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Civil Service Examination Information

• Exam Announcements
• Application for Examination or Employment

Applications & Fees

Guidelines for Completing Applications for Examination or Employment
1. Complete a separate application for each position or series for which you applying.

2. To save time, complete one application in its entirety, leaving the title line and the signature line blank. Make as many photo copies of the application as you need, and then complete the title line and sign each application. THERE MUST BE AN ORIGINAL SIGNATURE AND CURRENT DATE on each application.

3. A filing fee of $20.00 for all examinations other than Uniformed Protective Service Titles (check or money order only, made payable to Ulster County Treasurer) must be included for each scheduled examination. A filing fee of $40.00 for Uniformed Protective Service Titles (such as Police Officer, Correction Officer, etc.) must be included for each scheduled examination. Please include examination number and title on each check or money order. DO NOT SEND CASH. No refunds will be issued, therefore, review the minimum qualifications indicated on the examination announcement very carefully. (See Examination Filing Fee Waiver Policy).

4. Mail or bring applications to:
Ulster County Personnel Department
244 Fair Street, Box 1800
Kingston, NY 12402-1800

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Examination Filing Fee Waiver Policy
An exception to the processing fee will be made for persons receiving Supplemental Social Security payments or public assistance (Safety Net Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), provided Foster Care or certified Workforce Investment Act of 1998 eligible through a state or local social service agency, and for those who are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household. Individuals wishing to claim this waiver of fee on the basis of Supplemental Social Security, Safety Net Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, must certify on their application, under number 20 Remarks, that they are receiving public assistance and must indicate the type of assistance they are receiving, the agency providing the assistance and their case number. Persons claiming this waiver through Foster Care or Workforce Investment Act of 1998 Certification must specify the program and name of their contact agency. Such claims are subject to later verification and, if not supported by appropriate documentation, are grounds for barring appointment.

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Taking Civil Service Examinations

Admission to Examination
Do not interpret a notice to appear for, or actual participation in the examination to mean that you have been found to meet fully the announced requirements. 

Depending on the time available before an examination applicants maybe admitted to the examination on the basis of statements made on the application or conditionally, without prior review of the application. Such statements may not be reviewed and/or verified until after the examination is held. At that time, those candidates not meeting the requirements are disqualified. Candidates who are subsequently disqualified after taking the test will NOT be notified of their score. 

Call the Ulster County Personnel office immediately if you do not receive a notice within four days of the date of examination informing you whether or not you are to be admitted to the examination.

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Calculators
Most civil service written tests do not require the use of a calculator or slide rule; however, candidates have the option of bringing a quiet, hand-held, programmable, or non-programmable solar or battery powered calculatoror a slide rule to the test room unless specifically notified that their use is prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials. 

Change of Address
Notify this office immediately of any change of address, in writing. 

Inclement Weather
If we cancel an examination because of inclement weather, the following radio stations will be notified on the morning of the examination:

WGHQ 92 AM
WBPM 94.3 FM
WKNY 14.90 AM
WDST 100.1 FM
WRWD 107.3 FM
WBWZ 93.3 FM

Or, you may call Ulster County Community College on the morning of the examination at (845) 687-5000 and a recorded message will provide necessary information.

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Alternate Test Dates
May be arranged upon review of circumstances according to the AlternateTest Date Policy established by this department. 

Note for Saturday Sabbath Observers, Handicapped Persons, Active Duty Military Members
If special arrangements for testing are required, indicate this on your application form. 

Multiple Examinations
If you have applied for any other Civil Service examinations for employment with new York State or any other local government jurisdiction, you must make arrangements to take all the examinations at one test site no later than two weeks before the test date. Call (845) 340-3550 for further information regarding multiple examinations on the same date. 

Veterans
Disabled and non-disabled war veterans who are eligible for additional credits must submit an application for veterans credits. Candidates who wish to claim veterans credits on an examination should request an application and information sheet from the Ulster County Personnel Department. Veteran's application forms will also be available upon request at the examination center. The completed and notarized forms must be received in the office as soon as possible after the examination date or before the eligible list for this examination is established. 

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Types of Civil Service Examinations

Open Competitive Examinations - Some examinations are "open competitive" which means that any person meeting all the minimum requirements may apply to take the examination.

Promotion Examinations - Other examinations are "promotional" which means that only those employees already in permanent competitive positions in civil service in certain agencies, who meet the minimum requirements, may apply to take the examination. Promotion Examinations may be countywide, or they may be limited to certain department, divisions or offices. On Promotion Examinations, seniority credits are added to candidate's passing test scores according to the employee's years of permanent competitive service status . Promotion by non-competitive examination is possible whenever there are no more than three persons eligible to compete in a promotion examination for a vacant competitive class position. The appointing authority may nominate one of these eligible persons to take the Promotion Examination without competition, subject to the approval of the Personnel Department.

Continuous Recruitment Examinations - We continuously accept applications for many clerical, custodial, telephone operator and water/wastewater positions. Examinations are generally held twice a year. Names of eligibles are interfiled according to grade and remain on eligible lists for up to two years. Additionally applications for certain health care, mental health, and attorney positions are received continuously. Rather than a written examination we rank applicants on the basis of their training and experience. Successful applicants are placed on an eligible list for up to four years.

Residence Preference
Preference in appointment from open-competitive lists may be given to candidates who have been residents of the locality in which appointmet is to be made for at least 30 days prior to certification of the eligible list. For appointment in some jurisdictions you may be required to become a resident thereof in accordance with law or resolution. 

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