Jobs, Training & Career · Surprise rank #394
NYC Can Hire Disabled Applicants Directly Without the Civil-Service Exam
The NYC 55-a program allows individuals with certified disabilities to be appointed to competitive civil-service positions without taking the standard exam.
Who
Qualified applicants certified as having a mental or physical disability.
Where: NYC government jobs.
What to do
Start here: Apply to matching NYC jobs and ask the agency's disability/55-a coordinator to consider appointment under 55-a.
Eligibility: Disability certification and minimum qualifications for a participating competitive-class title.
What you get
NYC agencies can hire qualified people with certified disabilities into many competitive civil-service positions without requiring the usual exam.
Benefit: Direct consideration for eligible city jobs and conversion to competitive status under program rules.
Possible value: Public-sector salary, benefits and pension value.
Good to know
Important: No guaranteed job; the applicant must find and compete for a vacancy, and not every title is eligible.
Availability: Rolling with eligible vacancies.
Why people miss it: Applicants and hiring managers often confuse 55-a with an accommodation program rather than an alternative appointment route.
Sources reviewed: Aug 2, 2026