City of Corning
Civil Service Commission

Do I have to be a City of Corning resident to take a Civil Service Examination?

For most positions, there are no residency requirements to participate in the examination, but preference in appointment may be given to eligible candidates who have been residents of the appointing jurisdiction for at least one month prior to the examination date. There are some positions that do require residency. The examination announcement will indicate such a requirement under the “Residence Requirements” section.

Who uses City of Corning Civil Service Commission Eligible Lists?

Lists of eligible job candidates established by the City of Corning Civil Service Commission are used to fill vacancies in competitive class titles in the City of Corning and Corning-Painted Post Area School District.

How can I tell when a particular test will be given by the City of Corning Civil Service Commission?

Not all examinations are held on an annual basis. Examinations are prepared and scheduled by the New York State Civil Service Commission. The City of Corning Civil Service Commission requests examinations to be scheduled based on the number of positions, the length of the current eligible list, the age of the eligible list, and the turnover of employees within the title. Eligible lists are valid for a minimum period of one year from the date of establishment and up to four years, at the discretion of the City of Corning Civil Service Commission.

In order to find out if a specific examination is being offered, you may check on the current schedule of announced examinations by clicking on the button below (or stop by the office on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or by appointment by calling 962-0340, ext. 156 and leaving a message that will be returned ).

How can I obtain information on particular Civil Service examinations?

Announcements for Civil Service examinations are publicized on the City of Corning Civil Service Commission web site and in “The Leader” newspaper and “Watkins Review” newspaper. Printed copies are also available at the City of Corning Civil Service Commission office and at Corning City Hall.

The City of Corning Civil Service Commission Application for Examination or Employment is available at the City of Corning Civil Service Commission office located at 1 Civic Center Plaza, Corning, New York 14830 (office is open on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m), or said Application form may be downloaded from the City of Corning Civil Service Commission web site. Click below to download a blank Application form.

Is there an application fee?

There is a $15.00 examination fee for each separately numbered examination. This fee is non-refundable. Send check (either personal or certified) or money order (payable to “City of Corning”) to the City of Corning Civil Service Commission, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Corning, New York 14830. Cash is not accepted.

Can I take more than one examination on a test date?

The New York State Civil Service Commission prepares the examinations in such a manner that you can participate in more than one examination on the same day. All examinations for which you have been approved must be taken on the same day in the same testing center. Be sure to indicate on your application that you are filing for more than one examination. If you have applied to take any other Civil Service examination for employment with New York State or any other local Civil Service agency’s examination, you must notify each Civil Service agency of same, and make arrangements to take all of the examinations at only one test site.

Is the experience required in the Minimum Qualifications always full-time?

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the number of years of experience in the Minimum Qualifications is based upon the presumption of full-time employment.

Where are the tests held?

Your Admission Notice will be mailed to you approximately 7-10 days prior to the scheduled examination date and will contain the location of the test. Many (but not all) City of Corning Civil Service examinations are held at Corning-Painted Post East High School located at 201 Cantigny Street, Corning, New York.

Are study materials available?

Some materials may be available through public libraries, public employee unions and private publishers. The City of Corning Civil Service Commission makes no comment on the quali fy or usefulness of such materials.

The following New York State Department of Civil Service Publications are available for downloading at the New York State Department of Civil Service web site: “How to Take a Written Test” and “Questions and Answers About Municipal Civil Service Examinations”. Click the button below to go to the New York State Department of Civil Service web site. Once there, scroll down below the New York State map and the first body of text. You will see the clickable links for the publications referred to above.

Some examinations have a study guide available from the New York State Department of Civil Service. Click the button below to see what study guides are available. Once there, scroll down below the New York State map until you reach the section entitled “Test Guides”.

When do I get my Admission Notice?

Admission Notices are mailed to candidates approximately 7-10 days prior to the examination date. If you do not receive an Admission Notice by three (3) days prior to the examination date, you must call the City of Corning Civil Service Commission office at (607) 962-0340 ext. 156 for instructions. It is the candidate’s responsibility to call prior to the examination date if the candidate has not received an Admission Notice.

Are examinations ever canceled?

As the New York State Civil Service Commission schedules examinations on a statewide basis, it is very rare for one to be canceled for any reason. However, if you are scheduled to take a Civil Service examination and there may be inclement weather forecasted, you may check with the City of Corning Civil Service office at (607) 962-0340 ext. 156 on the day prior to the test administration.

How can I review my test?

Some exam questions are open to review on the Saturday after the test is held. This is called “pre-rating review” and you must request this review at the test site when you finish your examination. At the pre-rating review you will be able to see the questions and the tentative answers, but not your answer sheet. The pre-rating review is the forum in which to challenge what you may consider to be an inappropriate question and/or answer.

Once the eligible list has been established and you receive your score on the exam, you may request a computational review, in which you will be able to review a copy of your answer sheet and the final answer key, but not the test questions. The request for a computational review must be submitted within ten (10) days of the date of the written notice to the candidate reporting the candidate’s score.

How long does it take to establish an eligible list after I take a Civil Service examination?

The New York State Civil Service Commission scores most examinations. Eligible lists are established, on average, three to four months after the examination date.

What is the difference between an open-competitive and promotion examination?

Open-competitive examinations can be taken by any individual who meets the minimum educational and experience qualifications cited on the examination announcement. Promotion examinations are restricted to current employees of the participating appointing authority who meet the service requirement and minimum qualifications as cited on the examination announcement. It is possible for current employees to take both open-competitive and promotion examinations and appear on both eligible lists if they pass the examination.

What is a Training and Experience examination?

A Training and Experience examination is a method of testing whereby a candidate receives a test score based on the information contained in the submitted application. The score is weighted between education (training) and experience.

What are seniority points?

Civil Service Law requires that due consideration be given to seniority for candidates who are permanent employees of the participating appointing authority. Seniority points are added to passing scores only. The formula for awarding seniority points is listed on the examination announcement for the particular examination.

What are Veteran’s Credits?

In accordance with New York State Law, veterans of the armed forces, as defined by New York State, are entitled to additional points to be added to a passing score. Definitions of who is recognized as a veteran may be found in the “Veteran’s Credit” section of each examination announcement.

How is my examination scored?

The New York State Civil Service Commission designs, prepares and scores most Civil Service examinations.

Effective June, 1996, the New York State Civil Service Commission expanded the use of a scoring methodology called band scoring. Band scoring facilitates the assessment of candidate performance on written tests in a more realistic manner than the traditional individualized scoring formulas and is used for both open competitive and promotion examinations.

In band scoring methodology for open-competitive examinations, the number of correct answers (the raw score) determines which band is applied for a final score. An individual band scoring table is prepared for each examination. Veteran’s credits are added after the band has been applied. A candidate does not move from pass to fail or from fail to pass as a result of band scoring.

The following chart represents the typical scoring formula used in promotion examinations :

Passed Candidates:

• Number of questions you answered correctly. This is your Raw Score.
• Seniority Credits to which you are entitled.
• Seniority Credits + Raw Score = Final Score
• Veteran’s Credits to which you are entitled.

Failed Candidates:

• Number of questions you answered correctly. This is your Raw Score.
• Raw Score and Below Final Score is FAILED.

As always, neither the seniority nor veteran’s credits can be used to enhance a failing score.

Do I have to be a United States citizen in order to be employed in a Civil Service position?

Unless otherwise stated on the examination announcement or job application, you do not have to be a citizen. You must be legally able to work in the United States.

What is the “Rule of Three”?

If there are fewer than three (3) candidates willing to accept the current appointment offer, the appointing authority does not have to use the eligible list and can make a provisional appointment, which will result in the scheduling of a new examination.

How long does an eligible list stay in existence?

In accordance with New York State Civil Service Law, an eligible list must remain in existence for one year from the date of its establishment or until there are no candidates left who are willing to accept appointment, whichever occurs first. The City of Corning Civil Service Commission may extend “the life” of the eligible list beyond one year up to a maximum of four years.

A new examination in the title may be requested and held at any time during the life of an existing eligible list. It is the responsibility of the candidate on the existing eligible list to keep abreast of the examination schedule and to submit a new exam application form and filing fee to participate in any examination that may be scheduled, if the candidate wishes to remain eligible for appointment to future vacancies which occur after the expiration of the current eligible list.

At the time of establishment of the new eligible list, a decision is made on whether or not to allow the existing eligible list (assuming same has been in existence at least one year) to continue or to replace it with the new eligible list. When the “old” eligible list is continued, the new eligible list “supplements” the old eligible list until a predetermined date. The old eligible list is used first.

What is a probationary term?

The probationary term is a period of time of varying length when new employees must prove themselves capable of doing the job for which they were hired. The probationary term is generally for a period of not less than eight (8) weeks, nor more than twenty-six (26) weeks. There are some positions, such as trainees, Police Officers, etc., for which the probationary period is extended beyond twenty-six (26) weeks.

What is a provisional appointment?

A provisional appointment is a temporary appointment to a competitive class position for which no eligible list currently exists, or for which an eligible list exists with fewer than three (3) candidates who are willing to accept appointment to the position being offered. In order to become permanent, the employee who receives a provisional appointment must take the next examination for the position in question. The appointment to the position is then made from among the three highest scoring candidates who indicate their willingness to accept appointment to the position. Civil Service Law does not compel the appointing authority to choose the provisional employee should he or she be one of the top three candidates who indicates willingness to accept the appointment to the position. Once appointed, the candidate must successfully complete the probationary term in order to achieve permanent competitive class status.

What happens if I change my address ?

Candidates are responsible for notifying the City of Corning Civil Service Commission, in writing, of any change of address. Do not depend on the United States Postal Service to forward your mail in sufficient time to respond to a canvass letter for a position.