Civil Service Enforcement/Research Department

 

TO:                 Roger E. Benson, President

 

FROM:           Thomas E. Cetrino, Director of Civil Service Enforcement

 

DATE:            January 11, 2006

 

RE:                 Major Changes for the Promotion Test Battery

 

 

The Department of Civil Service (DCS) announced on December 30, 2005, major changes in the administration of the Promotion Test Battery.  Attached is a copy of the Department of Civil Service General Information Bulletin No. 05-04 Promotion Test Batteries-2006 Update.  These changes include:

 

  1. Effective January 1, 2006, Promotion Text Battery (PTB) scores will only be good (can only be banked) for four years rather than ten years.  This means that if a member last took the PTB in 2002 or earlier they will need to take the PTB again this year (these members’ current scores will only be good until December 31, 2006).  DCS has called my attention to the fact that previous PTB announcements specifically stated that PTB scores would be “active (banked) for up to ten years.”   DCS believes the current ten-year period is too long and inconsistent with the four-year limits on eligible lists, preferred lists and reemployment rosters. They also point out that because many eligible lists are now extended to six or eight years some candidates’ PTB scores are good for 16 to 18 years. They point out that even under the new policy some PTB scores will be good for eight years or more depending on when the candidate uses the PTB score in a civil service examination. Candidates will still be able to bank their best PTB scores.  

 

  1. It is important to note that if you are currently on an eligible list that has used a Promotion Test Battery score from 1996 or later, your score on that specific eligible list remains good until the expiration of that list.  During calendar year 2006, examinations with an announced "applications must be postmarked by" date on or before 12/31/06 will draw PTB scores from 1996 and after. Examinations with an announced "applications must be postmarked by" date of 1/1/07 or later will draw PTB scores from 2004 and after.

 

  1. Effective immediately, all State employees will have direct on-line access to their PTB score, the date they last took the PTB, and when their score will expire on the DCS website at http://www.cs.state.ny.us/announ/mainpages/ptb_information.htm. Candidates will be able to log on with a user ID and password, and view their own PTB score(s).

 

  1. In 2006 both levels of PTB will be given; thereafter only one level will be offered every year on an alternating basis (Supervisors/Specialist in 2007, Mid-Level and High-Level Managers and Administrators in 2008 etc.). DCS says very few people take the PTB more than once. Moreover, DCS stated that they do not have the resources to hold both tests every year, and that if some resources are freed up by not administering both PTBs annually, those resources can then be used to more quickly develop promotion examinations.  The DCS has also advised us that they will make every effort to schedule future promotion exams at a time which ensures that most candidates have valid PTB scores. 

 

  1. The PTB Study Guide will be updated by

·        Adding more multiple choice example questions (presumably for the writing and reading comprehension aspects of the PTB),

·        Better explaining the scoring of the PTB

·        Improving the sections explaining the simulation part of the PTB.

 

I have discussed these issues with staff of the Department of Civil Service and they do not appear to be open to any changes in this new policy which they claim is the result of careful consideration and study.  Although PEF Research has received a number of inquiries and complaints about this new policy, DCS has advised me that they have received no complaints from PEF members to date.

 

Please let me know if you need any further assistance or information on this issue.

 

 

 

Attachment:  GIB 05-04