Psychology Trainee 1

You may be assigned to either Saturday or Sunday to take your test. The Department of Civil Service reserves the right to administer tests either online or with paper booklets and answer sheets. Your admission notice will tell you whether your test will be administered online. You cannot request a day in advance or change your scheduled day.

IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before September 28, 2019, you must have:

Either 1. a master's degree in psychology from a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education/United States Secretary of Education. The psychology degree program must have been one that prepared graduates for positions treating individuals in clinical, forensic, community mental health, or school settings;

Or 2. completion of graduate coursework in a qualifying doctoral level program in psychology that would be the equivalent required for conferral of a master's degree in psychology. The coursework must have prepared graduates for positions treating individuals in clinical, forensic, community mental health, or school settings. Candidates must submit an official transcript to provide evidence that such coursework was completed, or an attestation of the coursework equivalency from a qualifying accredited college or university. Mail the transcript or attestation to the New York State Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S1JFG.

NOTE: A Certificate of Advanced Study in psychology cannot be substituted for the required master's degree in psychology.

Examples of qualifying degree programs/majors include but are not limited to the following: clinical psychology, forensic psychology, community psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, and child psychology.

Examples of NON-qualifying degree programs/majors include but are not limited to the following: experimental psychology and industrial/organizational psychology.

If you expect to meet the educational requirements by January 31, 2020, 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 requirement to the Appointing Authority at the time of the employment interview. Failure to meet the educational requirements by January 31, 2020 may result in your removal from the eligible list.

Notes

1. Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree 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 NYS Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. This information can also be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. 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, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S1JFG.
2. Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: In some agencies, the names of all prospective employees will be:
   • Checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s);
   • Investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws;

   and may be:

   • Screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees whose names appear on the SCR may be barred from appointment.(NY Social Services Law, Section 424a.)

   You will be responsible for payment of all required fees.

3. Medicaid and Medicare: In order to be eligible for appointment and to maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). If you are appointed and subsequently listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally-assisted program), you may be terminated from your employment.
4. The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill two-year traineeships leading to Psychologist 1, G-21.An appointee's performance in the trainee position and in prescribed training and development programs will be observed and evaluated. The prescribed training and development program will include extensive on-the-job training and carefully designed and monitored work experience. An appointee not meeting required standards can be terminated at any time after the initial eight weeks and before completion of the traineeship. An appointee will be placed on leave from their permanent title and will revert to that title if they do not successfully complete the traineeship.
5. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
6. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the facilities, locations and community programs of the New York State Office of Mental Health, Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Children and Family Services, Department of Education, and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Traineeships: The titles filled through this examination will require a two-year traineeship during which trainees gain the necessary knowledge and experience to perform at the full level. After successful completion of one year as a Psychology Trainee 1, incumbents will advance to Psychology Trainee 2. After successful completion of one year as a Psychology Trainee 2 incumbents will advance to Psychologist 1 or Psychologist 1 (Spanish Language), SG-21.

Appointment Level: If you are selected for appointment, you may, at the agency's discretion, be appointed directly to a higher level. To be considered for advanced placement you must possess education or experience beyond the "Minimum Qualifications" such as: one year of appropriately supervised post-master's clinical psychology experience in a clinical, forensic, community mental health, or school setting, where your primary duties were providing psychological services; completed a clinical psychology practicum, externship, or fieldwork assignment as part of a qualifying master's degree in psychology program. For further information on qualifications for higher level positions visit: www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/announcements/psychologyadvancedplacement.cfm

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Duties

As a Psychology Trainee 1, you would assist in the provision of professional psychological services to individuals. Under the supervision of higher-level psychology staff, you would assist in administering psychological tests, completing behavioral assessments, and conducting psychological evaluations and research; attend treatment team meetings; assist in the development of treatment or behavioral support plans; and may participate in individual, family, and/or group counseling sessions.

As a Psychologist 1 or Psychologist 1 (Spanish Language), you would provide professional psychological services to individuals and serve as a member of a treatment team. Under the supervision of higher-level psychology staff, you would administer, score, and interpret psychological tests, complete behavioral assessments, and conduct psychological evaluations; develop and implement treatment or behavioral support plans; participate in and lead individual, family, and/or group counseling sessions; provide technical direction to program staff; maintain records; and write reports.

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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. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
2. Psychological assessment and treatment - These questions test for knowledge necessary to assess and treat intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness, and chemical dependency of youth and adults. Questions may cover such topics as human development, treatment modalities, treatment evaluation, treatment variables, standard psychological tests, assessments, facilitating treatment, discharge planning and sharing information with other providers.
3. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.

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.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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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 employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, 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

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 provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

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, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your written test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions 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. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S1/TB1 JFG-dah
Issued: 7/2/19

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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