Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Apply Today!

The first step is to apply by submitting the following documents to PPOCareers@parks.ny.gov:

• NYS Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Employment Application Part 1 and Addendum (pdf)
• A copy of your college transcripts
• A copy of your DD-214 (Applicable only for veterans.)
• Your date of birth

After applying, if you submit the documentation above and meet all the eligibility requirements listed below, you will be contacted with an invitation to the Agility Testing in Fall 2023 (date to be announced).

If you have any questions, please contact Division Headquarters at (518) 474-4029.

Am I Eligible?

Age Requirements:

• Candidates must be at least 20 years of age at time of hire. Candidates must not have passed their 35th birthday on June 1, 2024.
• Time spent on military duty or on terminal leave, not exceeding a total of seven (7) years, shall be subtracted from your age if you have passed your 35th birthday.

Education Requirements:

• Minimum college education requirements: 60 college credit hours by June 1, 2024; 30 of those hours may be waived if candidate is an honorably discharged veteran with at least two years of active military duty.

Additional Requirements:

• Must be a United States citizen and a New York State resident at the time of appointment and maintain a New York State residency after appointment.
• Must hold a valid New York State Driver license at time of appointment and maintain it after appointment as a term and condition of employment.

What's Next?

1. Candidates who meet the requirements above must successfully complete the following before being considered for appointment to the Academy:
• Agility performance test - Candidates will be contacted to attend the agility test in Fall 2023 (date to be announced).
• Candidates are urged to maintain a level of fitness that will enable them to meet the standards listed in the Cooper Norms (pdf).
• Review of Tattoos according to the Tattoo Policy (pdf).
• Background investigation, including polygraph examination and fingerprinting.
• Medical examination, after a conditional offer of employment. See the Civil Service Physical/Medical Requirements Form (pdf).
• Visual acuity should be correctable to better than or equal to 20/30 (Snellen) in each eye; if correction is required, distant visual acuity should not be less than 20/100 without correction in each eye.
• Drug testing.
• Psychological examination.
• Park Police written exam.
2. Once the above is completed, candidates who are hired will start as Park Police Officer Trainees Grade 13 and will:
• Be enrolled in a six-month residential police academy located in Rensselaerville, NY.
• Be assigned to a Park Police Zone within New York State upon graduation.
• Complete Field Training for the remaining 6 months of their probationary period.
3. After successfully completing the traineeship, candidates will advance to Park Police Officer Grade 14.

Salary

The current starting salary for a NY State Park Police Officer Trainee, Grade 13, is $56,360. As a Trainee, you will participate in a one-year traineeship. Upon completion of the traineeship, you will advance to the Grade 14 Park Police Officer. Please see the chart below to learn more about Park Police Officer salaries.

Additional Geographic Pay:

Officers who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,613 annual downstate adjustment.

In addition to the downstate adjustment, Officers who work in the following locations will receive an additional supplemental local pay in the following amounts:
The counties of Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess - $1,343
The five boroughs of New York City, Rockland, and Westchester Counties - $2,017
Nassau and Suffolk Counties - $2,352.

NEW: Additionally, Officers who work in the mid-Hudson region (Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester counties) or downstate region (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, or Suffolk counties) are eligibile to receive an additional $15,000 in geographic pay differential. Learn more.

Benefits

• Accrue 13-24 vacation days, 12 holidays, 5 personal days, and 13 sick days each year.
• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Salaries do not include overtime.
• Retirement is at half pay after 25 years.
• Promotional opportunities are available by competitive examination processes.
• All uniforms and equipment are provided.