Correction Officer Examination Requirements Policy

Updated April 21, 2022

Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and Niagara County Civil Service require all Correction Officer candidates to pass three (3) examination components to be eligible for appointment.  The three (3) components are Written Civil Service Examination, Physical Fitness Screening Test (Agility Test), and Medical Screening.

Written Examination: 

  • Successfully complete the written examination with a score of seventy (70) or better.

Physical Fitness Screening Test:

  • Candidates must pass the written examination in order to be scheduled for the qualifying Physical Fitness Screening Test.

  • A candidate’s physical and medical condition will be evaluated prior to appointment to ensure that s/he is able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. 

  • Candidates will have one (1) opportunity to complete the Physical Fitness Screening Test (Agility) portion of their Civil Service examination.  All elements of the agility test are scored on a pass/fail basis and candidates must satisfactorily complete each element of the test.  Candidates who fail the agility test will be restricted from certification on the certified eligible list.

  • Prior to the candidate’s scheduled Physical Fitness Screening Test (Agility), s/he must provide a statement from her/his physician on forms provided by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, stating that the candidate is physically capable of participating in the agility test.  Physician certification will be good for six (6) months.

  • Candidates who fail to appear for the scheduled Physical Fitness Screening Test (Agility) will have failed the agility test and will be restricted from certification on the Certified Eligible List.  Allowance may be made for military service (copy of military orders) or for a medical procedure/reason documented by a physician.  Documentation must be submitted prior to the scheduled agility test date.

  • Candidates who have successfully completed the agility test within one (1) year of the date of certification of the eligible list will not be required to undergo another agility test and will be eligible for a conditional offer of employment.

Medical Screening:

  • If the candidate passes both the written and Physical Fitness Screening Test (Agility) and is selected by the appointing agency, s/he will then be scheduled for a medical screening by a physician designated by Niagara County.  Only medical screenings performed by the Niagara County designated physician will be accepted.  The appointing authority will pay the cost of the medical screening. Correction Officer candidates will not be given a color perception test.  The results are pass or fail.  Medical examinations will be valid for twelve (12) months, excluding drug screening.

  • Medical examinations and Physical Fitness Screening Test results are not accepted from any other source.

QUALIFYING PHYSICAL FITNESS SCREENING TEST (AGILITY)

Sit-up:  Muscular endurance (core body) – the score indicated below is the number of bent-leg sit-ups performed in one minute.

Push-up:  Muscular endurance (upper body) – the score below is the number of full-body repetitions that a candidate must complete without breaks.

1.5-Mile Run:  Cardiovascular capacity – the (time) score indicated below is calculated in minutes and seconds.  The 1.5-mile run will only be administered to such individuals who have successfully completed each of the other two (2) elements of the test battery (sit-up and push-up).

Gender/Age Sit-Up Push-Up 1.5 Mile Run
       
MALE      
20-29 35 26 13:08
30-39 32 20 13:48
40-49 27 15 14:33
50-59 21 10 16:16
60+ 17 8 18:39
       
FEMALE      
20-29 30 13 15:56
30-39 22 9 16:46
40-49 17 7 18:26
50-59 12 - 20:17
60+ 4 - 22:34