GraduateSmart
GraduateSmart
Deadline
Applications open Wed, Mar 3, 2027
Location
NY
Special Officer is a New York City civil service position filled through a DCAS open-competitive exam. Apply through the DCAS Online Application System (OASys) at https://www.nyc.gov/examsforjobs during the open filing period. Read the official Notice of Examination for the test format, duties, and pay.
See the official Notice of Examination for the education, experience, age, residency, and background standards for this exam.
NYC civil service positions include a pension, health coverage, paid leave, and job security. Good news: under Local Law 57 of 2025 (effective July 1, 2026), NYC public high school students and first-time applicants can apply for DCAS civil service exams for free.
Always verify eligibility on the sponsor's official application page before applying.
NYC civil service jobs are steady, benefited careers with a city pension — and many need no college degree. You get one by passing a civil service exam run by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).
Free for NYC high school students. As of July 1, 2026 (Local Law 57 of 2025), NYC public high school students and first-time applicants can apply for these exams for free — and some, like Police Officer and Traffic Enforcement Agent, already cost $0.
Find an exam and apply on OASys
Browse open exams and file your application at nyc.gov/examsforjobs during the exam’s open filing period. Each exam is open only for a set window — miss it and you wait for the next cycle.
Pay the fee — or apply for free
Some exams are free; for the rest, NYC public high school students and first-time applicants can now get the fee waived under Local Law 57.
Take the exam
Depending on the title it’s either a Multiple-Choice test or an Education & Experience review, where your schooling and work history are scored instead.
Get your score and list number
Everyone who passes is placed on an "eligible list," ranked by score. Your rank is your list number.
Get called from the list
As agencies hire, they call people from the top of the list down. A high score means you get called sooner. Lists can stay active for years.
No degree needed for many roles. Many of these roles — EMT, School Safety Agent, Traffic Enforcement Agent, Automotive Service Worker, Sanitation Worker — need only a high school diploma. If you’re not headed to a four-year college, this is one of the strongest paths to a stable career.
"Open Competitive" exams (these) are open to anyone who meets the requirements. "Promotional" exams are only for people already working for the city, so they aren’t listed here.
Browse & apply on NYC OASys