New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Examinations Open to All Qualified Individuals

Senior Laboratory Worker

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,850 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,000 annual mid-Hudson adjustment. Effective October 1, 2008, and thereafter, the downstate adjustment will increase to $3,026 and the mid-Hudson adjustment increases to $1,513.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 14, 2008*, you must have:

1. two years of full-time experience in a scientific laboratory; OR
2. 60 semester credit hours of college coursework; OR
3. a combination of 1 and 2 above equaling two years. College study will be credited in six-month segments, with 15 semester credit hours equaling six months.

* If you expect to meet the education requirements by August 31, 2008, you can be admitted to the written test, but you cannot be considered for appointment until you submit proof of successful completion of the educational requirements to the state agency at the time of the interview.

If you qualify under options 1 or 3 of the minimum qualifications, you must submit a listing of the qualifying science and/or technology courses with your application, including the course title, name of college or university, number of semester credits per course, grade, and date of completion. You may submit a copy of your transcript. Applications submitted without a list of courses will not be reviewed.

Additional Requirement

Depending on assignment, the selected candidate may, at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter, be required to be:

Either

1. Certified or eligible for certification as a Clinical Laboratory Technician as defined in Title 8, Article 165 of the New York State Education Law and Section 52.38 and Subpart 79-15 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education; OR
2. Licensed or eligible for licensure as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist as defined in Title 8, Article 165 of the New York State Education Law and Section 52.36 and Subpart 79-13 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education; OR
3. Licensed or eligible for licensure as a Cytotechnologist as defined in Title 8, Article 165 of the New York State Education Law and Section 52.37 and Subpart 79-14 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

Important!

If you pass the written test and are considered for appointment, you must meet all applicable state and local requirements for qualification. Loss of the required licensure or certification may result in loss of employment. For more information on certification or licensure requirements, visit the website for the State Education Department Office of the Professions.

Eligibility

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Candidates who require sponsorship (for example, through the H1-B Visa Program) may apply. However, New York State agencies are not obligated to consider individuals who would require sponsorship for employment.

Notes

1. Your degree or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. If your degree or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. You must pay the required evaluation fee. If you are applying on the Internet, you must mail the independent verification of equivalency to the New York State Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S5DJD
2. A promotion examination is also being held for these positions. If you are eligible for appointment from a promotion list, you may not be appointed in your own agency from the list resulting from this examination open to the public.
3. Although a promotion examination is being held, it is expected that appointments will be made as the result of this examination open to the public.
4. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
5. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the New York State Department of Health in Albany and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

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Duties

As a Senior Laboratory Worker, you would supervise Laboratory Workers performing large scale routine laboratory procedures. Depending upon the type of lab in which you work, supervision may include the preparation and sterilization of equipment and media. You would assist scientists in routine procedures; assist in the shipment of diagnostic outfits and biological products; and may supervise others in handling and/or directly handle hazardous materials and waste. In addition, you would be in charge of a large and varied stock of lab supplies; receive, maintain, and distribute lab materials and equipment; and be responsible for keeping careful and accurate records.

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Basic laboratory equipment and glassware - These questions test for knowledge of common laboratory glassware and equipment and their uses.
2. Record keeping - These questions test for accuracy and attention to detail in keeping laboratory test records. The candidate will be asked to transfer information from laboratory test request forms onto a test log form, and then to locate and interpret required information from the test log form. No knowledge of any particular record-keeping system is required.
3. General laboratory principles and practices - These questions test for knowledge of such areas as care and handling of toxic/dangerous materials; simple first aid and safety procedures; the metric system; simple laboratory calculations; care and use of laboratory glassware and equipment and common laboratory procedures.
4. Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

Eligibility for Employment

You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at 518-457-8480.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1], no later than two weeks before the test date, to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center.

S5/TC3 DJD-tmc
Issued: 3/28/08

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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