Acknowledging that Civil Service exam fees can be "a substantial barrier to entering public service, particularly for candidates from traditionally marginalized communities," New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last week the state will waive these fees through 2025.
Exemptions from the fees previously existed for veterans and unemployed people, but in the new state budget, Governor Hochul and the State Legislature nixed the fees for all job-seekers. The exam fees ranged from $20 to $30.
"As our state continues to grapple with an affordability crisis, civil service exam fees place yet another burden on New Yorkers, particularly the passionate New Yorkers seeking meaningful careers in state service," she said in a statement on Friday. "By waiving these fees, my administration is standing by its commitment to modernizing New York's workforce and lowering barriers to ensure that our civil servants reflect the rich diversity of our state."
The waiving of the fees follows the announcement, in May, that "thousands of state jobs" are available in "critical" areas like health and human services. A database of job listings can be found online at this link.
