3325 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua, NY 14424
585-394-3500
- Herkimer County Community College
100 Reservoir Road, Herkimer, NY 13350
315-866-0300
- Hudson Valley Community College
80 Vandenburgh Ave, Troy, NY 12180
518-629-4822
- Iona College
715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801
914-633-2000
- Keuka College
141 Central Avenue, Keuka Park, NY 14478
315-279-5000
- LIU Brentwood
100 2nd Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717
631-273-5112
- Medaille College
18 Agassiz Circle, Buffalo, NY 14214
716-880-2000
- Mohawk Valley Community College
1101 Sherman Drive, Utica, NY 13501
315-792-5400
- Molloy College
1000 Hempstead Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11571
516-323-3500
- Monroe College
2501 Jerome Avenue, Bronx, NY 10468
718-933-6700
- New York Institute of Technology
710 Northern Blvd., Old Westbury, NY 11568
516-686-1000
- Niagara University
5795 Lewiston Road, Lewiston, NY 14109
716-285-1212
- North Country Community College
23 Santanoni Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
518-891-2915
- Orange County Community College
115 South Street, Middletown, NY 10940
845-344-6222
- Pace University
1 Pace Plaza, New York City, NY 10038
866-722-3338
- Roberts Wesleyan College
2301 Westside Drive, Rochester, NY 14624
585-594-6000
- Saint Joseph’s College
245 Clinton Avenue, New York City, NY 11205
718-940-5300
- Saint Thomas Aquinas College
125 Route 340, Sparkill, NY 10976
845-398-4000
- SBI Campus-Melville
320 S. Service Road, Suite R, Melville, NY 11747
631-293-2460
- St. Francis College
180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, New York City, NY 11201
718-522-2300
- St. John’s University
8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY 11439
718-990-2000
- SUNY College at Oneonta
108 Ravine Parkway, Oneota, NY 13820
607-436-3500
- Syracuse University
900 South Crouse Ave, Syracuse, NY 13244
315-433-1870
- The College of Saint Rose
432 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203
800-637-8556
- The Sage Colleges
65 1st Street, Troy, NY 12180
518-244-2000