Police Officer Requirements – New York
Minimum Requirements to be a Police Officer in New York
- Age: not less than 20 at the time of appointment nor more than 35 as of date of written examination. It is recommended that candidates be not less than 19 on the date of the examination;
- Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma;
- Medical and physical fitness requirements are set by the New York -State Municipal Police Training Council and must be met prior to appointment;
- Municipal civil service agencies may establish other additional or higher qualifications than those listed above, so you must closely review the announcement for the examination where you are interested in being employed.
Extension or a waiver to the age requirement
Candidates who are veterans of the armed forces may have time spent on military duty, up to a maximum of six years, as defined in Section 243 (10-a)of the Military Law, deducted from their age for purposes of determining whether they meet the age requirement. Beyond this exemption for Veterans there is no ability for a municipal civil service agency or the New York State Civil Service Commission to provide a waiver to the age requirements.