Professional Career Opportunities

There is no in-person written multiple-choice test. The online questionnaire IS YOUR TEST.

Salary Grade*	Beginning Salary
G-14 to G-21	$49,202 through $71,496

*Full performance level hiring salaries reflected; traineeship salaries vary depending on title. When hiring agencies contact you at the time a position is being filled, they will inform you of the starting salary, the length of the traineeship, and the full performance grade level of the position. Salary hiring rate and progression may be found on the title pages at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/pco-titles.cfm.

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

Back To Top

Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 30, 2023, you must have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Certain titles filled by this examination require specific degrees, coursework, or experience. These are Select Job Titles and include job titles that require language proficiency. To review the additional qualifications for "Select Job Titles" visit the Job Title List.

Qualifying experience: If verifiable, we will accept and prorate appropriate part-time and volunteer experience.

• For all candidates, you MUST submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirements to the hiring agency at the time of the employment interview or you will not be considered for appointment. Failure to meet the educational requirements by June 30, 2023, may result in your removal from the eligible list.
• Your required educational credentials must have been awarded by an educational institution accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the United States (U.S.) Department of Education/Secretary of Education. If awarded by an institution outside of the U.S. and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of companies that provide these services (fees must be paid to the company you choose) can be found at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You will be required to provide this information to the hiring agency at the time of interview.
• New York State residency is not required.

Traineeships: Most positions filled from the PCO require a two-year traineeship. To be advanced to the full performance level of the title you must successfully complete a set training and development program. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training at the Trainee 1, you will automatically advance to Trainee 2. Upon satisfactory completion of the 12-month training as a Trainee 2, you will advance to the full level of the title without further examination.

An appointee's performance in the trainee position and in the set training and development programs will be observed and evaluated. The training and development program will include extensive on-the-job training and carefully designed and monitored work experience. If an appointee does not meet the standard requirements, they may be terminated at any time after the initial eight weeks and before completion of the traineeship.

You may, at the agency?s discretion, be appointed to a higher level (Advanced Placement). You must inform the agency of any additional qualifications at the time of your interview. To view the additional qualifications and advanced placement qualifications for the titles filled by this examination, visit: https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/pco-titles.cfm.

Additional Requirements for Appointment:

1. Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: In some agencies, the names of all prospective employees may

   • be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL), maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s);
   • be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). You must report all convictions. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal law;

   And may

   • be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees whose names appear on the SCR may be barred from appointment.

   You are responsible for payment of all required fees.

2. Language Proficiency: If you pass the examination and apply to a title which requires language proficiency, you must demonstrate your language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform the duties of the position properly. The proficiency test will only be given to enough candidates to fill current vacancies.
3. Medicaid and Medicare: In some agencies, to be eligible for appointment and maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). You may be barred from appointment or your employment may be terminated at any time if you are listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program).

The Positions: The positions filled by this program exist in New York State agencies statewide.

Back To Top

Subject of Examination

There is no in-person written multiple-choice test.

To be considered for appointment from this eligible list, you must pass an online training and experience test. The online training and experience test is an online questionnaire that asks questions about your education, training, and work experience. The answers you provide to the questions will be rated and scored in the following areas:

1. Analytical Reasoning
2. Customer and Client Service
3. Interpersonal Skills
4. Reading Comprehension
5. Written Communication

To prepare for completing the online questionnaire, it may be helpful to have dates of completed education and work experience available for reference. To successfully complete the examination process, you must respond to these questions and submit your online questionnaire.

The online questionnaire IS YOUR TEST and MUST be completed after submitting your application. You will not be scored on your education, training, and work experience unless you complete and submit the online questionnaire. You must complete and submit the online questionnaire by 11:59 pm on December 15, 2022.

The online test can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://tms.cs.ny.gov/TestDriver/Login/Login.aspx.

Your final score must be 70 or higher to pass. Your final score on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits.

After completing and submitting the examination application candidates can complete an online PCO skills inventory to report relevant education and experience in order to qualify for positions filled through selective certification. The online skills inventory questionnaire is NOT SCORED and is subject to verification by the hiring agency. Names of candidates who pass the examination, but do not complete this skills inventory, will appear on the generalist eligible list only. This online PCO skills inventory serves as your minimum qualification review for Select Job Titles; positions requiring language proficiency; and consideration for Diversity Management positions.

Candidates who complete the application can access the online skills inventory at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/dashboards/secure/pco/. The skills inventory must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on December 15, 2022.

Resulting Eligible List: The eligible list that results from this examination will be used by agencies to fill more than 150 different job titles. A list of titles filled by this examination is available at https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/pco-titles.cfm. General and select titles are filled from the PCO. All candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and pass the test will have their names included on the generalist eligible list. Select titles require specific education and experience.

Selective Certification of the Eligible List: A selective certification filters the eligible list by the specific education and experience required for the position based on eligible candidates? education and experience as indicated on the skills inventory. The selective certification will contain only the names of eligible candidates who meet the specialized requirements.

A Diversity Management Option is used to fill vacancies that have a demonstrated need for candidates who have an understanding of diversity management and equal opportunity principles which are necessary to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the position. All Generalist and Select Job Titles may be filled from the Diversity Management option. You will have an opportunity to report additional qualifications in the PCO Skills Inventory.

Select Job Titles, job titles requiring Language Proficiency (other than English), and positions filled with the Diversity Management Option are filled through the use of selective certification.

Selective Certification Update Policy: Qualified candidates may submit an update to their online skills inventory as frequently as once a year. If you pass the test and are on the eligible list, you will receive an email when the online skills inventory is available for update.

Note: If you accept a generalist trainee appointment that leads to G-14, you will remain active on the generalist eligible list for trainee appointments that lead to grades higher than G-14. Appointment from the generalist list to a traineeship that leads to G-18 will inactivate your name on the generalist eligible list.

Additionally:

• Appointees from the Generalist Job Titles lists will remain active for titles filled from the Select Job Titles list.
• Appointees from a Select Job Titles list will remain active for titles filled from the Generalist Job Titles lists.
• Appointees from the Select Job Titles list will remain active for all other Select Job Titles for which they qualify.
• An appointment to a base title filled off a Select Job Titles list, will inactivate the eligible on the Diversity Management list for the Select Job Title, and an appointment off a Diversity Management list for a title will inactivate the eligible on the Select Job Title list for the base title.

Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your test arrangements, examination results, and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number, and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

Back To Top

How To Apply

Important: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. Any past due application processing fees must be paid in full prior to submitting an application. Please email FeeUnitMail@cs.ny.gov regarding inquiries about any past due fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

S1/TB2 MAS-dah
Issued: 11/1/22

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

Back To Top