Administering the PCBS?

When to Administer the PCBS

The timing of any tool used in making hiring decisions should be based on considerations of economy, practicality and legality. Issues of economy and practicality support the placement of the PCBS early in the hiring process, but a legal consideration argues for administration later, as discussed below.

With respect to timing, the major legal consideration involves the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) which proscribes pre-employment inquiries about an applicant's disability or its severity. Although the PCBS focuses on abilities necessary to do the job, it touches on areas that may be considered medical in nature. Therefore, a conservative approach would be to administer the PCBS after candidates have been given a conditional offer of employment. Many departments conduct intense screening after making conditional offers of employment, and the PCBS can be a valuable part of that screening.

How to Use the PCBS

The PCBS may be administered to candidates in a central setting, online, or given to candidates to complete at home, online. It takes about 90 minutes to complete the PCBS. Reports are provided within a week of the candidates completing the PCBS.