Introduction to Sociology
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 →New YorkPublic safety
How fast can you earn 24 credits before your academy date?
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Most applicants can earn 24 college credits in three to six months of focused study, then need a few more weeks for an accredited college to post them on its transcript. The NYPD reads that transcript, so plan the posting time, not just the study time, before your academy date.
The three clocks you are racing
Your timeline has three parts and only one is study. Add them together and compare with the date in your exam notice.
- Study: eight courses of 3 credits each.
- Posting: the college receives the NCCRS or ACE transcript and posts the credits.
- NYPD review: your investigator checks the college transcript.
A realistic study plan
Self-paced courses let you set the pace. A person studying 15 to 20 hours a week often finishes a 3-credit course in two to four weeks. Two courses at once is manageable for most people with a job.
| Pace | Courses a month | Months to 24 credits |
|---|---|---|
| Steady (10 hours a week) | 1-2 | 4-8 |
| Focused (15-20 hours a week) | 2 | About 4 |
| Full time (30+ hours a week) | 3-4 | 2-3 |
The posting step takes longer than people think
After your last course, the college has to receive the official transcript, evaluate it and post the credits. That can take from a few days to several weeks depending on the college and the time of year. Ask the college how long it takes and when its busy periods are, and do not leave the last course to the final month.
Most delays come from paperwork, not study. People wait to choose a college until the courses are done, then find the college needs an application, a fee and a few weeks to evaluate. Others order transcripts to the wrong office or forget an old college transcript that held three credits. Make a short list at the start: every college you have ever attended, the college that will hold the new credits, the office that receives transcripts, and the person at the NYPD who reviews your file. Keep copies of every request and reply.
Order the courses to save time
Start with courses that are quickest for you and least likely to be questioned: an introductory psychology or sociology course, criminology, composition. Leave harder courses such as algebra for later only if you are sure they are needed. Send transcripts in two batches if your college allows it, so most of the credits are posted before the last course ends.
Keep your index safe
The NYPD looks for a 2.0 cumulative index. Speed is no use if a rushed course pulls your grades down or if your college posts the credits in a way the NYPD cannot read. Ask both in writing before you start, and take the time each course needs.
A sample 24-credit plan
Here is one way a working applicant might lay out the eight courses. It is an example of pacing, not a promise that any college will post these courses; confirm that with your college in writing before you start.
| Month | Courses | Running credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Psychology; English Composition I | 6 |
| 2 | Introduction to Sociology; Introduction to Criminology | 12 |
| 3 | Ethics in the Social Sciences; Abnormal Psychology | 18 |
| 4 | Two more courses your college lists as general education | 24 |
| 5 | Transcript sent, college posts the credits | 24 on the college transcript |
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
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.
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.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Can I earn 24 credits in one month?
It is very rare. Eight courses in a month means about 60 hours of study a week, and the college still needs time to post the credits. Plan for at least two to three months unless you already have some credits.
Can I take courses while my application is being processed?
Many people do. Check your exam notice for when you must meet the education rule, and tell your investigator your plan in writing so there are no surprises. Keep copies of every transcript request and every reply in one folder so you can show the dates.
Do I need all 24 credits from one college?
The rule asks for 24 credits from an accredited college or university. Credits from more than one college are common, but give the NYPD every official transcript and ask in writing how they total them.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Ethics in the Social Sciences
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 →
Abnormal Psychology
Self-paced online Abnormal Psychology course (Psychology 180). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Earn 12-24 credits with courses that carry ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations, then move them to an accredited college via a college transcript.
Sources
- DCAS Notice of Examination: Promotion to Police Officer, Exam No. 6539 (amended 21 Jan 2026) (official)24 college semester credits at an accredited college or university with at least a 2.0 cumulative index, or 2 years of honorable full-time US military service; college must be accredited by an agency recognised by the US Secretary of Education and CHEA; foreign education evaluated at the candidate's cost. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- NYPD: More cops, better training: Commissioner Tisch's new policies (26 Feb 2025) (official)Academy entry requirement cut from 60 college credits to 24, effective at once; NCCRS found the six-month academy equivalent to 45 college credits; 1.5-mile run reinstated. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.