THE NYS COURT OFFICERS ACADEMY
The NYS Court Officers Academy
Once you clear screening, you enter the academy for four months of paid basic training. It is the start of a two-year traineeship that turns a recruit into a certified peace officer. Here is what it involves.
Four months of paid basic training
Recruits — Court Officer-Trainees — attend a minimum of four months of paid basic training at the NYS Court Officers Academy for their initial peace officer training. The academy has two New York locations, one in Brooklyn serving the downstate area and one upstate.
Upon successful completion, recruits are certified by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services as peace officers of the State of New York. Expect to demonstrate proficiency in physical training, defensive tactics, basic life support and firearms, alongside a demanding academic curriculum.
What the training covers
A sample of the core curriculum published by the court system:
- ✓New York State Penal Law & Criminal Procedure Law
- ✓Firearms training
- ✓Physical training & defensive tactics
- ✓Arrest procedures & prisoner escort
- ✓Court structure, agency policies & guidelines
- ✓Baton and pepper spray use
- ✓Counter-terrorism & bomb-detection training
- ✓Critical incident & emergency evacuation procedures
- ✓CPR and basic first aid
- ✓Communication skills & interacting with the public
This is a sample, not the full list. Recruits also take part in daily physical fitness routines and are regularly assessed and tested.
The two-year traineeship & pay
The four-month academy is part of a longer two-year traineeship. You enter the academy at Judicial Grade 16 (JG-16), starting at $58,100 (effective April 1, 2025), plus location pay depending on your county and annual allowances.
After you successfully complete the two-year traineeship, you are promoted to NYS Court Officer at Judicial Grade 19 (JG-19), starting at $68,593.
| Academy entry — Court Officer-Trainee (JG-16) | $58,100 |
| Location pay (by county tier) | +$2,460 / +$4,920 |
| After the traineeship — Court Officer (JG-19) | $68,593 |
You have to keep earning your spot
Getting into the academy is not the finish line. Per the exam announcement, a trainee may be terminated at any time during basic training for failing to meet performance standards. Recruits are regularly assessed and tested, and must demonstrate proficiency across the physical and academic curriculum.
The practical takeaway: the academy expects you to show up prepared and keep performing throughout basic training.
What happens after graduation
After completing basic training you are certified as a peace officer and continue at your assigned work site, with further on-the-job training. Court Officers return to the academy periodically for in-service training, including firearms training and the annual requalification required for those authorized to carry a firearm.
From there, the career opens up — specialized units and, through separate promotional exams, higher ranks in the Court Officer title series. Because those figures are not part of the 45-857 announcement, we do not quote specific numbers for them.
The academy starts with the exam.
You only reach a seat at the academy if your rank is reached — and that starts with your written exam score. See where you stand today.
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