The City fills many of its positions through the Civil Service Process -- a process guided by the New York State Civil Service Law. The law is in place to help ensure that the hiring process is competitive and fair. Generally, the City uses examinations to measure a potential candidate's "merit" and "fitness" for the particular position. Taking an examination is the start of the hiring process that may lead to you getting a job with the City.
After each exam, the City establishes an "eligible to hire" list. This list consists of all candidates who pass the exam by rank order and is available to each City agency with open positions in the corresponding title. Candidates are contacted for interviews as the needs of these agencies require. New York State Civil Service Law requires agencies to review the top three scorers remaining on the list for appointment to a vacant position, a procedure known as the One-in-Three rule. Usually a list is active for four years.
Some positions available within the City do not require an examination. These positions tend to require special skills that make recruitment for the positions particularly difficult. See job opportunities listed by agency on NYC.gov.
Exam Registration & Information:
Each examination tests a candidate's qualifications for a particular Civil Service title. Before you register for any examination, review the official "Notice of Examination" (NOE) for position qualifications and eligibility, along with exam date. Successful registration usually requires you to:
1) Review all appropriate exam information:
a. Read all information in the application packet, including application, instructions for completing application, special circumstances sheet, foreign education fact sheet, and, if necessary, Education and Experience Test Paper (EETP).
b. Review the Notice of Examination information for minimum qualifications, filing deadline and exam date.
2) Complete Exam Registration.
a. Complete Exam Application form.
b. Submit appropriate fee for exam registration.
c. Submit additional information as listed in the Notice of Examination, such as Education and Experience Test Paper (EETP) form.
d. Mail all information to DCAS Application Unit, 1 Centre Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10007.
Learn More about Upcoming Exams:
The information and forms you need to register for an examination are available throughout the City via the following avenues:
1) Through City Government Resources:
a. DCAS Web site - Here you will find a complete and up-to-date list of Civil Service Examinations for Open Competitive, Promotional (for current city employees only), Licensing, and State titles, as well as Notices of Examination and applications.
b. Application
Center (Manhattan) - Visit us at 2 Lafayette Street in Downtown Manhattan. The center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Notices of Examination and Application packets are also available at this location.
c. Automated Phone System - Call us at (212) 669-1357.
d. Written Request - You may request by mail applications for exams currently open for filing. Written requests for applications must include a self-addressed stamped envelope (with 66 cents in postage affixed to the envelope) and be sent at least five (5) business days prior to the end of the filing period to:
NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
Application Unit
1 Centre Street, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Note: You must specify the examination title and number you are requesting.
e. Exams for Jobs: Located at your local library or community board, this catalog is a schedule of planned Civil Service Exams. Printed in early summer for the upcoming 12 months of exams, it is important to note that the information in Exams for Jobs is tentative and subject to change. Applicants should consult the Official Notice of Examination issued during the application period for the most up-to-date information.
2) The Chief-Leader: A weekly publication that focuses on government business also announces upcoming City and state exams. It is available at many newsstands throughout the City.
Important Information about Exam Registration:
Registration for an exam can only occur during the defined filing period. To assist in processing your application, the Application Unit requests that you apply early in the filing period. To be timely, completed applications, other forms and fees must be postmarked by the last date of the filing period.
Paying Exam Application Registration Fee:
- Application fees must be paid by money order only, payable to DCAS (EXAMS). Indicate your name, Social Security Number and the number of the exam for which you are applying on the money order.
- Individuals on Public Assistance may have the fee waived by submitting a legible (clear) copy of your Benefit card (indicating your Social Security Number and the number of the exam for which you are applying) along with the application. The name on the application must be exactly the same as on the Benefit card.
Keep copies of all completed forms you have submitted, including money order receipt, application, and Education and Experience Test Paper and special insert if applicable.
Different Types of Examinations:
1. Multiple-Choice Examinations are generally offered for Open Competitive titles or entry level positions to the City's workforce. These exams tend to consist of 60 to 100 multiple-choice questions. The candidate records answers on a scan-tron sheet by coloring in circles with a No. 2 pencil. These examinations are generally given on Saturday. The testing sites are usually high schools located throughout the city's five boroughs.
2. Education and Experience (E&E) Examinations are used to fill positions in which specific experience and education are good indicators of a candidate's qualification for a particular position. E&E Examinations are usually offered for "professional" positions that have professional qualifications such as having a masters degree or having several years of specific professional experience.
3. Practical/Physical Examinations test a candidate's skill or fitness in performing a specific task. Examples include typing examinations for clerical positions and physical ability tests for firefighters or sanitation workers. In the case of these examinations, candidates are measured on their ability to perform the particular tasks associated with the position. Frequently, these exams are given in addition to a multiple-choice examination.
What happens after you have registered to take a written, oral, practical, or essay exam:
Usually within two-three months of the end of the filing period, each applicant is sent an "Exam Admission Card." This card will confirm exam registration, date, time and location. While reviewing this information carefully, check for the correct exam registration information and exam date.
Note: If you do not receive your admission card within four days of the exam date, please visit the Examining Service Section at 1 Centre Street, 14th floor, New York, NY to get a duplicate admission card.
What happens after you have registered to take an Education and Experience (E&E) exam:
If no test date was posted, candidates are sent an "Acknowledgement" receipt ninety (90) days after the end of the filing period.
Note: If you do not receive your acknowledgement receipt, please contact the Examining Service Section (in writing only) at 1 Centre Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10007.
The Day of the Exam:
-Exams are generally given on Saturdays in area public schools.
- Please report to the examination site at least one half hour before the designated start time.
- You must have your Exam Admission Card and a No. 2 pencil for admission.
- During the test, you are given a maximum time limit, usually between two and a half and three and a half hours. Nobody is permitted to leave the testing area until one hour has elapsed.
After Taking an Exam:
Multiple Choice, Essay and Oral Exams:
- The City begins the process of validating an answer key and grading each examination. As part of this process, State Civil Service Law provides a limited period of time in which each candidate is eligible to protest proposed answers to questions. Any challenges received during the protest period are resolved by a panel of experts and the final key is approved for rating.
- Once the exams are rated, the list is created in rank order by passing score. An official version of this list is an Eligible List. A City agency can use this list to hire employees. The creation of the eligible list usually occurs six to nine months after the test date. A list generally lasts four years.
- Upon establishment of a list, the City notifies each candidate of their exam score and list rank. If you feel that there are any discrepancies, you may appeal your score at this time.
- City agencies use the list to bring in candidates for interviews. The rule of one-in-three allows agencies to interview the top three scoring individuals on the list for each available position.
Practical Exams:
- The test is generally a work sample. It is rated on the spot by an expert examiner.
Change of Address: If you change your address after filing, you can contact the Application Unit in the following ways:
- Call the IVR number 24/7 (212-669-1357) for instructions on how to receive a faxed copy of the change of address form.
- Call Examining Services M-F 9-5 (212-669-7240) to acquire a DCAS fax number to fax the old/new address info.
- Visit the Application Unit at 1 Centre Street, Room 1448 South M-F 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. to complete a change of address form.
Test Validation Board (TVB): The applicant protest period usually begins the fifth week after a test is given. Candidates then have thirty (30) days to submit written protests to the proposed key answers. Candidates must justify why their answers are as good or better than the key answers. Typically, candidates will protest only those questions that they believe have an ambiguous wording or issues with the set of answers. The Test Validation Board (TVB) reviews each protest, making appropriate changes to an exam's answer key based on these reviews. The TVB traditionally consists of one representative of the union, a subject expert, and an exam expert. Upon completion of the TVB review a final answer key is established, the exams are rated and the hiring list is established.
There is a 30 day period after the exam results are released during which candidates are permitted to appeal the calculation of their final score.
Why work for the City:
The City of New York offers its employees excellent opportunities to pursue a rewarding career, while serving fellow New Yorkers as a public servant. As an employer, the City offers:
- Hiring based on merit. You'll be chosen for a job based only on your demonstrated knowledge, skills and abilities.
- Career opportunities. The employees of New York City make sure the City ticks. As the largest local government in the United States, New York City employees perform many different challenging jobs.
- Competitive salary and benefits. You'll receive a valuable package of salary and benefits.
- Career satisfaction. Most important of all, you'll have a chance to make a difference for your family, neighbors and community by joining public service.
