Checked against the official Notice of Examination for Exam No. 7331 and the DCAS exam schedule.
The NYC Traffic Enforcement Agent exam is the civil service test New York City uses to rank candidates for Traffic Enforcement Agent jobs. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) runs it and posts a Notice of Examination for each exam number, and the NYC Police Department does the pre-employment screening. The current notice is Exam No. 7331, and DCAS plans three more Traffic Enforcement Agent exams before June 30, 2027. This guide sums up the notice, with sources, and says plainly what the City does not publish.
The exam at a glance
- Exam: Traffic Enforcement Agent, Exam No. 7331, an open competitive exam run by DCAS (title code 71651).
- Filing period for 7331: July 1, 2026, to August 25, 2026 (closed).
- Fee for 7331: $0.00 (select "No Fee" when you apply).
- Testing for 7331: "expected to begin on Thursday, October 22, 2026."
- Next exam: 7332, with filing planned from November 5 to November 25, 2026, on the DCAS schedule. Its notice was not posted as of October 12, 2026.
- Format: multiple-choice, on a computer at a DCAS testing center.
- Content: 7 abilities listed in the notice.
- Pass mark: 70%. Your score sets your rank on the eligible list.
- Source: Notice of Examination, Exam No. 7331 (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?). Traffic Enforcement Agent is one of them. The notice says agents at Assignment Level I "patrol an assigned area in order to enforce laws, rules and regulations relating to movement, parking, stopping and standing of vehicles." They issue paper and electronic summonses, testify at hearings and in court, report broken or missing parking meters and traffic conditions, write reports, drive and use radios. At Level II, agents also direct and control traffic at assigned locations. The notice describes rotating shifts that include weekends, holidays and overtime, outdoor work in all kinds of weather and long periods of foot patrol.
Exam numbers and dates
DCAS gives this title a new exam number several times a year. These are the dates from the official documents, as posted on nyc.gov on October 12, 2026:
- Exam 7331: filing July 1, 2026, to August 25, 2026; fee $0.00; testing expected to begin Thursday, October 22, 2026 (notice).
- Exam 7332: filing planned from 11/5/26 to 11/25/26 (FY2027 schedule).
- Exam 7333: filing planned from 2/3/27 to 2/23/27.
- Exam 7334: filing planned from 5/5/27 to 5/25/27.
The schedule lists all three as open competitive exams (schedule by application period). Schedule dates are plans. Each exam gets its own notice, and for other titles the notice has given different dates than the schedule, so the notice governs. The notice is also where the fee is set. The earlier Traffic Enforcement Agent exam, Exam No. 6331, had a filing period of March 4 to March 31, 2026, and a $54.00 fee, while 7331 is free. Do not assume that 7332 will be free until its notice says so.
Fee waivers that began July 1, 2026
If a future notice sets a fee, you may not have to pay it. DCAS says: "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 7331 notice also says that veterans and people receiving certain public assistance may qualify for a fee waiver.
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 during the filing period in the notice. Applications are not accepted before or after it.
- 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). The notice says you will take the test before DCAS checks your qualifications, and a candidate found "Not Qualified" may not receive a score. Read our requirements guide before you apply.
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. Key rules from the 7331 notice:
- Your Admission Notice is on your OASys Dashboard 14 days before testing is expected to begin. You can print it or show it on your phone to enter.
- 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 hand-held calculator that only adds, subtracts, multiplies and divides 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 7 abilities in brief
The notice lists abilities, not subjects or sections. It says the test "may include questions which require the use of any of the following abilities," described here in short paraphrase:
- Deductive Reasoning: applying general rules to specific problems, such as rules on parking, stopping and standing.
- Information Ordering: following a given rule or set of rules in the right order, such as the steps for issuing a summons.
- Memorization: remembering words, numbers, pictures and procedures, such as what happened during an incident.
- Problem Sensitivity: telling when something is wrong or likely to go wrong, such as a hazard from street construction.
- Spatial Orientation: knowing where you are in relation to an object, or where it is in relation to you.
- Written Comprehension: understanding written sentences and paragraphs, such as traffic regulation signs.
- Written Expression: writing in English so that others will understand, such as in reports.
"May include" means not every ability is promised to appear. For the official definitions, job examples and a practice question for each one, read the 7 abilities explained.
Scoring: 70% to pass, then rank decides
"To pass, you must achieve a minimum score of at least 70%," the notice says. DCAS gives "immediate, tentative results at the end of your test" (DCAS: How Do You Get Your Results?). 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." A higher score means a lower list number and an earlier call. No official source says what score is "competitive." Our list number guide explains how the list works.
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 or what the Spatial Orientation questions look like. 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 this exam 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). 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 notice lists the hiring steps: an investigation with a $75.00 fingerprint screening fee, medical and psychological assessments and a drug screening. New agents serve a 12-month probation and must pass a training course during it. They buy their uniforms when hired and become eligible for a uniform allowance after six months.
How to prepare
- Read the notice. It is the only official outline of the test.
- Learn the 7 definitions and job examples. Each ability is tied to a traffic enforcement task.
- Practice by ability. Weights are not published, so do not skip any ability.
- Practice reading street maps. Spatial Orientation is on the list, and the job example is directing traffic at assigned locations.
- Practice remembering details. Read a short notice, put it away and answer from memory.
- Plan test day. Check OASys for your Admission Notice, and confirm that your ID matches your application.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next NYC Traffic Enforcement Agent exam?
Filing for Exam 7331 closed on August 25, 2026. The DCAS schedule plans Exam 7332 with filing from November 5 to November 25, 2026, then 7333 in February 2027 and 7334 in May 2027. Confirm the dates in each notice when it posts.
How much does it cost?
Exam 7331 was free ($0.00). The earlier Exam 6331 cost $54.00, so check the fee in each new notice. Fee waivers cover first-time applicants, New York City high school students, veterans and some other groups.
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 hand-held calculator with only addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Is there an age limit?
The 7331 notice states no minimum or maximum age.
Do I need to know NYC parking rules by heart?
The notice lists abilities, such as applying general rules and reading traffic regulation signs. It does not say you must memorize traffic law. Agents learn the job in the training course during probation.
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 date, and times vary.
Official sources
- DCAS Notice of Examination, Traffic Enforcement Agent, Exam No. 7331 (PDF)
- DCAS Notice of Examination, Traffic Enforcement Agent, Exam No. 6331 (PDF)
- DCAS Annual Examination Schedule, FY2027, alphabetical (PDF)
- DCAS Annual Examination Schedule, FY2027, by application period (PDF)
- DCAS: How Can You Find Upcoming Exams? (fee waivers)
- DCAS Computer-Based Test Protest Procedures (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 the official notices on October 12, 2026; always confirm dates and rules in the current Notice of Examination.
Last updated October 2026