NYS Civil Service Exams 101

New York State has one of the largest civil service systems in the country, employing over a million candidates. The NYS civil service exam, administered throughout the state, tests the skills and knowledge of the candidates for particular civil service titles. These exams are designed to be competitive and fair, with the objective of hiring only the best and brightest of the lot.

Before applying for a civil service job of your liking, make sure you go through the official Notice of Examination (NOE) that describes the required qualifications, the duties of the job, the filing period, the test description and the expected exam date(s).
Applicants who pass the civil service exam are placed on the civil service list, ranked from highest to lowest score. Then, when a city agency has vacancies, the finalized candidates are called in, interviewed and then evaluated for the job based on their test scores. These exam scores typically remain active for 4 years.
The competitive examinations can be broken down in the following three types:
· Open Competitive: These exams are open to all individuals who meet the position’s minimum qualifications.
· Promotion: These exams are open to current permanent employees and those who come under Section 55-a of the New York State Civil Service Law.
· Qualified Incumbent Examinations (QIEs): These are only open to provisional (non-permanent) employees who have already served a minimum of two years in their specified position.
These competitive civil service exams are administered in a range of formats, including Education and Experience (E&E), multiple-choice and practical/physical. Essentially, the NOE determines the type of exam for a specific position.

Exam Format

The examination announcement of your desired civil service position lists the Subjects of Examination that the exam covers, and these subjects are different for every position.
For instance, the Compensation Claims Clerk exam listed the four subject areas:
· Arithmetic reasoning
· Arithmetic computation
· Office record-keeping
· Interpreting and understanding written material


Where Can You Find Information For Upcoming Exams?

Subscribe to the NYC Department of Civil Service site to receive announcements for upcoming exams. The schedule for upcoming examinations is posted every July and is updated every month.

How Do You Prepare For The Test?

Since civil service exams come only once every four to six years, make sure you prepare for the exam to the best of your abilities. Enroll into exam preparation classes and workshops offered by a reputable tutoring company, like Civil Service Success. They go over in-depth exam guides and practice tests to increase your chances of passing.
In fact, there’s a New York State Court Officer exam anticipated for 2020 with classes starting in Match.
Register today, and become a New York State civil service worker!

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