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

Assistant Land Surveyor 1 and 2

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.

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Minimum Qualifications

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

For Number 24-894:

1. an associate's or higher-level degree in land surveying; OR
2. 36 semester credit hours, including eight semester credit hours in land surveying and eight semester credit hours in computer applications, algebra, calculus, geometry, or trigonometry* and one year of experience in land surveying;** OR
3. two years of experience in land surveying. **

For Number 24-895:

1. a bachelor's or higher-level degree in land surveying; OR
2. an associate's degree in land surveying and one year of experience in land surveying;** OR
3. 36 semester credit hours including eight semester credit hours in land surveying, and eight semester credit hours in computer applications, algebra, calculus, geometry or trigonometry* and two years of experience in land surveying;** OR
4. four years of experience in land surveying. **

* You MUST submit a list of qualifying courses or a copy of your transcript(s) with your application, including the course title, name of college or university, number of semester credit hours per course, and the date or expected date of completion. Applications submitted under this option without a list of relevant courses will be disapproved.

** In order to be considered qualifying, your land surveying experience must have included experience in both the technical field and office aspects of the profession. For the purpose of these examinations:

1. Technical field experience must have included measurements of space, water, land and structures to determine boundaries, areas, elevations, alignments, and locations;
2. Office experience must have included evaluation and analysis of field data and research of public and private land records.

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 NYS 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: S2/CMH.
2. Appointees will be required to have a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State or otherwise demonstrate their capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job.
3. If you have a Land Surveyor's license and current registration, you will be considered to be qualified for these examinations.
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 Environmental Conservation.

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Duties

DUTIES: As an Assistant Land Surveyor 1, you would perform entry-level survey work by assisting higher-level surveying staff in field and office surveying duties. You would apply land surveying skills in the precise measurement and computation of the location of natural and man-made features used to create survey maps for acquiring and managing state interest in real property and/or to prepare digital terrain models and base mapping for the design of Capital Projects. After one year of satisfactory service as an Assistant Land Surveyor 1, you would be advanced without further examination to Assistant Land Surveyor 2.

As an Assistant Land Surveyor 2, you would investigate and examine the evidence of real property locations in the field; make precise field measurements by operating modern terrestrial, geodetic surveying, geographic positioning system instruments; record, reduce, and process survey data; plot survey results to create detailed base mapping; and assist with work zone safety. You would also assist with the research of records relating to the ownership and location of real property, assist in determining property line and highway boundary locations, prepare survey maps for acquiring and managing state interest in real property and/or prepare digital terrain models and base mapping for the design of Capital Projects.

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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. Land surveying, including photogrammetric control - These questions test for fundamental knowledge of the concepts, procedures and computations involved in performing surveys for land areas and construction projects, including the use of theodolites, total stations, automatic levels and other contemporary field survey equipment; closure and other error computations; verifying distances and elevations using survey, photographic and other remotely-sensed information; and basic aerial photographic practices and computations applicable to establishing control points and the location of land features.
2. Preparation and interpretation of property acquisition maps and plans - These questions test for the ability to read, analyze and perform computations based on real property and topographic maps and site development and construction project plans; and for knowledge of the proper principles and procedures used to prepare various maps and plans related to survey projects.
3. Legal requirements related to property line boundaries, including title searches - These questions test for knowledge of the legal terminology, documents and property description requirements involved in boundary and ownership issues related to real property and land acquisition.
4. Mathematics related to surveying projects, including algebra, geometry and trigonometry - These questions test for the ability to read and analyze surveying and other related problems and perform calculations that may involve addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebraic equations, geometric concepts and figures, and basic trigonometric functions.
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.

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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.

S2/TC3 CMH-vla
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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