Frequently Asked Questions
- Must I reside in New York or New Jersey to be eligible to participate in the written examination process?
No.
- Do I need to possess a valid New York State or New Jersey State driver's license to participate in the written examination process?
You must possess a valid driver's license from your state of residence at the time of appointment to the police academy training program. This does not need to be a NY/NJ license.
- Must I have prior police experience to apply for the Port Authority Police Officer Position?
No. Prior police experience is not a requirement to become a Port Authority Police Officer.
- Am I able to be a PAPD Police Officer if I was convicted of a felony?
No. A felony conviction makes you ineligible.
- What do I need to do if I previously applied to the Police Officer position but have not been randomly selected to take the written test?
The Police Officer eligible list resulting from the 2013 Police Recruitment is now decertified as a result of the establishment of a candidate pool from the 2017 Police Officer recruitment effort. If you applied to the Police Officer recruitment in 2017, then please continue to monitor your email inbox for status updates.
- How often will the Port Authority open up applications to test for the Port Authority Police Officer position?
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will conduct a recruitment to accept applications for the position of Police Officer on an as-needed basis. Please continue to check this site for updates.
- What will I do if I am claiming a fee exemption and what documentation do I need to provide if I am claiming a fee exemption?
If you are claiming a fee exemption, you will be asked to provide documentation of your situation, which should include one of the following:
- General Assistance - Please provide a copy of your ID card and documentation on letterhead from the social service agency in your state, dated within the past month.
- Public Assistance in the form of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)/Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance - Please provide a copy of your ID card and documentation on letterhead from the social service agency in your state, dated within the past month.
- Eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Please provide a copy of your latest annual awards letter and a copy of your ID card that shows your Medicaid number.
- Certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act/WorkFirst NJ Act eligible through a state or local social service agency - Please provide a copy of your ID card and documentation on letterhead from the social service agency in your state, dated within the past month.
- When and where will The Port Authority Police Officer Written Examination be administered?
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has partnered with Performance Assessment Network (PAN), a leader in computer-based test administration, to administer the PAPD Police Officer examination. You will be able to select from available PAN testing center in New York or New Jersey in which you wish to take the examination.
