Checked 15 Nov 2026 by the team. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Among New York police officer requirements, the NYPD's education rule is now 24 college semester credits from an accredited college or university with at least a 2.0 cumulative index, or two years of honorable full-time US military service, plus a high school diploma or equivalent. The NYPD cut the rule from 60 credits on 26 February 2025.
Under the DCAS Notice of Examination for Exam No. 6539 (amended 21 January 2026), a candidate must have a high school diploma or equivalent and 24 college semester credits from an accredited college or university with at least a 2.0 cumulative index, or two years of honorable full-time US military service, following the NYPD's 26 February 2025 cut from 60 credits to 24.
The rule asks for 24 college semester credits, 2.0 cumulative index. The legal source is Exam No. 6539.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Education (route a) | High school diploma or equivalent and 24 college semester credits with a 2.0 cumulative index or equivalent | [2] |
| Education (route b) | High school diploma or equivalent and 2 years of honorable full-time US military service | [2] |
| Which colleges count | Accredited by an agency recognised by the US Secretary of Education and CHEA | [2] |
| When it changed | 26 February 2025: from 60 credits to 24, effective at once | [1] |
| Academy credit | NCCRS found the six-month academy equivalent to 45 college credits | [1] |
| Fitness | 1.5-mile run in under 14 minutes 21 seconds reinstated | [1] |
New York City Police Department (NYPD) and NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), Bureau of Examinations decides how this rule applies to you. We read its published rule and the pages below; each was checked on 15 Nov 2026.
Each course below is ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended for college credit. Whether it counts here is the decision of the college and of New York City Police Department (NYPD) and NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), Bureau of Examinations.
Closest to the work; a standard social science elective.
Self-paced online Introduction to Criminology course (Criminology 150). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Common general education course in most degrees.
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Social science credit that fits most programmes.
Self-paced online Introduction to Sociology course (Sociology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Writing course nearly every college requires.
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Ethics content useful for report writing and court work.
Self-paced online Ethics in the Social Sciences course (Social Science 110). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Background for calls involving emotionally disturbed persons.
Self-paced online Abnormal Psychology course (Psychology 180). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit; Newlane is a third. Ask the partner in writing how it posts the credits (grade or Pass) before you start, because the NYPD looks for a 2.0 index. CUNY community colleges, SUNY Empire and Excelsior are New York options; each sets its own transfer policy.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
| Option | Price | For this rule | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI Study PRO | $99 a month, every course | $99 for each month you are subscribed; take as many courses as you finish in that time | 15 Nov 2026 |
| CUNY community college, part-time (NYC residents) | $210 a credit | $5,040 for 24 credits, before fees | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Sophia Learning | $99 a month, or $799 a year | About $297-$495 for 24 credits over 3-5 months | 15 Nov 2026 |
| StraighterLine | $99 a month plus $79 a course | About $930-$1,130 for 8 courses over 3-5 months | 15 Nov 2026 |
Online options still need an accredited college to post the credits on its transcript, and that college's fees are extra. CUNY tuition already ends on a CUNY transcript with grades. Compare total time too: the academy date may matter more than a few hundred dollars.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
Ask the college in writing how it will post your credits, and ask the NYPD candidate assessment staff in writing whether those posted credits meet the 24-credit, 2.0-index rule, before you enrol.
Before February 2025 an applicant needed 60 college credits, or 2 years of military service. The NYPD said in its 26 February 2025 release that it would reduce the requirement to enter the Police Academy to 24 credits, effective at once, and that anyone with at least 24 credits could now apply. In the same release it said NCCRS had found the academy equivalent to 45 college credits, so a graduate leaves with at least 69.
What did not change: the credits still have to come from an accredited college with a 2.0 index, the high school diploma or equivalent is still required, and every other part of the hiring process still applies. Some older NYPD pages still show 60 credits; the dated release and the current DCAS notice are the ones to trust.
If you have no credits, 24 is eight 3-credit courses. That is a real gate, but a short one. The fastest plans pick general education courses that any college will post, keep a grade record, and settle with the college up front how the credits will appear on its transcript. Social science courses such as criminology, psychology and sociology are natural choices; one writing course helps with reports.
This page covers the NYPD only. New York State Police and county or town departments set their own education rules and some still ask for more credits. Read the exam announcement for the agency you are applying to and do not assume the NYPD's 24-credit rule applies there.
24 college semester credits from an accredited college or university with at least a 2.0 cumulative index, plus a high school diploma or equivalent. Two years of honorable full-time US military service is the alternative. The NYPD cut the rule from 60 credits on 26 February 2025.
The NYPD announced the change on 26 February 2025 and said it took effect immediately. Some older NYPD web pages still show the old 60-credit rule, so rely on the dated release and the current DCAS exam notice.
The NYPD reads the transcript of an accredited college or university. Online courses that carry ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations count only after such a college posts them on its own transcript. Ask the college and the NYPD in writing before you enrol.
The DCAS exam notice asks for at least a 2.0 cumulative index or its equivalent on the 24 credits. If your college posts transfer credit as Pass without a grade, ask the NYPD's candidate assessment staff in writing how they will read it.
Yes, under the exam notice: two years of honorable full-time US military service plus a high school diploma or equivalent meets the education rule in place of the 24 credits.
The NYPD's February 2025 release says NCCRS found the six-month academy equivalent to 45 college credits, so a graduate who entered with 24 has at least 69. How a college uses that recommendation is up to the college.
Earn 12-24 credits with courses that carry ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations, then move them to an accredited college via a college transcript.