Suffolk County Police Exam 2027: Date, Requirements, Salary & Exam Prep
The next Suffolk County Police Officer Exam is scheduled for June 5, 2027. The current filing deadline is April 1, 2027, and the examination is open-competitive.
This guide covers the 2027 Suffolk County Police Exam, including how to apply, eligibility requirements, salary, the written examination, physical fitness requirements, the hiring process, sample questions and exam preparation.
Suffolk County Police Exam 2027 at a Glance
| Information | 2027 Exam |
|---|---|
| Exam | Police Officer |
| Exam number | 8-5002 |
| Exam date | June 5, 2027 |
| Filing deadline | April 1, 2027 |
| Exam type | Open Competitive |
| Application fee | $125 |
| Minimum age | 19 on exam date |
| Appointment age | 20 |
| Education | HS diploma/HSE |
| Residency | No residency requirement to compete |
Suffolk County Police Exam Preparation
Preparing for the Suffolk County Police Exam? Civil Service Success offers a hybrid preparation program consisting of two in-person sessions plus online preparation that can be completed at your own pace.
The course covers the areas assessed on the written examination, including cognitive abilities, work styles and background information, along with information about the broader hiring process.
$479 tuition
Two live classes
Online course
Suffolk/Nassau locations
*Before beginning your preparation, be sure to review the minimum requirements to become a Suffolk County Police Officer.
Suffolk County Police Officer Salary compensation varies by jurisdiction and that the official announcement currently lists $54,122 county annual salary and $177,079 at top step
Year of service | Annual base salary |
1st year | $52,558 |
2nd year | $65,628 |
3rd year | $74,453 |
4th year | $85,811 |
5th year | $98,990 |
6th year | $110,647 |
7th year | $124,013 |
8th year | $134,034 |
9th year | $189,801 (figure comes from the current collective-bargaining salary schedule) |
Suffolk County Police Written Exam Scope
The written examination is designed to test cognitive abilities, work styles, and background information rather than simply testing your knowledge of criminal law.
- Cognitive abilities
This section is essentially testing how well you think and process information.
You should expect questions involving skills such as:
- Reading and understanding information
- Drawing conclusions from information provided
- Identifying important details
- Comparing information
- Following written instructions
- Logical reasoning
- Problem solving
- Making decisions based on facts
- Recognizing relationships/patterns
- Applying information to hypothetical situations
- Work styles
This evaluates how you are likely to behave in situations encountered as a police officer.
Examples of areas that can be evaluated include:
- Reliability
- Responsibility
- Following rules and procedures
- Attention to detail
- Working under pressure
- Teamwork
- Integrity
- Decision-making
- Dealing with difficult people
- Adaptability
- Following instructions
- Professionalism
- Accountability
The important thing is to answer consistently and honestly rather than trying to guess which answer sounds like a “tough cop.”
- Background information
The exam also includes questions concerning your background and experiences.
You may encounter questions asking about things such as:
- Employment history
- Education
- Responsibilities you’ve had
- Experiences working with others
- Leadership experiences
- Situations you’ve encountered
- Activities or experiences relevant to work
Basic Requirements to take the Suffolk County Police Exam:
Age: You must be at least 19 by June 5, 2027 to take the exam. You must be 20 by appointment. Generally, you cannot be 43 or older on the exam date. Up to 7 years of qualifying active military service can be deducted for the maximum-age calculation
Education: High school diploma or a qualifying high school equivalency (GED/HSE) by the time you’re appointed. College is not required.
Citizenship: You must be a U.S. citizen at the time of appointment.
Driver’s license: You need a valid New York State driver’s license at appointment and must maintain it while employed.
Residence: You do not have to live in Suffolk County to take the exam.
Background: There will be a background investigation, which may include a polygraph
Medical/psychological/physical testing: Passing the written exam is only the first step. Candidates who pass can be called for medical, psychological/personality, and physical-fitness evaluations.
The Process of Becoming a Suffolk County Police Officer
The process of becoming a Suffolk County Police Officer:
- Written exam: Multiple-choice exam assessing cognitive abilities, work styles and background information. It is zone-scored.
- Physical fitness: You must pass the required Police Officer physical fitness screening based on New York State Municipal Police Training Council standards.
- Medical: You must pass a comprehensive medical evaluation.
- Psychological: You must pass psychological/personality testing and an interview.
- Background investigation: A background investigation is conducted, and a polygraph may be required.
The process consists of:
Apply → Written exam → Physical fitness → Medical → Psychological → Background/polygraph → Eligible list → Interview/appointment → Police academy
To File for the Suffolk Police Exam go to:
One important note: you don’t need a college degree to qualify. A high school diploma or GED is sufficient for the current Police Officer examination
Benefits Package for a Suffolk County Police Officer
The new contract provides an 18% total increase in base pay over the contract period. It also increases longevity payments and various stipends.
The salary is separate from additional compensation such as:
- Overtime
- Holiday pay
- Longevity
- Night/differential pay
- Special assignments and stipends
- Other contractual payments
Health insurance
Officers receive county-provided health insurance benefits through the negotiated employee benefit structure. The County makes contributions to employee benefit funds according to the collective-bargaining agreements.
The exact premium/copay structure can depend on the health plan and the applicable contract provisions.
Pension
Suffolk County police officers participate in the New York State Police and Fire Retirement System (PFRS) rather than the ordinary civilian retirement system. This is a major benefit because police officers are covered under the enhanced retirement provisions applicable to public-safety employees.
This generally means you can retire considerably earlier than a typical civilian employee, subject to the applicable tier and retirement-plan rules.
Vacation
Officers receive paid vacation that increases with years of service. The exact accrual schedule is governed by the PBA contract.
Sick leave
Paid sick leave is provided under the collective-bargaining agreement, with provisions governing accumulation and use.
Holidays
Police officers receive paid holidays and contractual holiday compensation. Importantly, because police work continues on holidays, officers can receive additional holiday-related compensation when working qualifying assignments. The County specifically identifies holiday pay as compensation affected by the PBA salary increases.
Longevity pay
Longevity is additional money on top of your base salary.
The new contract increases longevity payments. This becomes particularly valuable as you build years of service.
Deferred/terminal benefits
The contract also provides compensation associated with separation/retirement, including terminal pay. The County specifically accounts for terminal pay as a cost affected by the PBA contract.
Family benefits
The benefits package also includes provisions for eligible dependents through the health/benefit structure, along with other contractual employee benefits.
Suffolk County Police Opportunities
There are opportunities to advance to positions such as:
- Sergeant
- Lieutenant
- Captain
- Detective/specialized assignments
- Other supervisory or specialized positions
Promotion can substantially increase compensation beyond the Police Officer salary schedule.
The big picture
If you’re considering Suffolk County PD as a career, the package looks like this:
Base salary + overtime + longevity + holiday pay + differentials/stipends + health insurance + pension + paid leave + retirement/terminal benefits.
Tuition
The full tuition for this class is $479.00. An initial deposit of $199.00 is paid upon registration and then the remaining balance of $280.00 is due at the in-person class. You will also have the option to pay the remaining balance online before the in-person class is held.
Locations
We will have classes available in Suffolk County and Nassau County.
Minimum Requirements
Age
In order to take the exam to become a Suffolk County Police Officer Officer:
- Minimum age: 19 years old on the written exam date. You can take the exam at 19, but you must be 20 to be appointed.
- Maximum age: You cannot have reached your 43rd birthday by the written exam date.
- Military exception: Up to 7 years of active military service can be deducted when determining the maximum age.
Education
You must have a high school diploma or GED- NO College Credits Required to become a Suffolk County Police Officer.
Residency
For the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), you do not have to live in Suffolk County to take the police officer exam.
The current SCPD recruitment materials state that you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be a New York State resident at the time of appointment
- You do not need to be a Suffolk County resident to apply or take the exam.
License
You must possess a valid New York State drivers license at the time of appointment to the job (not needed to take the written exam).
Citizenship
You must be a US Citizen at the time of appointment to the job (not needed to take the written exam).
Salary
- Starting base salary: $50,000/year
- After 8 years: $189,801/year
- These figures are base salary, before overtime, differentials, holiday pay, etc.
Benefits
Full salary and benefits during entire training period.
Night shift payments.
All uniforms and equipment are supplied by the Department.
Yearly uniform cleaning allotment
Paid family dental, optical and medical plans.
Thirteen (13) paid holidays.
Fifteen (15) paid vacation days first year of service, increasing to twenty-seven (27) days after five (5) years of service
Thirteen (13) sick days first year of service, increasing to twenty-six (26) days after the first three (3) years of service; Unused sick days are cumulative
Three (3) paid personal days first year of service, increasing to five (5) days after three (3) years of service.
*Pension plan. Members are eligible for retirement after twenty (20) years of service at 50% of five (5) year final average salary. Vested retirement plan after ten (10) years.
Register now for our Suffolk County Police Exam Classes starting soon!
Classes filling up quickly, seating is limited!