PEP, September 2010: Civil Service exams you can take

Public Employee Press

Civil Service exams you can take

New York City has begun following state law by replacing provisionals who have served longer than four months when civil service lists exist with appointments from the lists. Union members who are provisionals should take civil service tests they are eligible for to become permanent civil service workers. Listed below are exams with upcoming filing periods.

Civil Service exams schedule (PDF)

Tips for members who want to take civil service exams

Review the exam schedule monthly at the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services, www.nyc.gov/dcas. New exams open for filing on the first Wednesday of each month (except holidays). If a scheduled exam is going to be postponed or canceled, the change will be announced at the start of the scheduled filing period.

Read about the duties of the job and the education and experience needed to see if you qualify. Most civil service exams require a filing fee. Check the official Notice of Examination (NOE) for details. You can apply online and pay your application fee by credit, debit or bank card, or you can print out the required application forms. You can also get the NOE and application forms by mail or at the DCAS Application Center during the scheduled filing period. It's on the 17th floor at 2 Lafayette St. in Lower Manhattan (entrance on Lafayette). The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, except holidays.

The list below, filing dates, test dates and qualifications are all subject to change. Get updates by calling 311 (or 212-NEWYORK from outside the city) and asking for civil service information.

Take a test prep course through the DC 37 Ed Fund

District Council 37 has responded to members' need to pass civil service examinations by offering a number of test prep courses through the DC 37 Education Fund. Members and agency-fee payers eligible for Education Fund benefits may participate. For upcoming courses, check the fund listings in PEP or at www.dc37.net.

Signing up for a union test prep course does not register you to take the civil service test. The Ed Fund does not cover filing fees for civil service exams. Members must submit their applications and filing fees for exams to the Dept. of Citywide Administrative Services. For more information, visit their Web site at www.nyc.gov/dcas. In the list, OC means open competitive and P means promotional.