| Photo by Mohamed Marey on Unsplash
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has announced a major expansion of civil service exam fee waivers, making exams free for all NYC high school students and first-time test takers. The policy, established under Local Law 57 of 2025, takes effect immediately, according to the Mayor’s Office press release issued July 9, 2026.
City officials say the change will open pathways to public service careers for hundreds of thousands of young people and millions of New Yorkers who previously faced financial barriers. With 80% of city jobs requiring a civil service exam , the fee waiver marks one of the largest access expansions in the city’s hiring system in decades.
“To serve New York is the privilege of a lifetime,” Mayor Mamdani said, emphasizing that the people best equipped to build a city “are the students in our classrooms” and the New Yorkers who call the city home .
A Major Shift in Workforce Access
Each year, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) administers 175 civil service exams to more than 110,000 candidates across roles ranging from scientist and forester to bridge operator, caseworker, blacksmith, and physical therapist .
Historically, civil service exam fees ranged from $40 to $147, depending on the exam type — a cost that often discouraged low‑income students and first‑generation New Yorkers from applying. The new waivers expand on existing exemptions for veterans, unemployed individuals, and applicants receiving public assistance .
“We want all New Yorkers to have access to great careers in public service,” DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei said. “Our mission is to remove barriers that may prevent qualified candidates from pursuing a job with the City” .
Eligibility: High School Students Don’t Need to Be Graduates
The city confirmed that current high school students — even those who have not yet graduated — are eligible. Students simply need to submit proof of current enrollment through the city’s OASys 2.0 system.
First-time test takers will have their eligibility verified automatically, removing the need for additional documentation or appeals.
Schools Chancellor Kamar H. Samuels said the expansion “removes real barriers for our students and opens the door to stable, rewarding careers” in city government .
New Exam Schedule Released; 149 Tests Planned for FY 2027
Alongside the fee waiver announcement, the city released the Fiscal Year 2027 civil service exam schedule, outlining 149 exams across public safety, administration, engineering, healthcare, and other essential roles.
Exams will be offered throughout the fiscal year, with 72% open to all New Yorkers and 28% designated as promotional exams for current city employees .
Notices of Examination — which outline qualifications and requirements — can now be translated into more than 190 languages, a major accessibility milestone for immigrant communities, including Filipino Americans across the five boroughs .
A Pathway to Representation and Economic Mobility
Filipino Americans, one of NYC’s fastest-growing Asian communities, have long advocated for greater representation in city government. Many Fil-Am students are first-generation New Yorkers who balance school, work, and family responsibilities — making exam fees a real barrier.
DYCD Commissioner Sandra Escamilla-Davies said the fee waiver “helps ensure that talent — not financial barriers — determines opportunity,” a message resonant in immigrant communities striving for economic mobility .
Council Member Gale Brewer added that expanding access is “a common sense approach” to attracting more New Yorkers into public service careers .
What the Exams Look Like: Job-Specific, Not IQ Tests
Civil service exams are job-specific, not general knowledge or IQ tests. Depending on the role, exams may include:
- Job knowledge tests (engineering, IT, public safety)
- Situational judgment tests (caseworker, administrative roles)
- Practical skills tests (physical therapist, bridge operator)
- Education & experience evaluations (no written test)
DCAS does not provide full practice exams, but Notices of Examination often include sample formats and subject areas.
Sample Civil Service Jobs Newly Accessible
Based on the city’s exam schedule, here are examples of civil service careers now more accessible to high school students and first-time test takers:
- Caseworker
- Bridge Operator
- Scientist
- Forester
- Blacksmith
- Physical Therapist
- Public Safety Officer
- Administrative Analyst
- Engineering Technician
