About BOCES

BOCES
Services A-Z

Civil Service - Frequently Asked Questions

1.   What is Civil Service?
2.   Are all employees of the BOCES governed by Civil Service Law?
3.   Which employees are governed by Civil Service Law?
4.   Explain each of the classes.
5.   Under what category do our employees fall?
6.   A few years ago there was a Civil Service classification study. Why are we doing this again?
7.   How are test scores on a written civil service test determined?
8.   Why are tests band scored?
9.   Can I see the eligible list?
10. How can I have the same score as someone  else and be ranked differently?
11.  Who can be considered for appointment from a civil service list?
12.  How could I get the same failing score on two different tests?
13.  How can I find out how my score was determined?

1. What is Civil Service?

answer: The Civil Service includes all offices and positions
in the service of the state or any of its civil divisions
including school districts and BOCES.

(top)

2. Are all employees of the BOCES governed by Civil Service Law?

answer: No. Teachers, Teaching Assistants, and
School Administrators are certified under
State Education Department (SED) regulations.
These employees are considered unclassified.

(top)

3. Which employees are governed by Civil Service Law?

answer: There are 4 classes of employees who are
governed by Civil Service. These are:
a. exempt
b. labor
c. noncompetitive
d. competitive

(top)

4. Explain each of the classes.

a. Exempt: Highly confidential. Typically in
a school district, the Secretary to the Superintendent
District Treasurer, School Attorney, Tax Collector
are in the exempt class.
   Although many employees of a school district hold
highly confidential appointments, they are not
classified under the limited title exempt.

b. Labor : Unskilled positions. These are typically
cleaners, school monitor, food service helpers.

c. Non-competitive: Typically skilled workers such as
teacher aides, nurses, school bus drivers,
building maintenance mechanics, groundskeepers,
automotive mechanic, cook and baker

d. Competitive : All other positions. Candidates
for competitive class positions must meet
minimum qualifications established by the
local Civil Service agency

(top)

5. Under what category do our employees fall?

answer: Civil Service determines that. The majority of
our staff members are in the competitive class. The
Administrative Assistant to the District Superintendent
and the District Treasurer are in the exempt class. EA's
are in the non-competitive class. Cleaners are in the
Labor class.

(top)

6. A few years ago there was a Civil Service classification study.
Why are we doing this again?

Answer: In 2000, the BOCES completed its part of
a classification study. Civil Service did not complete
its part of the study due to capacity and technical issues
unrelated to the BOCES.

Between 2000 and now, many of our positions have
undergone changes. Many of the positions which
existed back then, no longer exist. New positions
have come into existence.

Civil Service has therefore directed that we redo our
part of the study.

BOCES has a deadline of June 15, 2005, to complete its part of the classification study.

7.   How are test scores on a written civil service test determined?

Answer:  First, the raw score is determined which is generally the number of questions the candidate answers correctly.  After the results are analyzed, a band score table is constructed for the test.  The band score table is then applied to the raw score to determine the final score.  Typically, a band score covers a range of scores and bands are reported in five point increments.  This method of scoring is called band scoring. Example:  A range of raw scores from 45 to 47 are assigned a band score of 80. If you received a raw score of either 45,46, or 47, your final score would be 80.

8.  Why are tests band scored?

Answer: Banding scoring provides a more realistic assessment of a candidate's performance on written tests than point-by-point scoring.  It takes into accounts that no test can measure a candidate's abilities with perfect confidence or assess all the abilities relevant to a given job.  Also, increasing the use of band scoring on civil service test considerably opens the field of candidates who can be considered for appointment.

9.  Can I see the eligible list?

Answer:  Yes.  You can see an eligible list at the office of the civil service agency that announced the examination.  A copy of an eligible list may be obtained from that agency under the Freedom of Information Law; payment of a fee may be required.

10.  How can I have the same score as someone else and be ranked differently?

Answer:  Municipal civil service rules provide that candidates on an eligible list be ranked.  For information on the method used to rank candidates with the same score, candidates should consult the agency responsible for administering the examination.

11.  Who can be considered for appointment from a civil service list?

Answer:  Everyone ranked above or tied with the third candidate on the eligible list can be considered for appointment.  This is sometimes referred to as the Rule of Three.

In accordance with Civil Service Law, appointing authorities may elect to give preference in appointment to residents of their jurisdiction. In these instances, a list of resident eligibles is considered first for appointment.  The Rule of Three is applied to this resident list.

12.  How could I get the same failing score on two different tests?

Answer:  Using the band scoring method, all failing scores are reported as "60."  For instance, say a test has 90 questions, and the minimum passing score is set at 54 raw score points.  If you answered less than 54 questions correctly, your final score would be reported as "60."

13.  How can I find out how my score was determined?

Answer:  An opportunity to do a computational review is provided for most civil service examinations.  If a computational review is offered and you would like to review you answer paper to determine how it was scored, you must submit a request in writing within 10 days after you receive your score to the municipal civil service commission or personnel office which administered the examination.

At the computational review you will be able to determine how many questions  you answered correctly and the method by which your final score was determined.

In those few cases where a computational review is not available, the municipal civil service agency, upon request, can provide this information.

(top)

· NYS Civil Service web site.

· How to take the a written exam - NYS Civil Service.

· NY Wired Test Prep (requires a license. Please email rzordan@gw.neric.org for login info).

· Back to BOCES Civil Service home page