NYPD vs New York Local Civil Service Police Exams — Which One Are You Taking?
They are different examinations, written by different authorities, measuring different things, on different schedules. Preparing for one will not prepare you for the other, and this is the most consequential thing to get right before you spend any time studying.
- New York State series
- Written by the Dept of Civil Service, given locally
- New York City
- Written and given by NYC DCAS
- State subject areas
- Four
- City abilities measured
- Nine
How to tell which one applies to you
If you are applying to a county sheriff's office, a town or village police department, or a city outside New York City, you are almost certainly taking the STATE series — four subject areas, administered by your local civil service agency.
If you are applying to the NYPD, you are taking the CITY examination, administered by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services on its own filing schedule.
What actually differs
The difference is not a matter of emphasis. These are separately written examinations that measure overlapping but distinct things.
- The subject areas. The State guide lists four; the City's notice lists nine cognitive abilities including spatial orientation and visualization, which the State series does not test at all.
- The schedule. The State series is scheduled by each local agency; the City files on its own published window.
- The list. Each is its own eligible list, held by the authority that gave the examination.
Why this page exists
Because the two are routinely confused, and the cost of confusing them is weeks spent on the wrong material. RankHigh keeps them as separate products for the same reason — a single page covering both would encourage exactly the mistake this one is trying to prevent.