Prepare for the 2026 New York City Civil Service Exams

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) in New York City is responsible for administering civil service exams for various positions within the city government. These exams are designed to ensure that the city hires qualified and capable individuals for various positions, from entry-level jobs to professional roles.

The exams are typically divided into two categories: open-competitive exams, which are open to anyone who meets the minimum qualifications, and promotional exams, which are available only to current city employees seeking a promotion.

The NYC DCAS also offers various types of exams like computer-based, paper-based, and remote proctored exams. The exams are designed to test knowledge, skills, and abilities that are relevant to the specific positions, and they may include multiple-choice questions, written responses, or performance tasks.

If you're looking to become a Poice Officer in NY, make sure to visit our NYPD Exam Test.

Check out our DCAS free practice test and start practice for your test now!

The NYC DCAS hiring process typically begins with an announcement of an upcoming exam, which is published on the DCAS website as a notice of examination, and in various newspapers. Here you can see an example of what the notice of examination looks like:

Interested individuals must then submit an application according to their specific test requirements (as presented at the NOE), which typically includes personal information, such as name, address, and education, and then pay the required application fee.

After the application period is closed, the DCAS will review the applications to ensure that all applicants meet the minimum qualifications for the exam. Eligible applicants will then be sent an admit card to take the exam. The exam may be computer-based, paper-based, or remote proctor. Once the exam is completed, the DCAS will score the exams and release the results on their website, and the individuals who pass will be placed on an eligible list, which city agencies use to fill open positions.

It's important to note that the application process and requirements may vary depending on the type of exam and the position for which you are applying, so it's recommended to check the official DCAS site.  For the most up-to-date information and instructions.

The NYC DCAS exams assess different types of cognitive and verbal abilities to check if you fit the job requirement. Although there are more than ten different types of DCAS exams, all of them include the same kind of questions; some include all, and some only a few.

Here's some information about the different types of questions you might face in your DCAS exam:

The NYC Correctional Officer exam assesses your ability to become a New York State Correctional Officer and serve in a local correctional facility. Your final score must be 70% or higher, the same as score requirements for other civil service exams in New York state. The test consists of 100 multiple-choice questions to be answered in a 3.5-hours period. The test covers topics like Written Comprehension, Written Expression, Mathematical Reasoning, Number Facility, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Spatial Orientation,  Visualization, etc.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our NYC Correctional Officer page. 

The School Safety Agent exam is designed to assess all the skills required for an effective NYC School Safety Agent. The test includes 80-100 questions, divided into 9 sections, and mainly focuses on assessing your cognitive abilities like Written Comprehension, Written Expression, Mathematical Reasoning, Number Facility, Reasoning, etc. The passing threshold is 70%.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our NYC School Safety Agent page.

The Department of Sanitation NYC Sanitation Worker Exam is administered as a paper and pencil and multiple-choice question exam for aspiring sanitation workers in New York & Staten Island. In order to pass the exam, a minimum score of 70 is required. The test covers topics like Written Comprehension, Written Expression, Mathematical Reasoning, Number Facility, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Spatial Orientation, Visualization, etc.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our NYC Sanitation Worker page.

TheNYPD Exam Test is a timed computer-based test given in a multiple-choice format. You will have two and a half hours to answer approximately 85 questions, which reflect the on-job activities of New York City police officers. The test covers topics like Written Comprehension, Written Expression, Mathematical Reasoning, Number Facility, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Spatial Orientation, Visualization, etc.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our NYPD Test page.

DCAS designed the Deputy Sheriff Exam to assess all the skills required for an effective NYC Deputy Sheriff. The test includes 7 different types of questions, and mainly focuses on assessing your cognitive abilities. The passing threshold is 70%.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our Deputy Sheriff page.

If you’d like to become an NYCT bus driver, bus operator, or train operator, you must go through the 2 exams: The BOSS and the MTA Multiple-Choice exam. The multiple-choice test and BOSS will test your knowledge and abilities such as customer service and safety, and the ability to read and understand rules, regulations, and other relevant written material. 

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our dedicated page.

To become an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent, you must take the Traffic Enforcement Agent (TEA) exam. The NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent exam is a multiple-choice test with 10 sections and measures the cognitive and verbal skills needed to be a successful Traffic Enforcement Agent. The test covers topics like Written Comprehension, Written Expression, Mathematical Reasoning, Number Facility, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Spatial Orientation,  Visualization, etc.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent page.

To become part of New York's bravest—its firefighters—you must excel on the FDNY exam. This firefighter exam, administered once every five years, last took place in 2019. It is a multiple-choice test, developed by PSI, and it covers topics such as reading, problem-solving, applying rules and concepts, and listening. The FDNY exam is very similar to the Firefighter Candidate Assessment (FCA), which is used for the LAFD. The whole test should be completed within four hours.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our dedicated page.

To become a New York City Special Officer, you must first pass the DCAS Special Officer Civil Service Exam. This pre-employment test includes test topics such as Deductive and Inductive Reasoning, Memorization, Written Comprehension, and more.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our dedicated page.

To work for the City of New York as a Traffic Device Maintainer, you must pass an examination conducted by the City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). It includes sections on a variety of cognitive skills that are required for anyone wishing to work as a Traffic Device Maintainer for the City of New York. You need to achieve a score of at least 70% to pass. The test covers topics like Written Comprehension, Written Expression, Mathematical Reasoning, Number Facility, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Spatial Orientation, Visualization, etc.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our dedicated page.

To work for the City of New York as a carpenter, you must pass an examination held by the City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). You will be tested on your professional knowledge as a carpenter, as well as on a range of skills. The test covers Written Comprehension, Written Expression, Mathematical Reasoning, Number Facility, Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Spatial Orientation, and Visualization skills.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our dedicated page.

The DCAS Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) exam is administered by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to evaluate candidates for the position of ECO. The exam typically consists of multiple-choice questions that test for knowledge and skills related to environmental conservation, including laws and regulations, enforcement procedures, and technical information about air and water quality, solid waste management, and hazardous materials.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our dedicated page.

The DCAS Caseworker Exam is an examination administered by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to evaluate the qualifications of candidates for the position of Caseworker. The exam typically consists of multiple-choice questions that test for knowledge and skills related to caseworker responsibilities and abilities, such as knowledge of social services and public assistance programs, problem-solving, and communication skills.

💡 To learn more detailed information about the test and how to prepare for it, go to our dedicated page.