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NYC Administrative Investigator EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR –
JUST RELEASED
NYC Administrative Investigator Exam
EXAM COVERAGE OVERVIEW (10 Key Points)
1. Job Description: Administrative Investigators supervise large staffs performing
professional investigations of varying complexity. They direct criminal and non-criminal
investigations to detect violations of law, rules, and regulations of municipal, Federal,
and State programs. They manage chain of custody of evidence, direct surveillance,
interview subjects/witnesses, utilize databases, prepare reports, and testify at hearings.
They work with wide latitude for independent initiative and judgment .
2. Eligibility: This is a promotion exam open to employees who hold a permanent (not
provisional) competitive appointment or appear on a Preferred List for the title
of Associate Investigator or Associate Fraud Investigator. The exam is also open to
employees appointed via NYS Civil Service Law §55-a. Eligibility must be verified with the
agency personnel office .
3. Promotion Eligibility: To be eligible for promotion, candidates must have completed
their probationary period in the eligible title and be permanently employed in the
eligible title (or appear on a Preferred List) at the time of promotion .
4. Application & Fees: The application fee is $68, payable through the DCAS Online
Application System (OASys) at nyc.gov/examsforjobs. Credit/debit card payments incur a
2.00% service fee. Fee waivers are available for veterans, unemployed persons, public
assistance recipients, or SSI recipients .
5. Education & Experience Requirements: Candidates must have a baccalaureate degree +
4 years of investigative experience (18 months in administrative/managerial capacity),
OR associate degree + 6 years, OR HS diploma + 8 years. Education/experience
equivalents are considered .
6. Test Format: The exam consists of an Education and Experience Exam (EEE) . Candidates
receive 70 points for meeting eligibility requirements, with additional credit up to 30
points for experience. Total possible score is 100 points .
7. Experience Credit: Administrative/managerial experience with the City of New York as a
permanent Associate Investigator or Associate Fraud Investigator earns 3-30 points
based on months of service (6 months to 60+ months). Equivalent experience with non-
City employers conducting investigations also earns 3-30 points .
8. Tested Knowledge Areas: The exam tests Analytical Thinking, Quantitative Analysis and
Interpretation, Judgment and Decision-Making, Planning and Organizing, Management
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of Financial and Material Resources, Monitoring, Persistence, Adaptability/Flexibility,
Written Expression, Persuading and Influencing Others, Conflict Resolution, Concern for
Others, Coaching and Mentoring, Teamwork, Integrity, Dependability, Initiative and
Independence, and Attention to Detail .
9. Part-time Work Conversion: Part-time experience (less than 35 hours/week) must be
converted to full-time equivalent using the formula: (hours worked per week / 35) ×
length of experience .
10. Salary: The minimum salary is $73,561 per annum (35-hour standard work week).
Maximum salary is $293,038 .
SECTION 1: JOB DESCRIPTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. What is the primary role of an Administrative Investigator?
A) Enforce criminal laws and make arrests
B) Conduct administrative audits only
C) Supervise a large staff of investigators performing professional investigations of varying levels
of complexity
D) Provide legal representation to city agencies
Answer: C) Supervise a large staff of investigators performing professional investigations of
varying levels of complexity
Rationale: Administrative Investigators operate under administrative direction with wide
latitude for independent initiative and judgment, supervising large staffs of investigators
performing professional investigations of varying levels of complexity .
2. Which of the following is a typical assignment of an Administrative Investigator?
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A) Directing criminal and non-criminal investigations to detect violations of law
B) Performing only clerical tasks
C) Serving as a uniformed police officer
D) Providing legal defense for city employees
Answer: A) Directing criminal and non-criminal investigations to detect violations of law
Rationale: Administrative Investigators direct criminal and non-criminal investigations designed
to prevent or detect violations of law or violations of rules and regulations of municipal agencies
or of Federal and State programs administered by municipal agencies .
3. Administrative Investigators manage and control which aspect of evidence gathering?
A) The collection of witness statements only
B) The chain of custody of all information and evidence gathered by investigation
C) The destruction of all evidence after the investigation
D) The release of evidence to the media
Answer: B) The chain of custody of all information and evidence gathered by investigation
Rationale: Administrative Investigators manage and control the chain of custody of all
information and evidence gathered by investigation for criminal or administrative prosecution,
civil litigation and appropriate action as mandated by rules, regulations and other legislative
enactments .
4. Which of the following is NOT a typical activity of an Administrative Investigator?
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A) Directing staff who perform surveillances
B) Interviewing subjects and/or witnesses
C) Making arrests for criminal violations
D) Testifying at hearings and court proceedings
Answer: C) Making arrests for criminal violations
Rationale: Administrative Investigators direct activities of staff who perform surveillances,
interview subjects/witnesses, and testify at hearings, but their role is administrative and
supervisory rather than law enforcement .
5. Administrative Investigators participate in joint investigations in conjunction with which
entities?
A) The media and public relations firms
B) The Inspector General and/or prosecutorial offices
C) Private security companies
D) Foreign governments
Answer: B) The Inspector General and/or prosecutorial offices
Rationale: Administrative Investigators participate in joint investigations of confidential matters
in conjunction with the Inspector General and/or prosecutorial offices .
6. Administrative Investigators may be assigned to investigations which are:
A) Only routine and simple
B) Of more than ordinary difficulty by reason of greater complexity or hazard
NYC Administrative Investigator EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR –
JUST RELEASED
NYC Administrative Investigator Exam
EXAM COVERAGE OVERVIEW (10 Key Points)
1. Job Description: Administrative Investigators supervise large staffs performing
professional investigations of varying complexity. They direct criminal and non-criminal
investigations to detect violations of law, rules, and regulations of municipal, Federal,
and State programs. They manage chain of custody of evidence, direct surveillance,
interview subjects/witnesses, utilize databases, prepare reports, and testify at hearings.
They work with wide latitude for independent initiative and judgment .
2. Eligibility: This is a promotion exam open to employees who hold a permanent (not
provisional) competitive appointment or appear on a Preferred List for the title
of Associate Investigator or Associate Fraud Investigator. The exam is also open to
employees appointed via NYS Civil Service Law §55-a. Eligibility must be verified with the
agency personnel office .
3. Promotion Eligibility: To be eligible for promotion, candidates must have completed
their probationary period in the eligible title and be permanently employed in the
eligible title (or appear on a Preferred List) at the time of promotion .
4. Application & Fees: The application fee is $68, payable through the DCAS Online
Application System (OASys) at nyc.gov/examsforjobs. Credit/debit card payments incur a
2.00% service fee. Fee waivers are available for veterans, unemployed persons, public
assistance recipients, or SSI recipients .
5. Education & Experience Requirements: Candidates must have a baccalaureate degree +
4 years of investigative experience (18 months in administrative/managerial capacity),
OR associate degree + 6 years, OR HS diploma + 8 years. Education/experience
equivalents are considered .
6. Test Format: The exam consists of an Education and Experience Exam (EEE) . Candidates
receive 70 points for meeting eligibility requirements, with additional credit up to 30
points for experience. Total possible score is 100 points .
7. Experience Credit: Administrative/managerial experience with the City of New York as a
permanent Associate Investigator or Associate Fraud Investigator earns 3-30 points
based on months of service (6 months to 60+ months). Equivalent experience with non-
City employers conducting investigations also earns 3-30 points .
8. Tested Knowledge Areas: The exam tests Analytical Thinking, Quantitative Analysis and
Interpretation, Judgment and Decision-Making, Planning and Organizing, Management
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of Financial and Material Resources, Monitoring, Persistence, Adaptability/Flexibility,
Written Expression, Persuading and Influencing Others, Conflict Resolution, Concern for
Others, Coaching and Mentoring, Teamwork, Integrity, Dependability, Initiative and
Independence, and Attention to Detail .
9. Part-time Work Conversion: Part-time experience (less than 35 hours/week) must be
converted to full-time equivalent using the formula: (hours worked per week / 35) ×
length of experience .
10. Salary: The minimum salary is $73,561 per annum (35-hour standard work week).
Maximum salary is $293,038 .
SECTION 1: JOB DESCRIPTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. What is the primary role of an Administrative Investigator?
A) Enforce criminal laws and make arrests
B) Conduct administrative audits only
C) Supervise a large staff of investigators performing professional investigations of varying levels
of complexity
D) Provide legal representation to city agencies
Answer: C) Supervise a large staff of investigators performing professional investigations of
varying levels of complexity
Rationale: Administrative Investigators operate under administrative direction with wide
latitude for independent initiative and judgment, supervising large staffs of investigators
performing professional investigations of varying levels of complexity .
2. Which of the following is a typical assignment of an Administrative Investigator?
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A) Directing criminal and non-criminal investigations to detect violations of law
B) Performing only clerical tasks
C) Serving as a uniformed police officer
D) Providing legal defense for city employees
Answer: A) Directing criminal and non-criminal investigations to detect violations of law
Rationale: Administrative Investigators direct criminal and non-criminal investigations designed
to prevent or detect violations of law or violations of rules and regulations of municipal agencies
or of Federal and State programs administered by municipal agencies .
3. Administrative Investigators manage and control which aspect of evidence gathering?
A) The collection of witness statements only
B) The chain of custody of all information and evidence gathered by investigation
C) The destruction of all evidence after the investigation
D) The release of evidence to the media
Answer: B) The chain of custody of all information and evidence gathered by investigation
Rationale: Administrative Investigators manage and control the chain of custody of all
information and evidence gathered by investigation for criminal or administrative prosecution,
civil litigation and appropriate action as mandated by rules, regulations and other legislative
enactments .
4. Which of the following is NOT a typical activity of an Administrative Investigator?
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A) Directing staff who perform surveillances
B) Interviewing subjects and/or witnesses
C) Making arrests for criminal violations
D) Testifying at hearings and court proceedings
Answer: C) Making arrests for criminal violations
Rationale: Administrative Investigators direct activities of staff who perform surveillances,
interview subjects/witnesses, and testify at hearings, but their role is administrative and
supervisory rather than law enforcement .
5. Administrative Investigators participate in joint investigations in conjunction with which
entities?
A) The media and public relations firms
B) The Inspector General and/or prosecutorial offices
C) Private security companies
D) Foreign governments
Answer: B) The Inspector General and/or prosecutorial offices
Rationale: Administrative Investigators participate in joint investigations of confidential matters
in conjunction with the Inspector General and/or prosecutorial offices .
6. Administrative Investigators may be assigned to investigations which are:
A) Only routine and simple
B) Of more than ordinary difficulty by reason of greater complexity or hazard
