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