New York POST Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Age: Minimum hiring age is set by each agency; many departments require 20 or 21 by appointment.
• Education: At least a high school diploma or GED; some agencies require college credits or a degree.
• Citizenship: Generally must be a U.S. citizen for appointment as a police officer.
• Driver license: Valid New York State driver license (or ability to obtain one by hire date) with acceptable driving history.
• Criminal history: No felony convictions and no disqualifying criminal history; must be eligible to carry firearms and meet civil-service character standards.
• Other requirements:
  • Pass a competitive civil service examination (for most municipal agencies).
  • Pass background investigation, including fingerprint check.
  • Pass medical exam and psychological evaluation.
  • Pass physical agility test and meet any vision/hearing standards adopted by the agency and DCJS-approved training program.

Physical Fitness Standards

Physical fitness standards are based on DCJS-approved academy requirements and agency hiring standards; there is no one statewide numeric test, but most academies follow similar Cooper-style benchmarks.

• Timed run (e.g., 1.5 mile run or multi-stage shuttle test).
• Sit-ups or core-strength test within a set time limit.
• Push-ups or upper-body strength/endurance test.
• Agility / obstacle course and defensive tactics drills.

Exact benchmarks (repetitions, times, age- and gender-norming) are published by individual academies or civil-service announcements and can change periodically.

Academy Training Requirements

Minimum academy hours: 700

The New York State Basic Course for Police Officers is a DCJS-approved academy program generally exceeding 700 hours, covering New York penal law, criminal procedure, patrol topics, investigations, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, and community interaction skills.

Reference: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services – Basic Course for Police Officers.

Reciprocity / Lateral Entry

New York offers limited equivalency options for officers previously trained and certified in other jurisdictions, but does not grant automatic reciprocity.

• DCJS may grant equivalency credit for prior approved basic training to reduce duplicate instruction, subject to review.
• Out-of-state officers may still be required to attend a New York Basic Course or an Equivalency/Phase II program and must pass all New York standards.

Final decisions on equivalency are made by DCJS in coordination with the hiring agency and training academy.

POST Contact Information

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services – Office of Public Safety
80 South Swan Street, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany, NY 12210
Phone: (518) 457-2667
Website: https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ops/

Official POST Requirements:
https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ops/training/bcpo/bcpo01.htm