Career Opportunities in NY State Government

The upcoming Professional Career Opportunities (PCO) exam, which provides individuals with access to a wide array of job opportunities in New York government, is scheduled to be held this year on April 8, 9, and 15 ­— and several of the possible testing centers are in the Hudson Valley.

The deadline to sign up for the test is Feb. 22.

It is one exam that is used by State agencies to fill more than 100 entry-level professional jobs across a range of disciplines, including health and human services, environmental conservation, human resources, administrative analysis, and transportation.

This year, the PCO exam will be expanded to college juniors for the first time, including about 80,000 SUNY and CUNY juniors pursuing bachelor’s degrees.

In addition, this will be the first year that the PCO exam will be held at SUNY Albany, SUNY Old Westbury and Bronx Community College, among other locations throughout the State, to complement the Department’s larger strategic recruitment efforts to expand testing venues and reach a diverse pool of candidates.

“The PCO exam is an exciting initiative by the Department of Civil Service that provides college graduates with opportunities for employment in State government,” said Acting Civil Service Commissioner Lola W. Brabham. “This year, we are pleased to offer the exam to college juniors and seniors who are interested in pursuing meaningful careers in public service.”

Anyone with a bachelor’s degree and college juniors and seniors expecting to earn a bachelor’s degree by Sept. 1, 2018, are eligible to apply for the PCO exam.

Qualified candidates must complete and submit an exam application by Feb. 22. To apply online, visit: www.cs.ny.gov/pco.

“SUNY is pleased to partner with the Department of Civil Service to bring this exam to students and alumni on our SUNY campuses,” said Carlos Medina, Vice Chancellor and the Chief Diversity Officer at The State University of New York. “The exam opens doors to many jobs in New York State, and we encourage college juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career in public service to apply for this exam and learn more about available job opportunities.”

Most positions filled through this exam require two-year traineeships during which trainees gain the necessary knowledge and experience to perform the full responsibilities of the position.

An introductory video, questionnaire, and more details regarding exam eligibility can also be found here.

Since the launch of the PCO exam in 2014, more than 1,100 job seekers have been hired to positions in various State agencies across New York.

The New York State Department of Civil Service is the principal human resources provider for the Executive Branch of State Government, serving approximately 150,000 employees. The Department provides examination services and supports civil service administration to 70 State and 95 municipal agencies.

To receive notifications for announcements of upcoming State exams, sign up for email notifications.

Due to the size of the candidate population for this examination, a testee may be assigned to either a morning or afternoon session on April 8, 9 or 15 to take the test. Written tests are held in the following locations, although some may not be open for this test:

• Albany
• Amsterdam
• Binghamton
• Buffalo
• Fredonia
• Hicksville
• Kingston
• Middletown
• New York City (Manhattan)
• Nyack
• Port Jefferson
• Poughkeepsie
• Rochester
• Saranac Lake
• Syracuse
• Utica
• Watertown

Your admission notice will be sent to your mailing address approximately one week before the date of the written test.

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