Applying for the Civil Service Exam

Exam Procedures
Candidates who wish to participate in a Civil Service Examination must meet minimum qualifications as stated in the exam notice, complete a Civil Service Examination Application and submit a non-refundable application fee or fee waiver form statement. The exam application may be downloaded from this website by clicking here or picked up at the Office of the Chemung County/City of Elmira Regional Civil Service Commission located at 203 Lake Street, Elmira, New York.

The completed application and fee must be submitted to the office or postmarked by the last filing date on the exam notice to:
The Chemung County/City of Elmira Regional Civil Service Commission
PO Box 588
203 Lake Street
Elmira, New York 14902.

The fee is $15.00 ($20.00 for uniformed service) and can be paid by check or money order made payable to Regional Civil Service Commission. It is a good idea to keep a photocopy of the application submitted for your own future reference.

After the deadline date for applications, the applications of individuals who have submitted an examination fee will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. Candidates who don't qualify for the examination or whose application does not contain enough information to determine that they are qualified will be notified, in writing, of the training, experience, and/or special requirements that seem to be lacking. They will be informed of an opportunity to submit additional information for consideration. If the additional information is not determined to be qualifying, then candidates will be notified of their disqualification.

Candidates who qualify to take the examination will be mailed an Admission Notice for the examination. The notice will inform them of the time and location of the test and provide other general test information they may need to know. If a candidate has not received an Admission Notice by the Wednesday before the examination date, they may call (607) 737-2915 for information.

If the examination announcement states that the examination is an "Evaluation of Training and Experience", then a supplemental questionnaire will be mailed to approved candidates on or around the examination date.

After the examination, test papers are scored. The amount of time required for scoring varies with the number of participants, the complexity of the examination process, and the number of other examinations which are processed at the same time. It can vary from eight to twelve weeks. When the scoring is completed, individual names of passing candidates will be placed on Civil Service Eligible List in the rank order of their final scores, highest scores first. Each individual will be notified, in writing, of the score they obtained on the test and their rank order on the Civil Service Eligible List.

As positions become available, "Canvass" letters are sent out to individuals on the list to determine their interest in employment. FAILURE TO RESPOND TO ONE OF THESE LETTERS WILL RESULT IN A CANDIDATE'S REMOVAL FROM THE LIST. Individuals will be hired on the basis of a "Rule of Three", as required by New York State Civil Service Law. This means that the three highest scores, and any others who are tied with the third score, may be considered to fill a vacant position. Any changes of address for candidates on a Civil Service Eligible List must be sent, in writing, to:

The Chemung County/City of Elmira Regional Civil Service Commission
PO Box 588
203 Lake Street
Elmira, New York 14902.

Each new Civil Service Eligible List is valid for 1 (one) year from the date it is established. It may be extended up to a maximum of 4 (four) years. Extensions are considered on a yearly basis, and candidates will be notified, by mail, of each extension.

Candidates may examine a written copy of any Civil Service Eligible List at 203 Lake Street, 2nd floor between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. This public record contains information regarding individuals hired and/or removed from the list along with records of canvass letter responses. Information regarding an individual's eligibility for hire cannot be provided over the telephone.

Cross-File Notification
The Cross-File Form is used to notify the Chemung County/City of Elmira Regional Civil Service Commission that you made application with one or more additional Municipal Commissions for the same title and to notify the Commission of the location in which you will test.


The City of Elmira does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital status.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
The City of Elmira is an Equal Opportunity Employer