Exam /Credential Assessment
Civil Service Examinations
There are jobs at CSU that require applicants to take exams. We administer and score
exams following guidelines established by: State Universities Civil Service System (SUCSS).
If an in-person exam is required for the position you are applying for, you will need
to schedule it in advance and take it on campus. If the position requires a credentials
assessment, an HR Team Member will examine your application materials.
When
Wednesdays Only
10am to 1pm or 1:15pm to 3:15pm
Where
Human Resources Department
Cook Administration Bldg. Room 203
9501 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60628
(773) 995-2040
Note: Plan, accordingly, as some tests can take between 1 to 3 hours to complete.
LATE ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED. PLAN TO ARRIVE 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE TESTING AND
BE PREPARED TO PRESENT A VALID ID CARD.
Civil Service Credential Assessments
As part of the Civil Service Examination Process, CSU will conduct open and continuous
testing. This allows an applicant to schedule a review of their credentials for any
classification, regardless of whether a vacancy exists. After the request, the review
process should occur within 15 days. For this purpose, we allow qualified applicants
to request and have their credentials reviewed for any civil service classification.
All Civil Service position titles listed at Chicago State University are subject to
State Universities Civil Service Section 70/36d, section 1.3 of the Examination Procedures Manual for Open & Continuous testing procedures.
If you would like to schedule an Examination or Credential Assessment for a Civil Service position, complete the appropriate form below:
State Universities Civil Service System Class Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Exams are administered on Wednesdays. Times may vary depending on space and testing.
A. Most of the exams have a multiple-choice component. Some exams only have an education
and experience component. Many exams are a combination of both multiple-choice and
education and experience. Other exams are characterized as credential assessments.
A credential assessment is a rating by the Office of Human Resources of an applicant’s/employee’s
resume, cover letter, official employment application, college transcript, copies
of license/certification and any other relevant material.
A. You must bring your photo ID. All exam materials including pencils and scratch
paper will be provided.
A. Each examination has a time limit associated with it. The exam are either 1 ½ ,
2, 3 or 4 hours in length.
A. The number of examinations that you can take in the course of one day depends on
the time limits of each exam and you. Everyone works at a different pace, and we do
not want you to rush through the exams. Every effort is made to accommodate multiple
exam requests, but circumstances may prohibit us from accommodating.
A. All paper-based exams are individually scored in the Office of Human Resources.
Computer-based exams are electronically scored via the program used at the State Universities
Civil Service System (SUCSS). A score of 70 or higher is considered passing. Veteran’s
Preference points for those who qualify may be added to your final score.
A. Your test results will be emailed to you. The Notice of Exam Score will indicate how
well you did in each section. Once you have received your exam score, you may contact
the State Universities Civil Service System to request a breakdown of your score.
A. The examinations are specific to each civil service classification/job title. For
test tips, to the State Universities Civil Service System website.
A. No one is allowed to look at their examination once it is turned in after completion.
All applicants are encouraged to answer each question to the best of their ability.
A. Yes, you can retake the exam within 30 days of the initial exam date, and three
times within the course of a year. Your highest score is always kept on the register.
A. Exam scores are valid for up to two (2) years. Your score may be removed for a
variety of reasons in accordance with the civil service statue and rules, such as
upon hire, at the applicant/employee’s request, failure to respond to correspondence
from Human Resources, or under directive from SUCSS.
A. Yes, you may request, in writing, that your exam score be transferred to another
employer within the State Universities Civil Service System.
©
Chicago State University 
All Rights Reserved
(773) 995-2000
