If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or more local jurisdictions, other than Chautauqua County, scheduled to be held on the same test date as another written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date so they can make arrangements for you to take all of your tests at one test site. All examinations for positions in state government will be held at a state examination center. A cross-file application form should be completed and submitted to our agency as soon as you are aware of conflicting test dates.

If you obtain the highest score on an exam you may be considered for the position, but having the highest score does not guarantee that you will be hired. The canvass and the interview are equally important parts of the selection process.

No, the state and federal governments administer their own tests and establish their own eligible lists.

A Training and Experience Examination is a method of testing whereby a candidate receives a test score based on information submitted in their application and/or a questionnaire which is sent to the eligible candidate. In some instances, the candidate will be requested to complete a Web-based questionnaire. The score is calculated from weights given to various factors of education (training) and experience.

Continuous Recruitment Examinations are those for which applications are accepted on a continuous basis, there is no last filing date. Some are administered on a computer, others are held on a training and experience basis, and others are written exams. The scores for these exams are inter-filed in rank order with existing candidate scores to form a constantly changing eligible list. A passing candidate's name remains on the list for one year.

A provisional appointment is a temporary appointment to a competitive class position (a position that requires a civil service test) when there is no existing civil service list or the list contains fewer than three candidates willing to accept the position being offered. In order to become permanent, the provisionally appointed employee must take the next examination for the position. The permanent appointment to the position will be made among the three highest scoring candidates who indicate their willingness to accept the position.

All Chautauqua County departments, all towns, villages, school districts, special districts, City of Dunkirk, City of Jamestown and BOCES Second Supervisory District, Erie-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Counties use the eligible lists.

We receive and process the exam results from the State Civil Service Commission approximately two to three months after the examination date. You will be notified by mail of your score and place on the eligible list. Those who score 70% or above are included on the eligible list for job openings. Jobs are filled from these lists by the employer choosing one of the three highest ranked applicants willing to accept the job.

It is very rare for an exam to be cancelled. If we do cancel an exam, there will be a recorded message on the Chautauqua County Human Resources telephone at 716-753-4237.

New York State Department of Civil Service publishes study guides for specific categories of examinations. You may review the current list contained on this website. Examination announcements will indicate if there is an appropriate State published study guide available.