Author: Sarah Lauser

Here is a summary of the subjects of examination for the 2020 holding of the ITS exams.  I have compared the latest announcements against 2017’s announcements and the major change is that “Writing Skills for Managers” is now gone and we’re back to “Preparing reports and official documents” instead.  Guess they didn’t like that one. 

THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM CIVIL SERVICE.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS AT CS.NY.GOV ARE THE ONLY OFFICIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION.

I just got a notice that the Upper Level ITS skill set questionnaire is open 1/1/2020 through midnight 1/31/2020.  If you are currently on the G23+ lists, please make sure to update your questionnaire and don’t wait until the last minute!  I know that I always run into password issues because I have 4 million ny.gov ids so it takes me a while to get into the site.  If that happens to you at 10:30 PM on the last day, you’ll probably be a sad panda.

You need to make sure your questionnaire is up-to-date in order to maximize your opportunities for promotion with the selective certification process.

The questionnaire can be found at https://www.cs.ny.gov/instrument/it_upperlevel/

IT exams have been added to the Civil Service Tentative Examination Schedule. According to the tentative schedule, announcement issue date will be February 7, 2020. Application deadline will be March 11, 2020. The scheduled exam date is April 25, 2020.

Information Technology Specialist 3
Information Technology Specialist 3 (Data Communications)
Information Technology Specialist 3 (Database)
Information Technology Specialist 3 (Programming)
Information Technology Specialist 3 (Systems Programming)
Information Technology Specialist 4
Information Technology Specialist 4 (Data Communications)
Information Technology Specialist 4 (Database)
Information Technology Specialist 4 (Operations)
Information Technology Specialist 4 (Systems Programming)
Manager Information Technology Services 1
Manager Information Technology Services 1 (Data Communications)
Manager Information Technology Services 1 (Database)
Manager Information Technology Services 1 (Operations)
Manager Information Technology Services 1 (System Programming)
Manager Information Technology Services 1 (Technical)
Manager Information Technology Services 2
Manager Information Technology Services 2 (Technical)
Assistant Director Information Technology Services 1
Assistant Director Information Technology Services 2
Assistant Director Information Technology Technical Services 1
Director Information Technology Services 1
Director Information Technology Services 2
Director Information Technology Services 3

For more information, see:
https://www.cs.ny.gov/announ/tentative_schedule_prom.cfm

The current exam lists say the end date is 03/07/2022.  Do I have to take the tests in 2020 to stay active on the lists?  

YES!  Once the new list is established, the old list will expire even if the end date has not yet been reached.  The new lists will probably be established a few months after the test date.

For people who do not know, here is what happens for the review process:

• On test day, at the test site, your room monitor reads a statement before the test. The information provided includes directions regarding Civil Service review.
• For certain tests, you are able to attend a review session where specific questions are available to review.
• The front of your test booklet describes which questions, if any, are available for review.
• When you are done with your test, you need to ask the room monitor for a sheet to sign up for review. You will fill out the bottom part of the sheet and return that to the room monitor. The top part of the sheet contains information about the review.
• If you already took your test, but didn’t remember to ask the monitor for a sheet to sign up for review, you can’t attend the review.

On review day (I guess it’s usually the week after the exam?), you will get a copy of the reviewable questions and the answers that Civil Service believes to be correct.
You can bring reference materials (but not cell phones/pagers/computers/etc).
You can write appeals regarding questions but have to cite reference for why you believe the question or answer is not good.

— Sarah

Exam admission notices are out!
Exam admission notices were mailed at the end of last week.
If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627.
Remember to bring your admission notice and ID with you to the exam.

Note for those taking the exam at Albany High:
I have received a reminder that parking is expected to be tight at Albany High, so if you are assigned to that location make sure to get there early or park somewhere else and ride the bus in.