The PRC has a charter responsibility to ensure a county employment system based on merit and fitness. To that end, we give civil service tests to determine if an applicant has the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform a job. This allows candidates to demonstrate their relevant competencies that may not be apparent in a job application. It also allows us to determine the most qualified individuals for the job.

The PRC’s Employment Testing team develops the tests. Each member of the team has advanced academic coursework in industrial-organizational psychology. They also have extensive training and experience in developing employment tests. The team of highly trained professionals takes the necessary steps to ensure the tests are job-related and measure the competencies needed to perform the job.

To apply for a civil service test, you must first apply to a classified job posting. External candidates should visit the county’s Department of Human Resources website. Follow the Job Board Instructions to apply. Cuyahoga County employees should apply on the internal job board. From the Infor landing page, open the Infor HR Talent app. On the Employee landing page, click the “Job Opportunities” link to find the internal job board.

Before applying, make sure you complete your application profile with all the details about your education, experience, licensures, certifications, and other qualifications. If you have a résumé, make sure you attach it to your profile before applying for a position. However, it’s still important that you also complete your application profile.

Minimum requirements are the minimum amounts of education, experience, licensures, certifications, and other job-related requirements for a classification. Your qualifications must meet or exceed the minimum requirements for you to be eligible to take the test or be considered for the job. If the application reviewer can’t determine that your qualifications meet the minimum requirements, they will reject your application, so it’s important that you include all the relevant details. If we reject your application, then we will notify you via email.

If you believe your application should not have been rejected, you may request reconsideration. Please visit the PRC’s Requests for Reconsideration page for complete information on how to make a request, including important deadlines.

Each test is specific to the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform that job. Tests can be written, oral, computer-based, or performance-based. They may also include structured interviews. If you are invited to a test, then the exam notification email you received has details about the test content and format.

You can take most civil service tests on demand during a specific testing window (typically about one week). You can take a test either online from home or in person at the PRC’s computer lab. Your exam notification email has the details on how and when you can take your test.

In certain circumstances, the PRC may allow for test rescheduling. If you can’t take your test during the testing window, or if your test is scheduled on a specific day and time that you’re unavailable, please visit the PRC’s Requests for Test Rescheduling page. You will find complete information on acceptable reasons to request rescheduling and the process to make your request.

Yes. The PRC will provide reasonable accommodations in testing for persons with verifiable ADA-related disabilities. If you want to request an accommodation, please visit the PRC’s Requests for ADA Accommodation in Testing page. You will find complete information on how to make your request.

Whether you test online or in person, you must provide a valid photo ID. If you want to request military service credit (see below), you will need to provide the PRC with proof of your military service by the end of the testing window.

If you take the test online, please review the instructions at the beginning to see if you can use any extra items (pencil, scratch paper, handheld calculator, etc.). You can collect those before the test starts, but you must put away all other items. If you take the test at the PRC, we will provide everything for you, and you will need to put personal items away during the test.

Once the PRC scores the test, we will post the eligibility list to our website. We will also notify all candidates who took the test.

If your name doesn’t appear on the eligibility list, you may contact the PRC to request your score. If the test had multiple sections, you may also contact the PRC if you want to know your score on each section. However, the PRC WILL NOT release specific content or answers, only the final scores.

In some cases, the PRC may suspend testing for a classified position. These are considered noncompetitive classifications. The PRC determines these according to PRC Administrative Rule 6.02. If the position is part of a noncompetitive classification, the PRC will review your application to ensure you meet the minimum requirements. If you do, you will appear on the eligibility list in alphabetical order.

An eligibility list is a rank-ordered list of all candidates who passed the test, including their final scores. Scores reflect each candidate’s test score, plus any points added for military service credit. In the case of tied scores, those receiving military service credit receive the higher ranking. In the case of further ties, candidates who applied earlier for the position receive the higher ranking. Candidates who do not pass the test do not appear on the eligibility list.

In the case of noncompetitive classifications, the eligibility list is an alphabetical list of all applicants who met the minimum requirements. It is not rank ordered.

The eligibility list determines the pool of candidates eligible for hire into the classification. As long as the eligibility list is in effect, the county must make appointments from the names on the list.

The PRC determines the duration of an eligibility list on a case-by-case basis. We consider factors such as the needs of the appointing authority, the size of the applicant pool, the nature of the test, etc. Each eligibility list includes its expiration date at the top. However, when they are established, eligibility lists remain in effect not longer than one (1) calendar year from the establishment date. An eligibility list will also no longer remain in effect if there are no remaining names. At its discretion, the PRC may extend the duration of an eligibility list.

Yes. Eligibility lists are public records that contain the eligible candidates’ names and test scores. They are posted on the PRC’s website on our Civil Service Eligibility Lists page.

When an appointing authority needs to fill a vacancy in a classification, it makes a request to the PRC to certify names from the classification’s eligibility list. The PRC certifies the top 10 or the top 25% of remaining names, whichever is greater. The county may only consider candidates certified from the eligibility list to fill that vacancy.

If your name is certified, Human Resources may contact you about your availability for any further steps in the hiring process. However, being certified from the list doesn’t guarantee you an interview or an invitation to any further steps. HR and the appointing authority have discretion over whom they include and what additional steps they take. They are only required to limit their consideration to names certified from the list.

For noncompetitive classifications, the PRC immediately certifies everyone from the eligibility list. The appointing authority may consider everyone to fill that vacancy.

Once we certify names to an appointing authority, the PRC is NOT involved in any further decisions made regarding appointments to classified positions. If you want to know your status in the hiring process, you should contact Human Resources.

Yes. Per PRC Administrative Rule 9.05, the PRC may remove candidates from an eligibility list for a variety of reasons. If we remove you from the list, then we will notify you via email. If you feel you were removed in error and want to be restored to the list, please visit the PRC’s Requests for Eligibility List Restoration page. You will find complete information on how to request restoration, including important deadlines.

Yes. Candidates who pass civil service tests and provide proof of their military service receive an additional credit of 5% of the test’s maximum score added to their score. They will also receive priority in the case of tied scores. However, military service credit CANNOT turn a non-passing score into a passing score.

To receive military service credit, you must provide proof of your military service to the PRC by the last day of the testing window. You may provide this via email (preferred), fax, standard mail, or in person. Administrative Rule 8.07 lists the acceptable proof of military service. If you plan to provide us with a hard copy, it is very important that you provide us with a PHOTOCOPY and not the original. Proof of service won’t be returned.

Once we establish an eligibility list, we do not allow retesting for that list. If the list expires or all of the names are removed, then you may retest ONLY if a new test is scheduled to establish a new eligibility list, and then only if you reapply when the job posting appears again. Additionally, you may not retest until at least four (4) months have passed since you last took the test, regardless of the status of the previous eligibility list.