- Exam No. 7323 files July 1-August 25, 2026; testing begins Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
- Application fee is $61.00 plus a nonrefundable 2.00% card service fee; several waiver categories apply.
- Passing score is 70 percent on a computer-based, multiple-choice test measuring nine abilities.
- Eligible lists last about four years and rank candidates by final score and list number.
The Exam at a Glance
The New York City School Safety Agent Exam is administered by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), Bureau of Examinations, under Title Code No. 60817 in the School Security Occupational Group. DCAS is both the governing authority and the testing provider - there is no third-party vendor to research separately. Testing happens in person at DCAS's own Computer-based Testing and Application Centers: Manhattan (2 Lafayette Street), Brooklyn (210 Joralemon Street), Queens (118-35 Queens Boulevard), Staten Island (135 Canal Street), and the Bronx (1932 Arthur Avenue).
If you're still mapping out what this credential actually covers before diving into logistics, the What Is NYC SSA? and NYC SSA Certification overviews are good starting points, and NYC SSA Requirements 2026 lays out eligibility in full before you spend money on an application.
Exam No. 7323: Filing, Fees & Dates
The current open filing is Exam No. 7323. Key numbers to memorize before you register:
- Application window: July 1 to August 25, 2026
- Testing start: multiple-choice testing expected to begin Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- Application fee: $61.00, plus a nonrefundable 2.00 percent service fee if paying by card
- Fee waivers: available to veterans, unemployed individuals, NYC high school students, first-time test takers, and recipients of public assistance or supplementary security income
For context, the two filings immediately before this one were Exam No. 6325 ($54.00, testing from March 23, 2026) and Exam No. 6324 ($54.00, testing from January 13, 2026). Fee amounts and testing windows shift between filings, so always confirm the current numbers rather than relying on a past cycle. A deeper breakdown of every cost involved - application fee, service fee, and the separate fingerprint screening fee - lives in NYC SSA Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and a dedicated timeline of filing periods is in NYC SSA Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Key Takeaway
Mark August 25, 2026 on your calendar as the hard filing deadline for Exam No. 7323 - miss it and you wait for the next numbered exam.
The Nine Domains Cheat Sheet
DCAS measures nine abilities on the multiple-choice, computer-based test. Treat each as its own study unit rather than lumping them into generic "test prep." A full walkthrough of each area with sample question styles is available in NYC SSA Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 9 Content Areas, but here is the one-page version.
Domain 1: Deductive Reasoning
Applying general rules or procedures to a specific school-safety scenario to reach one correct conclusion.
- Practice rule-based "if this policy, then this action" logic problems
Domain 2: Inductive Reasoning
Combining separate pieces of information or observations into a general conclusion about a situation.
- Work practice items that give scattered clues and ask for the best overall inference
Domain 3: Information Ordering
Arranging steps, events, or procedures in the correct sequence.
- Drill multi-step procedural sequencing questions until ordering feels automatic
Domain 4: Memorization
Retaining details from a passage, image, or scenario long enough to answer questions about it later in the test.
- Practice studying a scenario for a set time, then answering from memory without re-reading
Domain 5: Problem Sensitivity
Recognizing that a problem exists or is about to exist, even before it's fully spelled out.
- Review scenario items and practice flagging what's "off" before the question asks
Domain 6: Spatial Orientation
Knowing your location relative to other objects, exits, or people in a described environment.
- Practice with floor-plan and building-layout style descriptions
Domain 7: Visualization
Imagining how an object, layout, or scene will look after it's rearranged or changed.
- Work through items requiring you to mentally manipulate a described space
Domain 8: Written Comprehension
Reading and understanding written policies, instructions, or reports presented in sentence and paragraph form.
- Read dense procedural text and practice pulling out the operative instruction
Domain 9: Written Expression
Communicating information clearly in writing so it is understood by others.
- Practice selecting the clearest, most precise phrasing among similar answer choices
Since DCAS does not publish weighting, treat all nine domains as equally testable and build a rotation that revisits each one more than once before test day. A first-attempt-focused strategy that sequences these domains is covered in NYC SSA Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Test Day Rules & Prohibited Items
Test-day mechanics are strict and unforgiving. Know these before you walk into any of the five testing centers:
- Calculators: prohibited entirely
- Phones, smart watches, cameras, e-cigarettes, vape pens, headphones, earbuds: sealed inside a Yondr pouch for the duration of testing
- Identification: one valid, non-expired signature-and-photo ID required, with the name matching your application exactly
- Violations: can nullify your score, forfeit your fee, and bar you from civil service testing for up to five years
Passing Score & Eligible List Mechanics
The minimum passing score is 70 percent. There is no published item count or time limit, so pacing strategy has to be built during practice, not discovered on test day - see NYC SSA Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass for a full breakdown of what that score threshold means in practice.
Passing candidates are placed on an eligible list in final score order and assigned a list number, which determines the order in which candidates are considered for appointment. That list typically stays active for four years. If you disagree with your score, DCAS allows appeals through the Committee on Manifest Errors in OASys - but be aware an appeal can raise or lower your rating, so only file if you have a specific, defensible objection to a scoring key.
Candidates with at least six months of full-time Assistant School Safety Agent experience in an NYC public school may qualify for Selective Certification, an alternate path onto the hiring list. For a realistic read on how competitive the list order can get and what the data actually shows, see NYC SSA Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows, and if you're weighing whether the whole process is worth pursuing, Is the NYC SSA Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 walks through that decision.
Eligibility Snapshot
Before you register, confirm you meet the baseline education and appointment requirements:
- Four-year high school diploma or an approved educational equivalent (foreign education must be evaluated)
- At least 21 years old at appointment
- U.S. citizen
- New York City resident (residency may shift to Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, or Putnam after two years of continuous employment)
- No dishonorable discharge; good moral character; no disqualifying felony or serious offense conviction under NYS Penal Law 265.00(17)
These requirements exist because appointees must qualify for NYPD Special Patrolman status under Administrative Code Section 14-106 and Title 38 Chapter 13. A Certificate of Good Conduct or Relief from Disabilities can potentially restore eligibility if a past conviction would otherwise disqualify you. Pre-appointment steps also include an NYPD background investigation, a $75.00 fingerprint screening fee, a qualifying physical test, a federal-standard drug screening, and medical and psychological evaluation, followed by a one-year probationary period with recurring medical and psychological retesting throughout the career. See NYC SSA Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify for the complete checklist.
Salary & Appointment Path
Minimum starting salary is $40,480 per annum, rising to $58,345 after five years of service. No driver license is required for the base role, though it is required for Group Leader and Mobile Task Force assignments. For a fuller picture of how pay progresses and how this compares to related public safety roles, see NYC SSA Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis, and if you're job-hunting for placements after your list number is called, NYC SSA Jobs and NYC SSA Training cover what comes after the written test.
Last-Mile Study Plan by Domain
With roughly eight weeks between the August 25, 2026 filing deadline and the October 20, 2026 testing start, a domain-by-domain rotation beats generic review. Here's a compressed structure for the final stretch before test day.
Written Comprehension & Written Expression
- Read dense procedural passages daily and practice identifying the clearest answer choice
- Time yourself reading and answering without rereading twice
Deductive & Inductive Reasoning
- Alternate rule-application drills with scenario-inference drills
- Review any missed items to spot which reasoning direction trips you up
Spatial Orientation, Visualization & Information Ordering
- Work floor-plan and layout questions, then sequencing exercises
- Practice mentally rotating or rearranging described spaces
Memorization, Problem Sensitivity & Full Review
- Practice timed memorize-then-answer drills
- Run full-length mixed practice sessions covering all nine domains
- Confirm your ID matches your application name and pack nothing that needs a Yondr pouch
Use short, focused practice sessions across all nine domains rather than marathon single-topic study days - reviewing weak domains more frequently in the final two weeks tends to close gaps faster than one long cram session. You can build this rotation directly around timed practice questions at our NYC SSA practice test platform, which mirrors the multiple-choice, computer-based format you'll face at the DCAS testing centers.
Filing Comparison Table
| Exam Number | Application Fee | Testing Start |
|---|---|---|
| Exam No. 6324 | $54.00 | January 13, 2026 |
| Exam No. 6325 | $54.00 | March 23, 2026 |
| Exam No. 7323 (current) | $61.00 + 2.00% card service fee | Expected October 20, 2026 |
Fees have moved between recent filings, so verify the exact figure attached to whichever exam number you're filing under before submitting payment. If you're comparing prep resources or trying to decide how much time versus money to invest, our full-length practice tests are built around the same nine domains listed above.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This article covers exclusively the New York City School Safety Agent Exam administered by DCAS under Title Code No. 60817. Facts, fees, and figures for other credentials that share the "SSA" acronym do not apply here.
DCAS publishes the nine abilities it measures but does not release the item count or time limit publicly, so build your pacing strategy through practice rather than relying on an official number.
The minimum passing score is 70 percent, computed from your multiple-choice performance across the nine measured abilities.
You can bring it, but it will be sealed in a Yondr pouch along with smart watches, cameras, e-cigarettes, vape pens, headphones, and earbuds. Calculators are not permitted at all.
Eligible lists typically remain active for four years, with appointment order determined by your final score and assigned list number.
Keep this page bookmarked as your quick-reference sheet through filing, test day, and appointment processing - and pair it with focused domain practice so every one of these facts translates into points on Exam No. 7323.