City waives civil service exam fees for students, first time applicants

New York City will waive civil service exam fees for high school students and first-time test takers, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced last week, a move which the administration says aims to expand access to public-sector careers for hundreds of thousands of students and millions of New Yorkers.

The new policy, established under Local Law 57 of 2025 sponsored by Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, builds on existing fee waivers for veterans, unemployed applicants and people receiving public assistance. Because roughly 80 percent of City jobs require candidates to pass a civil service exam, officials said eliminating the upfront cost will help broaden the pipeline into municipal employment.

"To serve New York is the privilege of a lifetime," Mamdani said in a statement. "By making civil service exams free for high schoolers and first-time test takers, we're opening the doors to millions more New Yorkers to serve the city they love."

While high school students can now take many civil service exams at no cost, passing an exam does not guarantee immediate employment. Under state civil service law, most city jobs require applicants to be at least 18 years old, while some positions have higher minimum age requirements.

Educational qualifications generally must be met by the time of appointment rather than when the exam is taken, allowing students to earn a place on an eligible hiring list before graduating. Because eligible lists typically remain active for up to four years, students who take an exam in high school may become eligible for appointment after graduation, giving agencies access to a broader pool of prospective employees over time.

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services administers about 175 civil service exams each year to more than 110,000 applicants for jobs ranging from caseworker and bridge operator to scientist, blacksmith and physical therapist.

The city also released its Fiscal Year 2027 civil service exam schedule, which includes 149 examinations covering public safety, healthcare, engineering, administrative and other municipal positions. Seventy-two percent of the exams will be open to the public, while the remaining 28 percent will be promotional exams for current City employees.

DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei said the initiative is intended to remove barriers to public employment while expanding access to information about City careers.

"We want all New Yorkers to have access to great careers in public service," Kitasei said. "By offering new fee waivers and sharing exam information in multiple languages, we are making it easier for more New Yorkers to get a job with the City of New York."