New York City is eliminating civil service exam fees for high school students and first-time applicants in an effort to make city jobs more accessible.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services announced the initiative on July 9, along with the release of the city's Fiscal Year 2027 civil service examination schedule.
The new fee waivers, created under Local Law 57 of 2025, apply to New York City high school students and residents taking a civil service exam for the first time. They expand existing waivers available to veterans, unemployed individuals and applicants receiving public assistance.
"To serve New York is the privilege of a lifetime," Mamdani said in a statement. "The people best equipped to build a city that works for everyone are the students in our classrooms, the people who walk our streets and the New Yorkers who call our city home. 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."
DCAS administers an average of 175 civil service exams each year to more than 110,000 candidates pursuing careers that include scientists, bridge operators, caseworkers, foresters, blacksmiths and physical therapists. The Fiscal Year 2027 schedule includes 149 exams, with 72% open to all qualified applicants and 28% reserved for promotional opportunities for current city employees.
The expanded eligibility is intended to encourage more students and first-time applicants to pursue public service careers while helping the city recruit a broader workforce.
The announcement also expands language access for prospective applicants. Beginning immediately, Notices of Examination, which outline qualifications and application requirements, can be translated into more than 190 languages to make information about city careers more accessible. Civil service exams will continue to be administered in English.
Eligible applicants can request fee waivers through the city's Online Application System (OASys 2.0). First-time applicants will have their eligibility verified automatically, while New York City high school students must submit proof of current enrollment. Exams will be offered throughout Fiscal Year 2027, with the full schedule now available to the public.
