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

Food Inspector Trainee 1

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,302 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $651 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

Back To Top

Minimum Qualifications

On or before September 8, 2007, you must have 120 college semester credit hours which must include 18 credit hours in specialized courses related to: chemistry, microbiology, food quality control, epidemiology, entomology, food technology, food science, food processing technology, food sanitation, dairy science, biology, environmental sanitation, or environmental health.

Substitution

Full-time professional experience in a position in which the primary responsibility involves the application of scientific techniques in the areas of environmental health protection and sanitation of food establishments or quality control of food products at a wholesale food manufacturing facility may be substituted for a maximum of 60 college credits at the rate of one year experience equaling thirty semester credit hours.

These positions require completion of a two-year traineeship. After successful completion of the first year of the traineeship appointees will be advanced without further examination to the Trainee 2 level, SG-14 (beginning salary of $36,228). Successful completion of the second year of the traineeship will result in permanent advancement without further examination to the Food Inspector 1 level, SG-18 (beginning salary $45,113). *Candidates may be eligible for appointment directly to Trainee 2.

* Advanced Placement Possible with Education/Experience: If you meet the minimum qualifications and have an additional year of experience in which the primary responsibility involves the application of scientific techniques in the areas of environmental health protection and sanitation of food establishments or quality control of food products at a wholesale food manufacturing facility, you may be appointed to Food Inspector Trainee 2. This will reduce the traineeship time by one year. You must inform the hiring agency of this additional experience at the time of interview.

Examples of Qualifying Experience

Environmental Health Technician, Food Inspector/Investigator, Meat Inspector, Quality Control Technician for a food processing plant or food warehouse, or Laboratory Technician conducting analysis of food or dairy products.

Examples of Non-Qualifying Experience

Food Service Worker, Restaurant or Food Store Manager, Chef, Butcher, Caterer, Food Warehouse Management or Foreman, Food or Beverage Comptroller, Banquet Manager, Steward, Food or Food and Sanitation Equipment Sales Person, Food Broker, or Pesticide Applicator.

Back To Top

Duties

As a Food Inspector Trainee 1, you would be in a two-year formal training program. The training provides the experience necessary to conduct inspections (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), sanitary, low-acid canned food HACCP, juice HACCP, seafood HACCP, medicated feed) at food manufacturers, processors, distributors, and retailers; and to report violations of standards as they pertain to wholesomeness, labeling, and advertising of food products and/or general sanitary conditions and inventory control. You would also participate in educational sessions for operators of establishments (including donated food recipient agencies) found in repeated violation of sanitation standards. You may testify in court or in administrative hearings on volatile conditions at food establishments, donated food recipient agencies, warehouses, or food banks and investigate consumer complaints related to mislabeling or unwholesomeness of food. Upon successful completion of the two year training program, you would be advanced to Food Inspector 1, SG-18, without further examination.

Back To Top

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. Evaluating information and evidence - These questions test for the ability to evaluate and draw conclusions from information and evidence. Each question consists of a set of facts and a conclusion based on the facts. The candidate must decide if the conclusion is warranted by the facts.
2. Food safety and food establishment sanitation - These questions test for knowledge of food establishment sanitation procedures. Questions will cover such sanitary operations as vermin control, sanitation of equipment, temperature control, transportation and storage monitoring, personal hygiene, and disease control.
3. General science concepts related to chemistry, microbiology, entomology and food science - These questions will test for a knowledge in areas listed as they relate to subjects such as food sampling, testing, food adulteration and preservation.
4. 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.
5. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

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.

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 NYS Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany, New York, 12239; Attention: S1VXR.
2. You may file for these examinations by completing one OC-APP application form or applying on the internet. Unless you are eligible for a fee waiver, the indicated processing fee must be submitted for each examination listed on your application.
3. Important! You must submit with your application, a list of completed coursework and the number of credit hours for each course. DO NOT submit transcripts.
4. If you pass the examination for No. 24-813, Food Inspector Trainee 1 (Spanish Language), you will be required to demonstrate your Spanish Language proficiency at a level that will ensure your ability to perform properly the duties of the position. Only enough candidates to fill current vacancies will be called to the proficiency test.
5. If you are qualified for No. 24-813, Food Inspector Trainee 1 (Spanish Language), you should file for both examinations as there is only one application processing fee.
6. As these positions require travel within the region to which assigned, appointees must either possess at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State and have access to a motor vehicle when necessary or otherwise demonstrate their capacity to meet the regular transportation requirements in carrying out their field work responsibilities.
7. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
8. New York State residence is not required.

The Positions

These positions exist in the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Food Safety and Inspection Services, the Office of General Services, and the Department of Environmental Conservation, in various locations throughout the state.

Back To Top

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.

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.

S1/TB2 VXR-jms
Issued: 6/22/07

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.

Back To Top