Introduction to Criminology
Self-paced online Introduction to Criminology course (Criminology 150). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →New YorkPublic safety
NYPD now asks for 24 college credits, not 60: what that means
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
On 26 February 2025 the NYPD cut the college credits needed to enter the Police Academy from 60 to 24, effective at once. Applicants still need a high school diploma or equivalent, a 2.0 cumulative index on credits from an accredited college, or two years of honorable full-time military service instead.
The change in one line
The NYPD's release of 26 February 2025 says the department will 'reduce the college credit requirement to enter the Police Academy from 60 credits to 24 credits' and that people with at least 24 credits are now eligible to apply. The DCAS exam notices that followed carry the same rule.
| Point | Before 26 Feb 2025 | From 26 Feb 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| College credits | 60 | 24 |
| Index | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Military alternative | 2 years honorable full-time service | 2 years honorable full-time service |
| Academy credit (NCCRS) | 36 | 45 |
Why the department changed it
The release ties the change to recruitment: it describes the credit rule as a barrier that kept many otherwise qualified people out. It also reinstated the 1.5-mile run in under 14 minutes 21 seconds at the same time, so the change is not a general lowering of the bar. It moves the weight from credits earned before the academy to credits earned in it.
What stayed the same
The credits still have to be on the transcript of an accredited college or university, accredited by an agency recognised by the US Secretary of Education and CHEA. The 2.0 cumulative index is still there. The high school diploma or equivalent is still required. Foreign education still has to be evaluated, at the candidate's cost.
- Accredited college transcript
- 2.0 cumulative index
- High school diploma or equivalent
- All other hiring checks
What 24 credits means in practice
Twenty-four credits is eight standard 3-credit courses, about one full-time semester and a half. For someone with no credits, that is the difference between two years of part-time college and a few months of focused study. For someone with an old semester of college, it may be only a few courses.
What to check before you plan
Start with the exam notice for the exam you will take; it sets the rule and when you must meet it. Then pick the college that will hold your credits and ask how it posts transfer credit. Finally, ask the NYPD's candidate assessment staff in writing whether your plan meets the 24-credit, 2.0-index rule. Keep the replies.
- Which exam number am I on, and when must I meet the education rule?
- Will my college post my credits with grades?
- Will the NYPD count those posted credits?
Who gains most from the change
The biggest group is people who started college and stopped. Many applicants have 12 to 30 credits from a year or two at a community college. Under the old rule they needed to go back for another year or more; under the new one, some already qualify and others need only a few courses. Ask your old college for an official transcript first and count the semester credits on it before you plan anything new.
The second group is applicants with no college at all. For them the rule is still a real step, but it is now a few months of study rather than two years. Pick courses that any accredited college is likely to post, keep your grades up, and settle with the college how the credits will appear on its transcript before you start the first course.
The third group is veterans. Two years of honorable full-time US military service still meets the education rule on its own, as it did before, so a veteran does not need the credits at all. Check your DD-214 dates against the exam notice.
- Some college already: get an official transcript and count.
- No college: plan eight 3-credit courses.
- Veterans: check two years of honorable full-time service.
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
Is the 24-credit rule permanent?
It applies to current exams and notices. Rules can change with each new exam, so read the DCAS notice for your own exam and keep a copy of it with your application papers.
Do I need the 24 credits before I take the NYPD exam?
The notices set when the education rule must be met; the January 2026 notice for Exam 6539 says it applies at the time of promotion. Check your own exam's notice, because the timing can differ, and plan to finish early.
Do state troopers also need only 24 credits?
No assumption is safe. New York State Police and county or town departments set their own education rules, separate from the NYPD, and some still ask for more. Read the announcement for the agency you want before you plan your credits, and keep a copy.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Introduction to Psychology
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 →
English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). 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
- 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.
- 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.