Checked against the official Notice of Examination for Exam No. 7302.
The NYC Correction Officer exam is the civil service test New York City uses to rank candidates for Correction Officer jobs with the NYC Department of Correction. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) runs it and posts a Notice of Examination for each exam number. The current one is Exam No. 7302. This guide sums up that notice, with sources, and says plainly what the City does not publish.
Exam 7302 at a glance
- Exam: Correction Officer, Exam No. 7302, an open competitive exam run by DCAS.
- Filing period: September 2, 2026, to October 27, 2026.
- Fee: $0.00 (select "No Fee" when you apply).
- Testing: "expected to begin on Tuesday, December 15, 2026." No end date is given.
- Format: multiple-choice, on a computer at a DCAS testing center.
- Content: 11 abilities listed in the notice.
- Pass mark: 70%. Your score sets your rank on the eligible list.
- Source: Notice of Examination, Exam No. 7302 (PDF).
What the exam is
DCAS says that over 80% of City civil service positions are "competitive class," and these jobs "require you take an exam to qualify" (DCAS: What is Civil Service?). Correction Officer is one of them. The notice says Correction Officers "maintain security and are responsible for the care, custody, control, job training and work performance of sentenced and detained inmates within New York City correctional facilities." Their listed duties include supervising meals and visits, searching for contraband, counting inmates and writing reports. This guide covers only the New York City exam run by DCAS.
Exam 7302 dates
These dates come from the notice for Exam No. 7302, as posted on nyc.gov on October 11, 2026:
- Filing: September 2, 2026, to October 27, 2026. Applications are not accepted outside this period.
- Admission Notice: on your OASys Dashboard 14 days before the first testing date.
- Testing begins: expected Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
The DCAS annual exam schedule for fiscal year 2027 lists a different filing end date (9/22/26) for Exam 7302. The notice says October 27, 2026, and the notice governs. The same schedule plans two more Correction Officer exams: 7303 (filing planned to start 1/6/27) and 7304 (filing planned to start 4/7/27). Each will have its own notice, and details can change.
The $0 fee and the fee waivers that began July 1, 2026
Exam 7302 is free. Separately, DCAS widened its fee waivers this year: "Beginning July 1, 2026, more New Yorkers can apply for DCAS civil service examinations at no cost. Under Local Law 57 of 2025, fee waiver eligibility is expanded to include first-time applicants and New York City high school students" (DCAS: How Can You Find Upcoming Exams?). Paid notices list the waiver groups as "New York City high school students, first-time test takers, veterans, unemployed individuals, and those receiving public assistance or supplementary security income" (Notice for Exam No. 7307). The waivers do not change anything for 7302, but they matter if you also apply for a paid DCAS exam, such as Police Communications Technician (7307, $68).
How to apply through OASys
- Go to the Online Application System (OASys) at www.nyc.gov/examsforjobs and create an account. You need a valid email address, and new accounts are verified by email.
- Apply for Exam No. 7302 by October 27, 2026, and select "No Fee" as the payment method.
- Look for the emailed receipt. Your status also shows on the OASys Dashboard under "Notifications." Add OASys@dcas.nyc.gov to your known senders.
You can also apply online in person at a DCAS testing center (DCAS: Applying for an Exam). You must be at least 17 by the test date. Education, residency, citizenship and other requirements must be met by the date you are appointed. See our requirements guide.
Where and how the test is taken
The test is given on a computer at one of five DCAS Computer-based Testing & Application Centers, in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. Your Admission Notice names your site. DCAS considers your address, but a nearby site is not promised. Key rules from the notice:
- Bring one valid photo ID with your signature. The name must match your application.
- Phones, smartwatches and other devices are sealed in a Yondr pouch. Misusing a device can void your score and bar you from City tests for up to five years.
- A basic four-function calculator is allowed.
- You are fingerprinted at the site. If you leave after that and before you finish, you cannot come back in.
Requests for testing accommodations are due no later than 30 days before the first testing date (DCAS Special Circumstances Guide).
The 11 abilities in brief
The notice lists abilities, not subjects or sections. It says the test "may include questions requiring the use of" these 11, described here in short paraphrase:
- Deductive Reasoning: applying general rules to specific problems.
- Inductive Reasoning: combining separate pieces of information to reach a general conclusion.
- Information Ordering: following a given rule or set of rules in the right order.
- Mathematical Reasoning: choosing the right math method to solve a problem.
- Memorization: remembering words, numbers, pictures and procedures.
- Number Facility: adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing quickly and correctly.
- Problem Sensitivity: telling when something is wrong or likely to go wrong.
- Spatial Orientation: knowing where you are in relation to an object, or where it is in relation to you.
- Visualization: imagining how something looks when it or its parts are moved.
- Written Comprehension: understanding written sentences and paragraphs.
- Written Expression: writing in English so that others will understand.
"May include" means not every ability is promised to appear. The notice also says some questions may be answered from "documents or other information supplied to the candidates on the date of the multiple-choice exam." For each ability with its job example, read the 11 abilities explained.
Scoring: 70% to pass, then rank decides
"To pass, you must achieve a minimum score of 70%," the notice says. DCAS shows "immediate, tentative results at the end of your test" (DCAS: How Do You Get Your Results?).
Passing is only the first step. The notice says passing candidates are placed "on an eligible list in final score order. You will receive a list number and be notified of your test results via email." The list is "usually active for four years." Your list number is your rank, and list number 1 had the highest score. Under the City personnel rules, an agency fills a job by choosing one of the three highest-ranked candidates who are qualified and willing to accept (Personnel Rules, Rule IV). A higher score gets you reached sooner. No official source says what score is "competitive." Our list number guide explains how lists move.
What the notice does not publish
As of October 11, 2026, the notice does not state the number of questions, the time limit, how many questions test each ability, how the Memorization questions are run, or the last day of testing. We also found no official sample questions or practice test for this exam. A page that gives a question count or a time limit for Exam 7302 is not quoting the notice.
Common myths, checked against the notice
What happens after the exam
A Protest Review Session is held on the first Friday after the week of your test, and you have 30 days to protest an answer. A Test Validation Board reviews protests and can change the key (DCAS protest procedures). The notice adds that score appeals go to the Committee on Manifest Errors through OASys.
DCAS says an eligible list "may be established within six to nine months from the date of the examination though times vary" (DCAS veterans guidance). The Department of Correction says the Correction Officer list comes out "4-6 months after the exam date" (DOC FAQ). When your number is reached, you get a call letter. If you do not respond, "your name may be taken off the list of candidates, even if you passed the exam" (DCAS: What Happens Next).
The Department of Correction lists these steps: orientation and medical, psychological evaluation, fingerprints and background check, investigations, a drug test and onboarding (DOC processing steps). The notice adds a qualifying physical test and a $75.00 fingerprint fee. The Academy lasts four months, and pay starts on the first day (DOC candidate journey).
How to prepare
- Read the notice. It is the only official outline of the test.
- Learn the 11 definitions and job examples. Each ability is tied to a Correction Officer task.
- Practice by ability. Find the abilities that cost you the most points and spend more time there. Weights are not published, so do not skip any ability.
- Use a basic calculator. Practice math with a four-function calculator instead of your phone.
- Practice report writing. The notice ties Written Expression to reports with correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- Plan test day. Check OASys for your Admission Notice, and confirm that your ID matches your application.
Frequently asked questions
When is the NYC Correction Officer exam in 2026?
For Exam 7302, filing runs from September 2 to October 27, 2026, and testing is expected to begin on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The 7302 fee is $0.00.
How many questions are there, and how long is it?
The notice does not say. It publishes no question count, time limit or ability weights.
What score do I need?
At least 70% to pass. Passing candidates are then ranked by score, and a higher score means an earlier list number.
Can I bring a calculator?
Yes, a basic four-function hand-held calculator.
Is there an age limit?
You must be 17 by the test date and 21 to be appointed. The notice states no maximum age.
When will I get my list number?
By email when the list is established. DCAS says lists may take six to nine months, and the Department of Correction says 4-6 months for this title.
I passed an earlier Correction Officer exam. Should I retake it?
The Department of Correction says: "If you passed the exam with a score of 70 or more, we advise you not to retake the exam" (DOC FAQ).
Official sources
- DCAS Notice of Examination, Correction Officer, Exam No. 7302 (PDF)
- DCAS Annual Examination Schedule, FY2027 (PDF)
- DCAS: How Can You Find Upcoming Exams? (fee waivers)
- NYC Department of Correction: Correction Officer Eligibility FAQ
PrepRaven is an independent exam-prep site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of New York, DCAS, the NYC Department of Correction, or any City agency. Always confirm dates and rules in the current Notice of Examination.
Last updated October 2026