Downstate NYS Court Officer-Trainee FAQs

Yes. You should apply for this examination only if you are interested in working in Downstate New York, which includes New York City, the 9th Judicial District (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester Counties), and Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties). Hiring from the resulting eligible list will be for these Downstate New York regions only.

New York State Court Officer-Trainees enter the academy at Judicial Grade 16. Effective April 1, 2025, the Judicial Grade 16 starting salary will be $58,100. There will be an additional $4,920 in location pay for those working in NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester & Rockland, and an additional $2,460 in location pay for those working in Orange, Dutchess & Putnam. New York State Court Officer-Trainees are eligible for an annual Uniform & Equipment Allowance of $1,660 and an annual Security and Law Enforcement Differential (SLED) of $875. 

Upon successful completion of a two-year traineeship, New York State Court Officer-Trainees are promoted to New York State Court Officer at Judicial Grade 19. Effective April 1, 2025, the Judicial Grade 19 starting salary will be $68,593.  

The examination will be administered from Wednesday, September 10, 2025 to Friday, October 31, 2025.

The examination will be held at sites throughout Downstate New York State (and in some neighboring states) at Talogy Test Centers. Information regarding specific test sites (e.g., names and addresses of test centers) will be available to applicants when they schedule their exam appointments. 

Remote and on-line testing will not be offered. This examination will not be held in Upstate New York (Judicial Districts 3rd to 8th).

New York State Court Officer-Trainees, at time of appointment (hiring) to the position, must be:

• at least 20.5 years old
• a high school graduate or equivalent
• A United States Citizen
• A resident of New York State
• Valid New York State Driver’s License
• Legally eligible to purchase and carry firearms

The COVID-19 vaccination requirement has been removed as a minimum qualification for appointment. 

All of the above minimum qualifications must be met by the time of hiring to the position, not at the time of examination. The Office of Court Administration reserves the right to change the minimum qualifications for appointment at any time.

While there is no age restriction to take the examination, keep in mind that a candidate must be at least 20.5 years old at time of appointment to the position. It typically takes about six months after the conclusion of the examination period to establish an eligible list, and an eligible list may remain active an additional four or more years.

If you do not meet all the minimum qualifications for appointment to the position, you may still take the examination. It typically takes about six months after the conclusion of the examination period to establish an eligible list, and an eligible list may remain active an additional four or more years. Therefore, some applicants may meet all the minimum qualifications for appointment prior to the eligible list expiring.

Physical, medical, and psychological examinations and evaluations are held to ensure that candidates can satisfactorily perform the duties of this position. Substance abuse screening and an extensive background investigation are conducted as well. For detailed information and requirements: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/careers/cot/screening.shtml.

When self-scheduling, you will complete an Availability Inquiry for appointment. Please note that the Inquiry is not a job offer. You may select ONE of following regions in New York State where you would be willing to accept an appointment as a NYS Court Officer-Trainee. You may change the selection anytime while the resulting eligible is active. The regions are:

• New York City (All 5 boroughs)
• 10th Judicial District (Long Island – Nassau and Suffolk counties)
• 9th Judicial District (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester counties)

You may refer to the Judicial District Map for detailed Judicial District/county location information.

Yes, you need to take the examination again if you passed the NYS Court Officer-Trainee Examination 45-815 administered in 2021 and have not been appointed from the eligible list. The eligible list for NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-815 will expire and become inactive when the eligible list emanating from NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-843 is established in the first half of 2026.

It depends. If you are interested in working in Downstate New York, you should take the NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-843 examination in Fall 2025. However, if you are only interested in working in Upstate New York, you do not have to take examination 45-843 as the eligible list emanating from NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-841 (Upstate NY Only) will be established on or after July 16, 2025. 

It depends. If you are interested in working in Downstate New York, you should take the NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-843 examination in Fall 2025. However, if you are only interested in working in Upstate New York, you do not have to take examination 45-843 as the eligible list emanating from NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-834 (Upstate NY Only) will remain active until the eligible list emanating from NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-841 (Upstate NY Only) is established on or after July 16, 2025.

NYS Court Officer-Trainees are eligible to participate in the New York State Health Insurance Plan and the New York State Employee’s Retirement System. In addition, NYS Court Officer-Trainees annually earn 20 paid vacation days and 13 paid holidays. By the 7th year, NYS Court Officers earn 27 paid vacation days. In addition, NYS Court Officer-Trainees and NYS Court Officers usually work a regular weekday schedule. Other benefits include paid parental leave, union membership, and pre-tour prep leave time.

There are numerous reciprocity agreements in existence. Please contact your agency’s HR specialist.

Applications must be filed on-line during the open-filing period. The open-filing period will begin at 10 A.M. on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 and end on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Applications can be found at the webpage for the exam: NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-843. You are encouraged to apply early during the open-filing period.

Applications must be filed using the online examination application. Paper applications, resumes, cover letters, and UC-5 applications are not accepted. Please read the examination announcement before you file an application. Go to NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-843 to access the online application. Note that the $30.00 application fee and 2.99% credit/debit card service fee are non-refundable and non-transferrable. IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN APPLICATION ID NUMBER (CONFIRMATION), YOU DID NOT FILE THE APPLICATION.

A $30.00 non-refundable, non-transferrable application filing fee and 2.99% non-refundable, non-transferable credit/debit card service fee are required using a credit card (Mastercard, Visa or Discover) or reloadable debit card. Debit cards requiring a PIN are not accepted. Foreign (international) credit cards are not accepted. (Please note the Governor's 2023 fee waiver does not apply to Judicial Branch examinations.)

No, you cannot submit an application after the filing period has closed. Late applications are strictly prohibited. 

If you missed the filing period because you are currently on, or were on, active duty in the U.S. Military, please scan your active duty orders to [email protected] for review. In your e-mail, please let us know when you will be available for testing. Note that once you are separated from active duty, you must advise us within 30 days that you are available for testing.

If you receive public assistance or are unemployed and head of your household, select the public assistance fee waived option in the Application Fee portion of the application. You must complete the appropriate fields to qualify. Note that persons who are not head of a household, or persons who have sufficient financial means to support a household without employment (i.e. pension, savings, rental income, inheritance, etc.) are not eligible for an application fee waiver. Please note that we are unable to refund application fees to applicants who have paid the application fee but would have otherwise qualify for a fee waiver. (Please note the Governor's 2023 fee waiver does not apply to Judicial Branch examinations.)

No. The drop-down box “Exam Site Preferences” is designed to simply collect applicants’ testing area preferences so we can better plan for and accommodate the very large number of applicants who will apply for the examination. Available testing locations offered when self-scheduling may therefore differ than those included on the drop-down box. Applicants will be permitted to self-schedule their examinations at any available test site, including at test sites outside of the "Exam Site Preference" area selected on the application. Available test sites and test site addresses will be confirmed only when applicants self-schedule. 

Due to the very large number of applications filed, technical support is limited and confined during regular weekday business hours via e-mail. The on-line application is user-friendly; read the instructions and complete all required fields, including the verification box, before you submit the application. We strongly recommend that you file the application early during the open-filing period so that any technical issues you may encounter can be resolved before filing closes. IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN APPLICATION ID NUMBER (CONFIRMATION), YOUR APPLICATION HAS NOT BEEN FILED.

Common application filing problems and simple solutions include: 

Application lost or "goes blank" after clicking submit tab: The application times out after 45 minutes. You will need to begin and file a new application. 

Obsolete or non-compatible computer software: If you are having difficulty filing from your computer, you may wish to try from another computer. 

Filing the application using a mobile device instead of a computer: Not all application fields may be visible and there is a greater chance for typing errors. 

Missing required field: All required fields must be completed in the required format including the “Verification” acknowledgment tab located on the final page of the application above the “Submit Application” tab. A red error message at the top of the application will indicate which required field is missing information. Common error messages include "violations" and "dismissals" which refer to the Legal Questions section questions. 

SSN Not Valid message: This message will sometimes appear if you go back to page one of the application to change or correct an item. You must go back to the SSN fields and replace the ********* characters with your SSN before using the "continue" tab.
 
Credit/Debit Card issues: Be sure to input the correct billing address/zip code of the credit/debit card holder. Debit cards requiring a PIN are not accepted. Acceptable cards are Visa, Mastercard and Discover. International cards are not accepted. 

reCaptcha field not functioning: reCaptcha outages are infrequent and typically short-term. You may attempt to re-submit filing before the application times out (45 minutes) or complete a new application at a later time. 

Application ID Number not received: The Application ID Number is your confirmation that the application has been filed. IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN APPLICATION ID NUMBER, YOU DID NOT FILE THE APPLICATION. Complete a new application and be sure to file the application using the “Submit Application” tab located at the end of the application. 

Confirmation E-mail not received: IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN APPLICATION ID NUMBER AND YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION E-MAIL, YOU DID NOT FILE THE APPLICATION. Complete a new application and be sure to file the application using the “Submit Application” tab located at the end of the application. If you received a 6-digit Application ID Number at time of filing, but did not a confirmation e-mail within one hour, please check your junk/spam mail before contacting us about correcting or changing your e-mail address. The Application ID Number confirms that you filed the application, but failure to receive a confirmation e-mail indicates a problem with receiving e-mail. Be sure to add [email protected] to your address book to ensure receipt of correspondence regarding this examination. 

Your Application Has Not Been Processed confirmation message: You selected an incorrect option in the Application Fee field. You have likely selected the Unified Court System Employee fee waiver option, and you are not a Unified Court System employee. YOU MUST COMPLETE A NEW APPLICATION and either pay the application fee or select and complete the Public Assistance fee waiver option. Please note that Town and Village Court employees are not eligible for the Unified Court System fee waiver and must pay the application fee. 

Online Application offline: There are times when the application system may be off-line due to temporary maintenance or other technical issue. These outages are generally short-term. Simply try again later. 

Remember to file your application early during the open-filing period and to wait for an Application ID number (confirmation) when you submit the online application.

The Application ID Number is your confirmation that the application has been filed. IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A 6-DIGIT APPLICATION ID NUMBER, YOU DID NOT FILE THE APPLICATION. Complete a new application and be sure to select the “Submit Application” tab located at the end of the on-line application.

IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN APPLICATION ID NUMBER AND YOU DID NOT RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION E-MAIL, YOU DID NOT FILE THE APPLICATION. Complete a new application and be sure to select the “Submit Application” tab located at the end of the application. 

If you received an Application ID Number at time of filing, indicating that you filed the application, but failed to receive a confirmation e-mail within one hour, there is a problem with sending or receiving e-mails. Please check your junk/spam mail before contacting us about correcting or changing your e-mail address. Be sure to add [email protected] to your address book to ensure receipt of correspondence regarding this examination. Please note that there may be a delay in e-mailing your confirmation e-mail during peak server or browser times.

If you made a mistake or omitted information on your application, e-mail [email protected] and we will update your application. Clearly state what needs to be corrected or added. Include your complete name, 6-digit Application ID Number, and 'Examination 45-843' on all correspondence.

It is important that you let us know of any personal information changes such as e-mail address, mailing address, phone number, or name. E-mail any changes to [email protected]. Include your complete name, Application ID Number, and 'Examination 45-843' on all correspondence.

COVID-19 test and proof of vaccination are not required for entry into the test site or for hiring as a New York State Court Officer-Trainee.

Test site personnel are not required to undergo routine COVID-19 testing and are not required to have been vaccinated.

An applicant who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has met CDC isolation recommendations within 24 hours of the examination appointment, must scan verifiable documentation to [email protected] for review within three business days of the original examination date. An applicant who has tested positive for COVID-19 must also scan verifiable documentation from a medical professional within 3 days of the original examination appointment regarding his or her medical status to take the examination. Routine COVID-19 testing, including testing for travel or event admission, and COVID-19 vaccination appointments within 24 hours of the examination appointment are not grounds for rescheduling. 

The above conditions are subject to change based on CDC advisories.

Protocols are SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Applicants will be advised of up to date protocols during self-scheduling. Current COVID-19 safety protocols include, but are not limited to, the following: 

There are currently no protocols in effect. 

Note that any applicant who refuses to comply with any test site COVID-19 safety protocol will be required to leave the test site and will be disqualified from the examination. The examination application fee remains non-refundable for applicants disqualified from the examination.

You may, if you wish, bring and wear a face mask during your test appointment, but it must first be inspected. You will also be asked to remove your mask for identification purposes prior to entering the test room.

Beginning Monday, August 18, 2025 and continuing throughout the week, Talogy e-mails containing the self-scheduling links will be e-mailed to applicants. The e-mails will be sent from [email protected]. Be sure to add [email protected] to your address book to ensure receipt of the self-scheduling link e-mail. If you have not received your self-scheduling link by August 25, 2025, please e-mail Talogy directly at [email protected] to request a duplicate. Please check your spam/junk mail before making any inquiries regarding receipt of your self-scheduling link. Keep in mind that it is your responsibility to contact Talogy prior to the examination period if you have not received a self-scheduling link.

Self-scheduling link e-mails will be sent throughout the week of August 18, 2025, so check your inbox regularly for the e-mail. If you have not received the self-scheduling link e-mail by Monday, August 25, 2025, please e-mail Talogy at [email protected] to request a duplicate. Please check your spam/junk mail before making any inquiries regarding receipt of your self-scheduling link. Keep in mind that it is your responsibility to contact Talogy prior to the examination period if you have not received a self-scheduling link.  

All applicants are responsible for scheduling their own test appointments. Applicants may self-schedule upon receipt of the self-scheduling link throughout the examination testing period, provided seats are available. Self-scheduling is first come, first served; specific dates, times and sites are not guaranteed. It is recommended that applicants self-schedule as soon as possible. All examination appointments must be self-scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of the examination time. Applicants are not permitted to cancel their appointments or reschedule within 24 hours of the examination time.

All applicants are responsible for scheduling their own appointments. Self-scheduling is first come, first served; specific dates, times and sites are not guaranteed. However, Talogy continually monitors seating capacity and adjusts seating capacity accordingly during the self-scheduling period. In addition, applicants cancel and/or change sessions throughout the administration of the examination. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants book the best available session and return to the scheduling calendar at a later date for a preferred opening. They may do so by selecting the blue “Reschedule” box found on their Talogy appointment confirmation/reminder. Note that if an applicant accidently cancels an appointment by selecting "Reschedule," the applicant is responsible for scheduling a new appointment. 

Please refer to the Talogy Appointment Scheduling Guide and How to Select Test Center/Date Range for detailed answers about how to schedule your appointment. 

Keep in mind that applicants must self-schedule at least 24 hours in advance of the examination time. Applicants are not permitted to cancel their appointments or reschedule within 24 hours of the examination time.

Please refer to the Talogy Appointment Scheduling Guide and How to Select Test Center/Date Range for detailed answers about how to schedule your appointment. 

Due to heavy scheduling volume, the system may experience slow periods or delays loading the scheduling page. Before contacting Technical Support, please wait 1 to 2 hours and attempt to schedule again. In the event an error message is provided, please email technical support for assistance at: [email protected].

Applicants are responsible for rescheduling their test own test appointments. Applicants are permitted, for any reason, to reschedule their examination appointment up to 24 hours before their examination time if seating is available. Applicants cannot reschedule for the same day. Applicants may only reschedule by selecting the “Reschedule” box found on their Talogy appointment confirmation/reminder. If an applicant is within the 24-hour window, self-rescheduling is not permitted. 

APPLICANTS CANNOT BE RESCHEDULED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THEIR EXAMINATION TIME EXCEPT DUE TO A VERIFIABLE TRUE EMERGENCY OR DOCUMENTED HEALTH EVENT OCCURING WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THEIR EXAMINATION TIME. 

Applicants who experience an unexpected true emergency (i.e. incapacitating medical emergency, death in the immediate family) within 24 hours of their examination and are unable to attend their examination appointment, must report and scan verifiable documentation for review to [email protected] within three business days of the original examination date. Issues such as routine medical/dental appointments, expired or unacceptable IDs, work/school conflicts, child/adult care difficulties, vacation travel, graduations, weddings, and transportation problems/delays are not grounds for rescheduling. 

An applicant who has tested positive for COVID-19 or has met CDC isolation recommendations within 24 hours of the examination appointment, must scan verifiable documentation to [email protected] for review within three business days of the original examination date. An applicant who has tested positive for COVID-19 must also scan verifiable documentation from a medical professional within 3 days of the original examination appointment regarding his or her medical status to take the examination. Routine COVID-19 testing, including testing for travel or event admission, and COVID-19 vaccination appointments are not grounds for rescheduling.

If you no longer want to compete in the examination, e-mail the following statement to [email protected]: “I wish to withdraw from NYS Court Officer-Trainee examination 45-843." Include your complete name and 6-digit Application ID Number with your e-mail. Remember that the application processing fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

You may view subject matter covered on the examination at NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-843.

The examination time is three hours and 15 minutes which includes the memory portion of the examination. However, to allot time for check-in and to complete administrative tasks, the test site appointment time shown on your self-scheduling confirmation will be four or more hours.

A practice examination is available at NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-843.

Test preparation suggestions are available at NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-843.

Test preparation suggestions are available at NYS Court Officer-Trainee 45-843. Please note that we are prohibited from endorsing any other study material or test preparation courses.

You are expected to act professionally and be respectful of other test takers and site personnel. Applicants must abide by all site rules, including being photographed at check-in. Site personnel are empowered to deny admittance to or to remove from the site any applicant who refuses follow site rules and whose behavior, in the opinion of site personnel, is disruptive or disturbing to others. Applicants suspected of cheating or of attempting to steal examination information will also be removed from the site. Applicants removed from the site will be disqualified from the examination and may be prohibited from taking examinations in the future. Criminal and/or civil penalties may also be imposed for applicants who are removed from a site.

The examination time is three hours and 15 minutes which includes the memory portion of the examination. However, to allot time for check-in and to complete administrative tasks, the test site appointment time shown on your self-scheduling confirmation will be four or more hours.

You must present an original NON-EXPIRED U.S. or state government issued photo ID at the test site. You will not be admitted to a test site without an original NON-EXPIRED U. S. or state government issued photo ID, and you will not be rescheduled. Acceptable photo IDs include a US driver’s license, US passport, US government issued visa, US Military ID, and valid current year high school identification card. Photocopies, photographs, or faxes of the ID are not acceptable. Electronic IDs are not acceptable.

No. Only your first and last name(s) of your photo ID must match your examination record. If your examination record reflects a suffix (i.e. Jr.), your photo ID must also reflect the same suffix. However, if your examination record does not reflect a suffix, it is acceptable if your photo ID reflects a suffix.

You must bring an original NON-EXPIRED U.S. or state government issued photo ID to the test site. It is advisable to bring a copy of your Talogy test center examination scheduling confirmation. 

You may, if you wish, wear a face mask. You will be asked to remove your mask for identification purposes prior to entering the test room.

If you will be under 18 years old on the day of your examination, you must bring a parent or guardian to the test site. Print and complete the Minor's Release Form. Your parent or guardian must sign the form in front of a proctor.

Personal belongings are not permitted in the testing area. This includes, but are not limited to: outerwear, jackets, hoodies, hats, scarves, wallets, bags, purses, Google glasses, watches, smart watches, cell phones, sun glasses, some types of jewelry, pencils, pens, erasers, notebooks, pagers, and umbrellas. Food and drinks, including chewing gum, are not allowed in the testing room. While you may be able to store your belongings at the center, it is recommended that you do not bring valuables to the center. Any testing supplies or material will be provided at the test site. No outside materials, including calculators, are permitted. Use of any test supplies or material without approval from the test center may be considered as cheating and may result in immediate dismissal and disqualification. 

Non-applicants are prohibited at any test site, except for a parent or legal guardian accompanying an applicant under the age of 18. Non-applicants include children, parents of applicants who are not minors, friends, and pets. No child care or adult care is provided at any test site. Applicants who bring minors or adults requiring supervision will not be allowed to test and will not be rescheduled.

Yes. If you will be under 18 years old on the day of your examination appointment, your parent or legal guardian will be required to accompany you to the test site and remain at the test site until you have completed the examination. Only one parent/legal guardian should accompany you. As your parent/legal guardian will need to sign the Minor's Release Form in front of a proctor, your parent/legal guardian will be required to bring government issued photo ID to the test site. While you take the examination, your parent/legal guardian will need to wait outside of the testing room, remain quiet, and will not be permitted to communicate with you.

Non-applicants are prohibited at any test site, except for a parent or legal guardian accompanying an applicant under the age of 18. Non-applicants include children, parents of applicants who are not minors, friends, and pets. No child care or adult care is provided at any test site. Applicants who bring minors or adults requiring supervision will not be allowed to test and will not be rescheduled.

The vast majority of test takers do not encounter any irregularities at the test site. If you experience a problem during the examination, it is important that you notify site personnel immediately so the issue can be addressed at the site test. You will not be permitted to retest if you notify site or court personnel of an irregularity after taking the examination.

Results are typically e-mailed about six months after the examination period has concluded. 

Examination Ratings 
Examination final ratings are reported on a scale of 100 with the passing mark set at 70. The passing raw score (number of questions answered correctly) for the examination will be determined at a date following the administration of the examination.

The eligible list is canvassed based upon the needs of the courts. The list is canvassed in score/rank order. There is no guarantee your rank will be reached. Physical, medical, and psychological examinations and evaluations are held to ensure that candidates can satisfactorily perform the duties of this position. Substance abuse screening and an extensive background investigation are conducted as well. For detailed information and requirements: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/careers/cot/screening.shtml

Eligible lists are in existence for at least one to four years and may be extended. Consistent with civil service rules, passing candidates will be canvassed in rank order when there is a vacancy to be filled.

It is important that you let us know of any personal information changes such as e-mail address, mailing address, phone number, or name. E-mail any changes to [email protected]. Include your complete name, Application ID Number, and 'Examination #45-843' on all correspondences.

You must select “yes” to the application question “Do you require reasonable testing accommodations?”. After you submit your application, you should immediately e-mail us at [email protected] to advise us of the kind of accommodation(s) you are requesting. You must also scan documentation, from a qualified medical or psychological professional, indicating the need for the accommodation(s) with your e-mail. We will review your request and underlying documentation. If approved, you will be notified by e-mail how to enter the accommodation(s) request with Talogy when self-scheduling.

Submit the online examination application during the open-filing period if you can. Scan your active duty orders to [email protected]. In your e-mail, please let us know when you believe you will be available for testing. Note that once you are separated from active duty, please advise us within 30 days that you are available for testing.

If you wish to be considered for Veteran Credits, you should select “yes” for the application question “If you have served in the Armed Forces, do you claim veteran’s credit.” Print and complete the Veteran Credits Form and follow all instructions on the form carefully. Please note that the Veteran Credits Form and all supporting documentation must be scanned to [email protected] prior to eligible list establishment. Also note that veteran credits can only be applied to passing scores. A summary of who is eligible for veteran credits is available.