Facts are from official sources, linked inline.
After the NYC Police Communications Technician exam, the number that matters most is not your score by itself. It is your list number, your place on the eligible list the City hires 911 call-takers and dispatchers from. This guide explains how that list works and what happens from your test day to the end of probation.
Step 1: results on test day
"For all of our civil service exams, we will provide you with immediate, tentative results at the end of your test" (DCAS: How Do You Get Your Results?). For computer-based tests, you also get a printout with your answers and the Proposed Key Answers. A Protest Review Session is held on the first Friday after the week of your test, and you have 30 days to protest. A Test Validation Board can change keys, accept more than one answer or delete a question, and its decisions are final (DCAS protest procedures).
Step 2: your final score and credits
You need 70% to pass, which matches the City rule of "a final examination rating of not less than seventy percent" (Personnel Rules, Rule IV, 4.4.9). Some candidates then get extra points, added only to passing scores:
- Veterans' credit. Under New York State Civil Service Law § 85, 5 points for non-disabled veterans and 10 for disabled veterans on an exam for original appointment. It is used once and must be claimed before the list is established (DCAS guidance for veterans).
- Legacy credit. 10 points on open-competitive exams for the child or sibling of a City Firefighter, Police Officer, EMT or Paramedic killed in the line of duty, or of listed City workers who died from the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack or rescue effort. It is used once and must be claimed before the list is established (DCAS Special Circumstances Guide).
The 7307 notice has no residency credit. If you think your test was rated incorrectly, you can appeal to the Committee on Manifest Errors through OASys.
Step 3: the eligible list and your list number
The notice says: "If you pass the multiple-choice test, your name will be placed on an eligible list in final score order. You will receive a list number and be notified of your test results via email." List number 1 had the highest final score. DCAS says a list "may be established within six to nine months from the date of the examination though times vary" (DCAS veterans guidance). Once scores are official, DCAS posts the ranked list and emails your official results (DCAS results page).
The list is "usually active for four years." Under the City rules, a list lasts between one and four years, and a list at least one year old ends when a new list for the same title is established, unless otherwise provided (Rule IV, 4.6.6). DCAS plans a Police Communications Technician exam about every three months (FY2027 schedule), and we found no official source that says how lists from different exam numbers for this title are used together. If you are on more than one list, ask DCAS.
Step 4: certification and the one-in-three rule
When the agency needs to hire, DCAS certifies names from the top of the list. Under the City rules, an appointment is made "by the selection of one of the three persons certified... as standing highest on such established list who are qualified and willing to accept" (Rule IV, 4.7.1(c)). Your name is not certified more than three times to the same agency for the same or a similar position unless the agency asks (Rule IV, 4.7.4). This is why a higher score matters: you are reached sooner.
Spanish speakers who pass a qualifying test may get preferred consideration for positions that need Spanish, through selective certification (Notice 7307; DCAS glossary).
Step 5: the call letter
"When your turn comes up, the agency sends a call letter, which is your formal invitation to interview." 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). Keep your email and address current in OASys, as the notice asks.
Step 6: investigation, medical, psychological and drug screening
Per Notice 7307:
- Investigation: a $75.00 fingerprint screening fee, plus originals or certified copies of your documents (birth, naturalization if needed, military service, education and experience). False or misleading statements can disqualify you.
- Medical and psychological exams: to see whether you can perform the essential functions of the job, with possible periodic testing during your career.
- Drug screening: you must pass it to be appointed.
Step 7: probation and the two training courses
Probation lasts 18 months. During it, you must pass a 911 emergency call-taker training course and a radio dispatcher training course. The notice says that if you fail to complete the courses, "you will be terminated." The current minimum salary is $51,790 a year, subject to change.
What no official source says
No official source says what score is "competitive," how far down the list the City will reach, or how long you will wait after the list is established. A page that predicts a cutoff score for this title is guessing. The best plan is the highest score you can get.
Frequently asked questions
What is a list number?
Your rank on the eligible list. Passing candidates are listed in final score order, so list number 1 had the highest score.
How long is the list active?
The notice says usually four years. City rules allow one to four years.
When will I get my list number?
By email when the list is established. DCAS says lists may take six to nine months from the exam, though times vary.
Does a higher score really help?
Yes. Agencies choose from the three highest-ranked candidates who are qualified and willing, so a higher score means you are reached sooner.
Can veterans' points help me pass?
No. Veterans' and legacy credits are added only to passing scores.
What happens if I miss the call letter?
DCAS says your name may be taken off the list, even if you passed. Keep your contact details current in OASys.
Is there training after I am hired?
Yes. Probation is 18 months and includes a 911 call-taker course and a radio dispatcher course. Failing them leads to termination.
Official sources
- DCAS Notice of Examination, Police Communications Technician, Exam No. 7307 (PDF)
- DCAS: How Do You Get Your Results?
- DCAS: What Happens Next
- DCAS protest procedures (PDF)
- Personnel Rules and Regulations, Rule IV
- DCAS Civil Service Guidance for Veterans (PDF)
- DCAS Special Circumstances Guide (PDF)
PrepRaven is an independent exam-prep site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of New York, DCAS, the NYC Police Department or any City agency. Facts checked against official sources on October 12, 2026; always confirm dates and rules in the current Notice of Examination.
Last updated October 2026