Facts are from official sources, linked inline.
After the NYC Traffic Enforcement Agent 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 from. This guide explains how the list is built, how candidates are called and what the notice says happens before you are hired.
How your final score is made
The notice sets the pass mark: "To pass, you must achieve a minimum score of at least 70%." That matches the City rule that candidates need "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, non-disabled veterans get 5 additional points and disabled veterans get 10 on an exam for original appointment. The credit can be used only once and must be claimed before the list is established (DCAS veterans guidance).
- 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 can be used once and must be claimed before the list is established (DCAS Special Circumstances Guide).
The 7331 notice has no residency credit section. (The Police Officer exam has one, which is a different exam.)
How the eligible list is built and ordered
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. This eligible list determines the order of candidates considered for appointment, usually active for four years." DCAS adds that once scores are official, "we post the list of all candidates who pass, ranked in order of score" (DCAS: How Do You Get Your Results?).
Your list number is your place in that order. List number 1 belongs to the highest final score, and a lower number means you are considered earlier. The official sources we checked do not explain how ties are ordered, so we will not guess.
How candidates are called from the list
When the City needs to hire, it receives names from the top of the list. This is called certification. Under the City's 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)). This is the one-in-three rule. A name is not certified more than three times to the same agency head for the same or a similar position unless that officer asks for it (Rule IV, 4.7.4).
When your turn comes, "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 address and phone number current in OASys, as the notice asks.
A worked example (made-up candidates)
How long a list lasts
The notice says the list is "usually active for four years," and DCAS says "Scores remain active for up to four years" (DCAS results page). The City rule sets a list's life at "not less than one nor more than four years," and a list that is at least one year old ends when a new list for the same title is established, unless otherwise provided (Rule IV, 4.6.6). This title has several exams a year, so check the DCAS list status line in the notice ((212) 669-1357) if you want to know where your list stands.
The official sources we checked do not say whether a candidate already on one Traffic Enforcement Agent list may take a later exam number, or how two scores would be handled. Ask DCAS before you file again.
When the list comes out
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). Before that, you get immediate, tentative results at the end of the test. A Protest Review Session is held on the first Friday after the week of your test, and you can protest a key answer within 30 days (protest procedures). Score appeals go to the DCAS Committee on Manifest Errors through OASys.
What the notice says happens before you are hired
- Pre-employment screening by the NYC Police Department, including instructions for evaluating foreign education if that applies to you.
- Investigation, with a $75.00 fingerprint screening fee and original or certified documents, such as proof of your date and place of birth, your education and any military service.
- Medical and psychological assessments against the guidelines set for the job.
- Drug screening, which you must pass to be appointed.
- Appointment at Level II, current minimum salary $48,719 a year.
- A 12-month probation that includes a training course you must pass.
The notice does not give a timeline for these steps. You must also have a New York State driver license by the time you reach 15 months in the job.
What this means for how you study
Because calls go in score order, a few more correct answers can move you up the list. Nobody can say what score is high enough, because no official source publishes list cutoffs. The best plan is to practice every ability on the notice. Start with our 30 free practice questions and the 7 abilities explained.
Common questions
Does a lower list number mean I get called sooner?
Yes. List number 1 is the highest score, and candidates are considered in list order.
Can veterans' points help me pass?
No. They are added only to a passing score.
How long does the list last?
Usually up to four years, but under the City rule a list at least one year old ends when a new list for the same title is established, unless otherwise provided.
What if I miss the call letter?
Your name may be taken off the list, even though you passed. Keep your contact details current in OASys.
Who screens Traffic Enforcement Agent candidates?
The NYC Police Department does the pre-employment screening, per the notice.
Official sources
- DCAS Notice of Examination, Traffic Enforcement Agent, Exam No. 7331 (PDF)
- Personnel Rules and Regulations of the City of New York, Rule IV
- DCAS: How Do You Get Your Results?
- DCAS: What Happens Next
- DCAS Civil Service Guidance for Veterans (PDF)
- DCAS Special Circumstances Guide (PDF)
- 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