Starting July 2026, the Department of Civil Service plans to “modernize” by replacing competitive examinations with Training & Experience (T&E) questionnaires for all applicants.
What are T&Es?
• T&Es are questionnaires about previous education and work experience with no assessment of skills or knowledge.
Why Is This a Concern?
• Discrimination Against Marginalized Groups T&Es favor those with prior experience and education, making it harder for newcomers, students, and marginalized communities without access to higher education or unpaid experience.
• Weakening Merit & Fitness The NYS Constitution calls for skills based exams. T&Es reduce merit to a simple resume review, risking a return to the spoils system.
• Barriers for New Entrants & Career Changers Graduates, returning workers, and career changers will face tougher odds as previous experience is scored higher, which many of these applicants may be lacking.
• Risk of Dishonesty & Inaccuracy Self-reported data can be misrepresented, and candidates may have trouble accurately assessing their skills and history. Without skills testing, employers won’t know if candidates are truly qualified.
Many questions remain about this proposed shift – how will T&Es be scored, potentially challenged, and whether they will replace promotional exams, to name a few. PEF has submitted Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests to see the total compensation study contract and information on titles filled by T&Es since 2020 – they have gone unanswered. We need facts and that’s where you come in.
Help protect our merit-based civil service! Join our digital letter writing campaign to send an email to the Public Information Officer at the New York State Department of Civil Service to express your concerns and demand answers to PEF’s FOIL requests.
