Checked against the official Notice of Examination for Exam No. 7324.
The NYC School Safety Agent exam is the civil service test New York City uses to rank candidates for School Safety Agent jobs. School Safety Agents work in City school buildings, and the notice says the NYC Police Department runs the background check. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) gives the exam and posts a Notice of Examination for each exam number. The current one is Exam No. 7324. This guide sums up that notice, with sources, and says plainly what the City does not publish.
Exam 7324 at a glance
- Exam: School Safety Agent, Exam No. 7324, an open competitive exam given by DCAS.
- Filing period: October 7, 2026, to November 25, 2026.
- Fee: $61.00, with fee waivers for several groups (see below).
- Testing: "expected to begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2027." No end date is given.
- Format: multiple-choice, on a computer at a DCAS testing center.
- Content: 9 abilities listed in the notice.
- Calculators: not allowed.
- Pass mark: 70%. Your score sets your rank on the eligible list.
- Source: Notice of Examination, Exam No. 7324 (PDF).
What the job 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?). School Safety Agent is one of them. According to the notice, School Safety Agents patrol school buildings and the areas around them, scan to keep unlawful or prohibited items out, give visitors directions, remove unauthorized persons, aid sick and injured people, respond to altercations between students and others, keep records of people entering and leaving, watch security cameras and prepare reports. They may testify at Superintendent's or Principal's hearings or in court. The notice lists the starting salary as $40,480 a year, rising to $58,345 after five years, and says the rate is subject to change.
Exam 7324 dates
These dates come from the notice for Exam No. 7324, as posted on nyc.gov on October 12, 2026:
- Filing: October 7, 2026, to November 25, 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, January 19, 2027.
The DCAS annual exam schedule for fiscal year 2027 lists a different filing end date (10/27/26) for Exam 7324. The notice says November 25, 2026, and the notice governs. The same schedule lists three more School Safety Agent exam numbers (7323, 7325 and 7326). Each will have its own notice, and details can change.
The $61 fee and the fee waivers
The fee is $61.00, and paying by credit, debit or gift card adds a nonrefundable 2.00% service fee. The notice says the fee may be waived for "New York City high school students, first-time test takers, veterans, unemployed individuals, and those receiving public assistance or supplementary security income." The first two groups are new 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?). The notice points to the Fee Waiver FAQs in OASys for the documents you need.
One warning from the notice: you may be given the test before DCAS checks your qualifications, and if you are found "Not Qualified," your fee is not refunded.
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. 7324 by November 25, 2026, and pay the fee or claim a waiver.
- 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 one of the five DCAS Computer-based Testing & Application Centers, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (DCAS: Applying for an Exam). The notice says the centers are closed on Monday, October 12, Tuesday, November 3, and Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Education, age, residency and citizenship rules are checked later, 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 a DCAS testing center in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island or 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.
- Calculators are not allowed on this exam. None of the 9 abilities is a math ability.
- 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 9 abilities in brief
The notice lists abilities, not subjects or sections. It says the test "may include questions requiring the use of" these 9, 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.
- Memorization: remembering words, numbers, pictures and procedures.
- 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 after it is moved, turned or unfolded.
- 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. For each ability with its job example and a practice question, read the 9 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 the 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." 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 guide to what happens after the exam explains the list and the hiring steps.
What the notice does not publish
As of October 12, 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, what the Spatial Orientation and Visualization questions look like, or the last day of testing. It also does not describe the physical test. We found no official sample questions or practice test for this exam. A page that gives a question count or a time limit for Exam 7324 is not quoting the notice.
Common myths, checked against the notice
How to prepare
- Read the notice. It is the only official outline of the test.
- Learn the 9 definitions and job examples. Each ability is tied to a School Safety Agent 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.
- Practice maps and drawings. Two of the 9 abilities, Spatial Orientation and Visualization, are about where things are and how they look after they are turned.
- Practice report writing. The notice ties Written Expression to preparing incident reports.
- Plan test day. Check OASys for your Admission Notice, and confirm that your ID matches your application.
Frequently asked questions
When is the NYC School Safety Agent exam?
For Exam 7324, filing runs from October 7 to November 25, 2026, and testing is expected to begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
How much does it cost?
The fee is $61.00. It may be waived for New York City high school students, first-time test takers, veterans, unemployed people and people receiving public assistance or supplementary security income.
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?
No. The notice says calculators are not permitted on this exam.
Is there an age limit?
The notice sets no minimum age for taking the test and no maximum age. You must be at least 21 to be appointed, under the Special Patrolman rules.
Do I need a driver license?
Not for the job itself. The notice says a New York State driver license is needed only for certain assignments, such as Group Leader and Mobile Task Force Member.
When will I get my list number?
By email when the list is established. DCAS says a list may be established within six to nine months of the exam, though times vary.
Official sources
- DCAS Notice of Examination, School Safety Agent, Exam No. 7324 (PDF)
- DCAS Annual Examination Schedule, FY2027 (PDF)
- DCAS: How Can You Find Upcoming Exams? (fee waivers)
- DCAS: How Do You Get Your Results?
- Personnel Rules and Regulations of the City of New York, Rule IV
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, the NYC Department of Education or any City agency. Always confirm dates and rules in the current Notice of Examination.
Last updated October 2026