NYC DEPARTMENT OF CITYWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
1 CENTRE STREET, 14TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10007

Regulation E.1 - General Provisions
E.1.1 These regulations shall be applicable to all examinations conducted by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) for positions in the competitive, non-competitive and labor classes. Before applying to take an examination, applicants should consult the Notice of Examination for the specific position for which they are applying and these General Examination Regulations. Applicants are responsible for knowledge of the contents of those documents, which are binding on all applicants. In addition, the Civil Service Law and the Personnel Rules and Regulations of the City of New York apply to all examinations.

E.1.2 All information concerning an examination, including these regulations, notices of examination, filing dates, test dates, and key answers are posted in the Application Center (Manhattan) of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services at 2 Lafayette Street, N.Y., N.Y. 10007.

Regulation E.2 - Applications
E.2.1 Completed application forms and required fee may be submitted by mail only to the Application Unit of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, unless otherwise provided in the Notice of Examination. Application forms submitted by mail must be properly stamped and addressed to "Application Unit, New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, 1 Centre Street, 14th floor, New York, N.Y. 10007," and must be received by the last date for receipt of applications specified in the Notice of Examinations.

E.2.2 Except on legal holidays and unless otherwise stated in the Notice of Examination, the Application Center (Manhattan) of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, 2 Lafayette Street, is open from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Application forms can be obtained without charge at the Application Center (Manhattan) during the application period specified in the Notice of Examination.

E.2.3 A late application in a promotion examination shall be accepted if submitted by the employing agency personnel office as early as practicable prior to the day of the first test thereof if such late application includes a signed statement from his or her personnel officer that he or she was absent from employment because of vacation, sick leave, military duty, or other reason acceptable to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, for a period of not less than one-half of the application period.

E.2.4 The Department of Citywide Administrative Services assumes no responsibility for applications where: (a) errors or mistakes are made therein by the applicant; (b) they are filed by mail; (c) they are not filed with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services or other agency designated by the Commissioner, DCAS to accept applications; or (d) they are not received on a timely basis.

Regulation E.3 - Application Fees
E.3.1 An application fee, as required in the Notice of Examination, must be paid at the time of submitting the application for any civil service appointment and for any application for appointment without competitive examination including provisional and Labor Class appointments and transfers. The application fee will be based upon the minimum of the salary range of the title being sought:

E.3.2 An application fee is not required of a New York City resident receiving public assistance from the New York City Department of Social Services. To have the fee waived, such applicant must submit a photocopy of a current Benefit identification card.

In addition, the application fee may be waived, at the discretion of the Commissioner, DCAS, upon a showing of compelling circumstances.

E.3.3 Unless otherwise required in the Notice of Examination, payment must be made with a money order made payable to the order of DCAS (EXAMS). Applicants must write their Social Security number and the examination number, for which the application is being submitted, on the money order. Cash or checks will not be accepted, unless specified in the Notice of Examination.

E.3.4 An applicant who was unable to take or complete an examination may apply for refund of the application fee by submitting a written request therefor to the Examining Service Section of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services within 30 days of the date of the first test in the examination at which he or she was unable to appear with verification that such absence was due to:

(a) compulsory attendance before a court or other public body or official having the power to compel attendance;
(b) hospitalization;
(c) a clear error or mistake for which the Department of Citywide Administrative Services is responsible.

E.3.5 An applicant who was unable to take the first test in an open competitive examination because of active military service with the armed forces of the United States may apply for refund of the filing fee by submitting written request therefor with verification of such service not later than 60 days from the termination of military duty.

Regulation E.4 - Test Date and Admission Cards
E.4.1 The tentative date of the first assembled test in an examination is stated in the Notice of Examination. The official test date will be given in the admission card sent to the applicant. The City assumes no responsibility for mail delivery. Applicants who do not receive an admission card at least 4 days prior to the tentative test date must appear at the Examining Service Section of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, 1 Centre Street, 14th Floor, during normal business hours on one of the four days preceding the test date to obtain an admission card.

E.4.2 A candidate who is found to be not qualified or not eligible for an examination or for whom we have no record of receiving an application will not have his/her test scored.

Regulation E.5 - Change of Address
E.5.1 A candidate in an examination whose address changes after she/he submits the application but prior to mailing of the notice of results, must promptly notify the Examining Service Section of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services in writing in the manner described in E.5.3.

E.5.2 A candidate in an examination whose address changes after mailing of the notice of results and during the life of an eligible list upon which the candidate's name appears shall promptly notify the Certification Section of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services in writing in the manner described in E.5.3.

E.5.3 A separate notification of a change of address should be submitted for each examination in which the person is a candidate or an eligible. Each submission must include the candidate's name, Social Security number, complete new address, the title of the examination and the examination number, and place on the eligible list, if applicable. For promotion examinations, include the name of the city agency by which the candidate is employed. Failure to furnish notification of a change of address may result in the loss of opportunity to compete in tests or loss of opportunity to appear for appointment interviews.

Regulation E.6 - Citizenship
E.6.1 Any citizenship requirement will be set forth in the Notice of Examination. When citizenship is not required, non-citizens must be able to establish at the time of appointment and throughout the period of their employment that they are legally permitted to work in the United States.

E.6.2 Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, each candidate must be able to prove his/her identity and his/her right to obtain employment in the United States prior to employment with the City of New York.

Regulation E.7 - Age
E.7.1 Persons who have not reached their eighteenth birthday shall obtain employment certificates as required by law before appointment.

Regulation E.8 - Residency
E.8.1 Sections 12-120 and 12-121 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York require that any person who enters City service on or after September 1, 1986 shall be a resident of the city within 90 days after the date he or she enters city service and shall thereafter maintain city residence as a condition of employment. The Commissioner, DCAS may waive this requirement for positions which are hard to fill. In addition, certain positions are exempted by law.

Regulation E.9 - Language
E.9.1 Candidates must be able to understand and be understood in English. A qualifying English language oral will be given by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to all candidates who, in the opinion of the appointing officer, do not meet this requirement.

Regulation E.10 - Special Testing Services for Disabled Applicants
E.10.1 Any applicant who is disabled to the extent that he or she requires special accommodations to take an examination shall submit a written request for such accommodations, together with proof of disability as described below, to the Examining Service Section of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, 1 Centre Street, 14th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10007, postmarked no later than 30 working days before the date of the examination. The written request must indicate the specific accommodation requested, and any alternative which would be equally acceptable. Where appropriate and practicable, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services will provide one or more forms of testing accommodations, such as providing an accessible or alternate examination site, additional time to complete the examination, special seating, full written instructions and special attention from the monitor to insure that the applicant has understood oral instructions, a reader or tape recorder for test questions, an amanuensis or tape recorder for test answers, and large print or braille.

E.10.2 Where the disability involves vision, the applicant shall submit:

(a) proof of registration with the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, or
(b) proof that corrected total vision is less than 20/200 or that the applicant's field of vision is less than 20 degrees.

E.10.3 Where the disability involves hearing, the applicant shall submit an audiogram taken within the past year by an audiologist licensed in New York State or board certified otologist, indicating registration number, and showing the level of hearing loss.

E.10.4 Where the applicant's disability does not come within the categories described in E.10.2 or E.10.3 and the applicant nevertheless requires special accommodations to take the examination because of his or her disability, the applicant shall submit either a doctor's note or proof of disability from an agency or organization which is recognized as one which specializes in serving persons with the applicant's type of disability. The substantiating document shall indicate the extent of the disability and the specific testing accommodations recommended for the applicant.

E.10.5 For the purpose of these regulations, "an agency or organization which is recognized as one which specializes in serving persons with (certain disabilities)" means a government agency (such as the New York State Office of Vocational Rehabilitation) or a private organization or agency (such as United Cerebral Palsy) which is known to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services or the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities for its work. The substantiating document must be on letterhead and must bear the signature and title of the person certifying the applicant's disability.

E.10.6 Disabled applicants may take steps to personally accommodate their special testing needs in the following ways:

(a) Applicants may use their own impairment-related aids, such as magnifying glasses or talking calculators with ear plugs (where all other applicants are permitted to use calculators), during the examination.

(b) An applicant who requires an amanuensis or reader with special skills or abilities not provided by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services may submit proof of special need from an agency or organization which is recognized as one which specializes in serving persons with the candidate's type of disability and which further has volunteers available to perform the requested service. The agency or organization must notify the Department of Citywide Administrative Services no later than 15 work days before the test date that it will provide a volunteer. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services will not be responsible for providing a replacement amanuensis or reader in the event a volunteer fails to appear on the day of the examination.

Regulation E.11 - Special Examinations
E.11.1 An applicant who is unable, for any of the reasons listed below, to take the regular examination as scheduled may be given a special examination upon written request. Such applicant must submit a written request setting forth the reasons requiring the absence and providing documentary evidence which demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, DCAS that the applicant was unable to take the regular examination as scheduled. Unless otherwise specified herein, such material must be submitted to the Examining Service Section either in person or by certified or registered mail no later than one week following close of the application period. If one of the following circumstances arises after that date, such documentation must be received within one week following the occurance, but no later than one week before the special test.

E.11.2 Religious Observance: An applicant claiming to be unable to take an examination when originally scheduled because of his or her religious beliefs may request a special examination by submitting either in person or by certified or registered mail to the Examining Service Section of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, a written request no later than 15 days before the scheduled date of the regular examination. The request must include a recent written statement on letterhead signed by the applicant's religious leader attesting to the applicant's religious beliefs and certifying that the applicant is a sabbath observer and that it is contrary to the applicant's tenets to participate in an examination on the date the regular test is scheduled.

E.11.3 Military Service:

(a) Section 243: An applicant who has taken the first test:

(1) in an open competitive examination but is unable to complete the remaining test because of military duty as defined in Section 243 of the New York Military Law must apply to the Control and Service Section of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services with his or her separation papers not later than 90 days from the termination of such military duty;

(2) in a promotion examination, who is unable to take or complete such examination because of military duty as defined in Section 243 of the New York Military Law, must apply to the Control and Service Section of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services with his or her separation papers not later than 60 days from the date of restoration to his or her City position.

(b) Section 242: An applicant in a multiple choice promotion examination who is ordered to appear for military duty on the scheduled test date must notify the Examining Service Section in writing no later than one week from the close of the application period. To be admitted to the make up test scheduled in the Notice of Examination, such applicant must provide by certified or registered mail, written documentation on letterhead signed by the commanding officer stating that such duty cannot be rescheduled to permit the applicant to participate in the test and setting forth the reasons why. Such documentation must be received by the Examining Service Section no later than 10 working days prior to the regular test date. Such applicants who do not follow the above procedures must apply for a special test under the procedures in E.11.3(a)(2).

E.11.4 Other Reasons:

(a) a manifest error or mistake for which the Department of Citywide Administrative Services or the examining agency is responsible; or

(b) compulsory attendance before a court or other public body or official having the power to compel attendance; or

(c) physical disability incurred during the course of and within the scope of municipal employment where such applicant is an officer or employee of the City; or

(d) absence from the test within one week after the date of death of a spouse, domestic partner, mother, father, sister, brother, child or child of a domestic partner of such applicant where such applicant is an officer or employee of the City; [For purposes of this subparagraph, a domestic partner shall mean a person who has registered a domestic partnership in accordance with applicable law with the City Clerk or has registered such a partnership with the former City Department of Personnel pursuant to Executive Order 123 (dated August 7, 1989) during the period August 7, 1989 through January 7, 1993. (The records of partnerships registered at the Department of Personnel have been transferred to the City Clerk.)]

Regulation E.12 - Education and Experience Credit
E.12.1 To be credited, the education and experience must be of the nature, duration and quality described in the Notice of Examination and must have occurred during the prescribed period of time. Unless otherwise specified in the Notice of Examination, all requirements must be met by the last date of the application period.

E.12.2 All education and experience must be clearly specified on the experience paper in order to be credited or considered on appeal. Education and experience listed on the experience paper will receive credit only to the extent that it is described clearly and in detail. A maximum of one year of experience will be credited for each 12 month period. Part-time experience will be pro-rated and credited in lieu of, but not in addition to full time experience during the same period.

E.12.3 If statements of material facts are found to be false, exaggerated or misleading, an applicant may be disqualified.

E.12.4 Where experience is a qualifying test only, experience which falls short by up to one month shall be accepted as qualifying.

Regulation E.13 - Physical Tests
E.13.1 To be permitted to participate in any physical test candidates must sign the prescribed release form.

Regulation E.14 - Medical Examination
E.14.1 Any impairment which will adversely affect ability to perform the duties of the position in a reasonable manner, or which may reasonably be expected to render the applicant unfit to continue to perform the duties of the position shall constitute grounds for disqualification.

E.14.2 A candidate medically rejected for a condition which thereafter materially improves may apply for medical re-examination. However, no such candidate will be re-examined following expiration of the eligible list.

Regulation E.15 - Test Administration
E.15.1 A candidate who fails to follow instructions at the test site will not have his/her test scored.

Regulation E.16. - Impersonating and Cheating
E.16.1 A person who impersonates another or who allows himself or herself to be impersonated or who otherwise cheats in an examination shall be barred from taking civil service examinations for positions with the City of New York or receiving appointments with the City of New York.

E.16.2 A person barred from City employment pursuant to Regulation E.16.1 may submit a written request to the Commissioner, DCAS for reconsideration of this action, setting forth reasons to substantiate the request.

Regulation E.17 - Protests
E.17.1 Candidates may file protests against proposed key answers in accordance with section 50-a of the Civil Service Law. Protest procedures and time limits will be described at the time of the test.

Regulation E.18 - Appeals
E.18.1 Except as may otherwise be provided by the Commissioner, DCAS and upon payment of applicable fees:

(a) Candidates who wish to appeal a computational error in rating shall file an appeal within 30 days from the date of the notice of results of the examination.

(b) Candidates who wish to appeal the rating of oral, practical, or essay tests may request a breakdown of their scores and an appointment for review by submitting a written request to the Committee on Manifest Errors within one week following the date of the notice of results of the examination and shall file their completed appeals within 60 days from that date. An appointment for review, i.e. for playback of audio/video recording, inspection of work sample on practical test, or review of answer paper and the key or illustrative answers of essay tests, where available, will be granted prior to the end of the appeal period.

E.18.3 For all oral, practical, or essay tests, such playback, inspection or review shall be limited in duration to a period equivalent to the duration of the test in question. A representative of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services must be present at all times.

Regulation E.19 - Investigation
E.19.1 All applicants must be of satisfactory character and reputation and must meet all requirements set forth in the Notice of Examination for the position for which they are applying. Applicants may be summoned for the written test prior to investigation of their qualifications and background. Admission to the test does not mean that the applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

E.19.2 A fee of $50 is required of each candidate to cover the cost of fingerprint processing. Payment shall be submitted to the appointing agency at the time of fingerprinting and shall be in the form of a Travelers Express, American Express or postal money order payable to "New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service." Cash will not be accepted.

Regulation E.20 - Probationary Terms
E.20.1 Except as otherwise provided, all appointments and promotions shall be for a probationary term of one year.

E.20.2 Upon showing to the satisfaction of the Director that the services of a probationer have been unsatisfactory, an appointing officer may terminate the employment of such probationer at any time during the probationary term.

Regulation E.21 - Fees for Special Services
E.21.1 Fees for special services furnished upon request shall be as follows:

(a) duplicate result cards - $1 per card
(b) breakdown of rating on examination - $5 per copy
(c) photocopies - $1 per page
(d) play-back of audio recordings - $5 per play-back
(e) play-back of video recordings - $10 per play-back
(f) other - as may be provided

Regulation E.22 - Correspondence and Address
E.22.1 All correspondence to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Division of Citywide Personnel Services, shall be sent to 1 Centre Street, New York, N.Y. 10007, unless otherwise specified.

Regulation E.23 - Seniority and Veterans' Credit
E.23.1 Where seniority or Veterans' Preference credit is claimed, the candidate must achieve a passing score in order to be eligible for such credit.

DEPARTMENT OF CITYWIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES