Correction Officer

The work involves responsibility on an assigned shift for the enforcement of rules and regulations governing the custody, security, conduct, discipline, safety and general well being of inmates in a County Correctional Facility. The duties involve considerable inmate contact and supervision in a work, recreation or learning environment. Work procedures are well defined but incumbents must be alert to possibilities of emergency situations arising and exercise sound judgment when problems occur. The work is performed under general supervision of a higher level correctional supervisor with leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment in dealing with day-to-day situations in the facility. Does related work as required.

Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma.

There is no written multiple-choice test. This is an online examination questionnaire that asks questions about your education, training, and work experience. This online questionnaire IS YOUR EXAMINATION. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will receive a rating based upon an evaluation of your training and experience against the duties of the position being tested.
- Candidates must complete an examination application and return it to the Otsego County Personnel/Civil Service Department by either submitting it online or mailing it to 197 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326 on or before the last filing date of November 25, 2025.
- Approved Candidates will be sent a notice containing directions to a website address needed to complete a Training and Experience Questionnaire.
- The Training and Experience (T&E) Questionnaire will be available on November 1, 2026 and approved candidates will be required to complete and submit this questionnaire between November 1, 2026 and midnight November 30, 2026. Candidates will not be able to claim any credit for training or experience to be gained after the application filing deadline of November 30, 2026.
- Candidates who fail to submit their questionnaire by November 30, 2026 will not receive a score and not added to the eligible list. NOTE: Individuals can participate in Correction Officer examinations for other municipal civil service agencies to maximize their opportunity for appointment. Interested candidates will need to separately apply, be registered, and complete the T&E questionnaire for each municipal civil service agency according to each agency’s guidelines. In addition, the application and T&E questionnaire process for the NYS Correction Officer Trainee exam program is separate from the Correction Officer T&E exam program for municipal civil service agencies. Visit cs.ny.gov for more information on applying to State exams. TAKING THE ONLINE T&E EXAMINATION AND PERSONAL NY.G OV ID ACCOUNTS: Approved applicants will need to access the T&E examination on the Department of Civil Service website. Each applicant will need a personal NY.GOV ID to participate in the examination. Applicants may already have a personal NY.GOV ID account if they have used online services for other agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles. They should use the same personal NY.GOV ID for civil service examination purposes. Applicants should not create a new personal NY.GOV ID. More information about personal NY.GOV ID’s is available at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount/. There is a helpful video for applicants at this link. Applicants that require technical assistance with their personal NY.GOV ID can contact New York State Office of Information Technology (ITS) Service Desk directly at 844-891-1786 or at fixit@its.ny.gov APPLICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS may be obtained by writing or calling the Otsego County Personnel /Civil Service Department, 197 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York 13326. (607) 547-4239 or downloaded from the County’s website at www.otsegocountyny.gov

There are no residency requirements for this examination. However, pursuant to Local Law No 6 of 2018, to be appointed and employed as a Correction Officer, a candidate MUST be an Otsego County resident or a resident of a contiguous county to Otsego County. Therefore, residency is required at time of appointment and must continue throughout employment.

The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies as they occur in the Otsego County Correctional Facility under the jurisdiction of the Otsego County Personnel/Civil Service Department.