New York State Department of Civil Service Announces Open-Competitive Examination Open to the Public

Laboratory Technician

*Due to the size of the candidate population for this test date, you may be assigned to either Saturday, June 10, 2017 or Sunday, June 11, 2017 to take your test. Your admission notice will tell you where and when you are scheduled to appear. You cannot request a day or time in advance or change your scheduled day or time.

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.

Back To Top

Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 10, 2017, you must have:

Either 1. 60 college semester credit hours which includes at least 18 semester credit hours in biology, chemistry, physics, health science, or science technology;

Or 2. two years of professional experience in either a laboratory or a clinical setting performing technical laboratory test and procedures.

Or 3. 30 college semester credit hours which includes at least 18 semester credit hours in biology, chemistry, physics, health science or science technology AND one year of experience described in #2 above.

Or 4. an associate���s degree or higher in biology, chemistry, physics, health science, or science technology.

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.

Preferred Qualification: 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.

Notes

1. Your 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 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. 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 NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S1DAG.
2. 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 of 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 at: http://www.op.nysed.gov/
3. 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.
   You will be responsible for payment of all required fees.
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 NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets; the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation; the NYS Department of Correction and Community Supervision ��� Great Meadow and Coxsackie; the NYS Department of Health ��� Main Office; State University of NY medical centers ��� Albany, Buffalo, Stonybrook, and Upstate Medical; the NYS Office of Mental Health ��� Kingsboro and Bronx facilities; and the NYS Office For People with Developmental Disabilities ��� Hudson Valley.

Back To Top

Duties

As a Laboratory Technician, you would perform a variety of technical laboratory procedures in diagnostic, food, research and other laboratories. Depending upon your specific assignment, your duties might include performing such functions as: water and/or environmental chemistries; analysis of hazardous materials; virological determinations; radiation counts; microscopic, serologic, and/or immunologic examinations; standard bacteriological examinations; testing foods by common methods for contamination or adulteration; preparing media cultures, reagents, stains, and solutions; keeping manual or computerized records; the collection of samples from different matrixes; assisting in research and carrying out other duties as required, including possibly assisting in autopsy/necropsy procedures under the direction of a pathologist. You may be responsible for maintaining daily order and cleanliness of the laboratory by performing such tasks as glassware washing, benchtop and hood cleaning, and maintaining order and inventory of laboratory supplies and chemicals. You may also be required to perform cleaning of specialized pieces of equipment and maintaining records of such to ensure the ready state of such specialized equipment.

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. Basic laboratory equipment and glassware - These questions test for knowledge of common laboratory glassware and equipment and their uses.
2. Basic principles of biology, chemistry, and general science - These questions test for knowledge of such areas as elementary physics, microscopic organisms, systems of the body, scientific terminology, units of measure, and basic chemistry.
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. 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.

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.

Back To Top

How To Apply

If you do not receive a number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

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 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, 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

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, call 518-474 6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627.

Multiple 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: http://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/TC3 DAG-vla
Issued: 3/24/2017

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