Department of Civil Service Announces Opening of New Computer-Based Testing Center in Rochester
CBT Center Bolsters Access, Convenience to Current State Employees Seeking to Advance in Their Careers
One of 12 New Testing Centers to Open Across New York State
Highlights Governor Hochul’s Commitment to Supporting Public Workforce
The New York State Department of Civil Service announced the opening of a new Computer-Based Testing Center in Rochester, one of 12 centers opening by the end of 2027. The Centers, which will be located in each region of the Empire State, will provide modern and convenient access to existing state employees seeking to further their careers by taking promotion exams. The center’s opening highlights Governor Kathy Hochul’s commitment to supporting New York’s public workforce.
Department of Civil Service Commissioner and Civil Service Commission President Timothy R. Hogues said, “Rochester’s new Computer-Based Testing Center is a great new resource for the dedicated state employees that serve the Finger Lakes region, widening the path for career advancement for New York State’s servant-leaders. Through this new center and others opening across the Empire State, the Department of Civil Service is delivering on Governor Hochul’s commitment to our hard-working state employees. Public servants daily serve New Yorkers in so many ways — helping those in need, protecting residents and resources, building and maintaining our infrastructure, and ensuring that the Greater Rochester region remain great places to live, work and play.”
The Rochester CBT Center, which has already offered promotion exams for state employees, provides testing space for nearly 90 candidates to be tested at once. The space also includes multiple, smaller testing rooms for candidates who may require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the civil service exam process. As CBT Centers open across the state, civil service promotion exams will be offered on a more frequent basis to provide candidates with more career advancement opportunities, while also providing capabilities to self-schedule tests during available windows. Additionally, test scores will be released more expeditiously — changes that will also benefit state agencies.
Nearly 8,800 state employees work in the Rochester/Corning region, representing 6.0% of the state’s workforce, according to 2025 data.
Currently, promotion exams are typically held on an irregular basis, and if a candidate misses the exam on a given date, they cannot take the exam until it is offered again. By offering promotion exams more frequently under a modern and efficient test administration and scoring process, state agencies will have a more sizable and updated pool of qualified candidates to fill crucial public-sector roles. A short video
highlights what candidates should expect at a CBT Center.
The new CBT Centers are part of a comprehensive strategic planning effort the Department of Civil Service is undertaking to modernize the civil service merit system in New York State to better meet jobseekers where they are. The Department’s transformation includes developing a customer-friendly, fully accessible, innovative method to examine candidates interested in jobs open to the public for merit and fitness, while building a workforce that mirrors the diversity and ability of all New York State residents.
More than 60,000 appointments have been made to state and local government as part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) program, with more than 42,000 appointments at the state level; of those appointments, nearly 27,000 are new to state service. These appointments are allowing state and local governments to more effectively provide services and respond to the needs of New Yorkers all across the Empire State.
State Senator Robert Jackson said, “Public service should never be limited by geography, outdated systems, or barriers that keep talent from rising. These new Computer-Based Testing Centers represent more than modernization; they represent access, dignity, and opportunity. As Chair of the Civil Service and Pensions Committee, I believe the strength of our government begins with the people who serve it. By making it easier for New Yorkers to compete for public service careers, we are not simply expanding opportunity—we are strengthening a government that is more responsive, more representative, and better prepared to serve every community across our state.”
Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “The Greater Rochester region is home to thousands of New York State employees — a number to be proud of and a reminder of our responsibility to invest in our public workforce. These new Computer-Based Testing Centers improve accessibility, create a more efficient testing process, and expand opportunities for employees to advance their careers. An investment in this technology is an investment in our workforce. I’m grateful for Governor Hochul's continued support of our workforce and her commitment to keeping New York a leader in innovation and public service.”
Assemblymember Harry Bronson said, “It is vital that New York continue to retain our workforce and expand opportunities for New Yorkers. The new Civil Service Computer-Based Testing Center in Rochester is an investment towards a more affordable, equitable New York and demonstrates New York’s commitment to uplifting every corner of the state by increasing opportunities for our families and communities. By enhancing the promotional pathway with this testing center, our dedicated state workers can grow in their careers, providing the support and assistance that public service is designed to do.”
Assemblywoman Sarah Clark said, “The opening of this new Computer-Based Testing Center in Brighton is a crucial step toward making careers in state employment more accessible for people in Rochester and across Western New York. A well trained workforce is necessary to an efficient and effective state government and I am grateful to Governor Hochul for recognizing this and investing in our current and future workforce here in the greater Rochester region.”
PEF President Wayne Spence said, “Competitive examination is the bedrock of any civil service system that seeks to protect, promote and preserve government so that it serves the people, not political interests. Opening computer-based testing centers is a necessary step towards modernization that will allow New York State to promote state employees more quickly in a manner that aligns with the State Constitution.”
CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan said, “CSEA applauds the state’s continued efforts to address retention and improve the outcome by opening modern, computerized testing facilities. This is a much needed positive step forward to keeping state employees and making it easier for them to advance their employment through Civil Service.”
Since taking office, Governor Hochul has implemented several initiatives to strengthen New York's public workforce. In February 2025, Governor Hochul launched the “You’re Hired” initiative to recruit talented displaced federal public sector workers into State service. In 2024, the state launched the NY HELPS program and temporarily waived state civil service exam requirements for many job vacancies. In 2023, Governor Hochul extended 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave to the entire state workforce for the first time in state history.
Governor Hochul also announced in October 2025 that the Department of Civil Service updated qualifications for approximately 800 entry- and promotion-level civil service titles to allow for consideration of equivalent experience as an alternative to college degrees when evaluating jobseekers.
Additionally, the state created 10 Centers for Careers in Government, offering job seekers guidance on civil service systems and career opportunities. The Governor has also lifted the state employment hiring freeze and expanded opportunities for individuals and veterans with disabilities to further support the public workforce.
The Department of Civil Service also ran successful multi-media campaigns over the past two years promoting the wide-ranging career opportunities available in New York State public service; the campaign was estimated to have reached 93 percent of New Yorkers aged 18 and older. The Department also partnered with New York’s first Chief Disability Officer to deliver a campaign that highlighted opportunities for New Yorkers with disabilities.
To learn more about working for the State of New York and how to take the next step in pursuing a rewarding career in public service, please visit the Department of Civil Service website and follow the Department on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.