Forest Ranger 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 $1,520 annual downstate adjustment. In addition, appointees who work in the following locations will receive an additional supplemental location pay in the following amounts: the counties of Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess - $1,266; the five boroughs of New York City, Rockland, and Westchester Counties - $1,900; and Nassau and Suffolk Counties - $2,217.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before October 19, 2019, you must have:

Either 1. a bachelor's or higher-level degree including or supplemented by 30 semester credit hours in environmental science;*

Or 2. an associate's or higher-level degree in environmental engineering, forest engineering, forest management, forest recreation, forest technology, forestry, or natural resource management;

Or 3. an associate's or higher-level degree including or supplemented by 18 semester credit hours in environmental science* AND one of the following:

a. two years of qualifying technical/professional work experience in the natural resource management field;** OR

b. two years of active United States military service with an honorable discharge.

*For the purpose of this examination, environmental science includes: forestry, forest management, forest recreation, forest resources technology, forest fire management, forest engineering, environmental engineering, environmental education, fish or wildlife biology, fish or wildlife management, and natural resource management.

Environmental science for the purpose of this exam does NOT include but is not limited to: animal science, anthropology, archeology, astronomy, chemistry, climatology, earth science, engineering (except environmental or forest), geology, human biology, limnology, mathematics, medical biology, physics, social sciences, space science, or zoology.

**Examples of experience that will NOT qualify as natural resource management experience are: lawn mowing, landscaping, tree and brush trimming, pesticide application, sawing firewood, farm hand and other types of experience that are categorized as laborer or maintenance work in a garden shop, park, or forestry setting.

Important

If you qualify under option 1 or 3 of the "Minimum Qualifications", you MUST submit a list of qualifying courses with your application. Include the name of the college, course title with the corresponding number of credit hours, and date (or expected date) of completion. You may submit this information by entering qualifying courses in the "coursework" section of your online application, listing qualifying courses in the remarks section of your paper application, or attaching a list of qualifying courses to your paper application. Failure to provide this information may result in the disapproval of your application to take the examination.

If you expect to meet the educational requirements by June 30, 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 June 30, 2020 may result in your removal from the eligible list.

Notes

1. Your degree or college credit 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 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. 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: S2-KXM.
2. Forest Ranger 1's are police officers under state law. At appointment you must be a resident of New York State and at least 21 years old.
3. As stated in Section 58 of the Civil Service Law, at the time of appointment, you must have a high school diploma, a high school equivalency diploma issued by a recognized educational authority, or USAFI GED high school level diploma.
4. Appointment to these positions will require the use of Personal Protective Equipment, including a respirator. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) conducts a Medical Monitoring Program for employee safety purposes in which you will be required to participate. The Medical Monitoring Program is an OSHA requirement for employees who may be exposed to toxic or hazardous substances and it is a critical part of DEC's Employee Health and Safety Program. The Medical Monitoring Program may include a baseline physical examination with periodic follow-up physical examinations.
5. Forest Ranger 1's are police officers and must be qualified to hold such office in accordance with state law. U.S. citizenship and New York State residency are required at the time of appointment.
6. You must be legally eligible to carry firearms. Conviction of a felony will bar appointment and a misdemeanor may bar appointment.
7. These positions require extensive travel within a designated area of assignment. You must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter.
8. Tattoos: You must comply with the Department of Environmental Conservation's, Division of Forest Protection policy which requires all members to present a neat and professional appearance at all times. Tattoos shall not be visible while a member is in uniform. The uniform consists of a short sleeve shirt open at the front of the neck and, in the warmer months, shorts. Presence of a visible tattoo may bar appointment. Members with tattoos on their arms who desire to wear a short sleeve shirt when authorized, may utilize matching flesh colored sleeves to conceal any tattoos on their arms. Such sleeves will be provided at the member's expense and will cover all visible tattoos from the hand to the shirt sleeve worn. For additional information regarding this policy, contact the Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Forest Protection at (518) 402-8839.
9. Fingerprints and fees: Fingerprinting is required prior to appointment. You will be required to pay the processing fee.
10. Physical skills and abilities testing: If you are considered for appointment, your physical skills and abilities will be evaluated through tests of strength, agility, flexibility, endurance, and swimming. These physical skills and abilities tests will be conducted by the Department of Environmental Conservation. To obtain a statement of the requirements of these tests, write to the Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Forest Protection, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-2560.
11. Physical/Medical Requirements: Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include Vision: Distant visual acuity should be correctable to better than, or equal to 20/30 (Snellen) in each eye; if correction is required, binocular visual acuity not less than 20/40 without correction. Binocular peripheral vision should not be less than 170 degrees. Color Vision: You must have satisfactory color vision perception. Hearing: The average hearing level (HL) for the three test frequencies of 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz will not exceed 25 dB in either ear, and no single hearing level will exceed 30 dB at any of these three test frequencies in either ear. Hearing loss at 3000 Hz will not exceed 40 dB HL in either ear.
12. Drug Testing: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a drug screening test and are responsible for the clinical lab fee. Upon appointment, all probationary Forest Rangers are subject to periodic, unannounced drug testing from the initial date of hire up to and including the completion of field training. All permanent Forest Rangers are subject to a yearly random drug test. Failure to meet these standards may result in your disqualification and/or discipline.
13. Psychological Evaluation: Prior to appointment, you will be required to participate in a psychological evaluation to determine your fitness to perform the essential duties of the position. Failure to meet the standards may result in your disqualification.
14. Background Investigation: Because of the nature of the position there is an investigative screening that may include a thorough character investigation, including a polygraph. All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony will bar appointment. A misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.
15. Qualifying part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.

The Positions

These positions exist in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and are located throughout the state.

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Duties

As a Forest Ranger 1, you would be required to participate in a formal residential training program lasting approximately 26 weeks. Upon successful completion, you would work in an assigned patrol area, and elsewhere throughout the state for emergencies and special assignments. You would be required to work out of your home and the location of your residence must be within your assigned patrol area and be acceptable to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Forest Rangers perform a wide variety of duties related to overseeing the care, custody, and control of DEC administered lands. As a Forest Ranger 1, you would be a sworn Police Officer, authorized to investigate complaints and enforce provisions of the Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) and other state laws in order to protect the State's lands, other natural resources, and the people who use them. You would be required to carry firearms and complete necessary annual training for State certification. Forest Rangers conduct search and rescue operations for lost or injured persons throughout New York State; conduct wildland fire management operations including wildfire suppression in New York State and when requested for national firefighting efforts; and coordinate and assist in incident response efforts to natural and manmade emergencies and disasters. Forest Rangers educate the public concerning the proper use of public lands and resources; visit schools, fire departments, and organizations to promote resource protection; teach national and state-certified courses to other agencies, volunteer groups, and fire departments concerning search and rescue, wildland fire suppression, and wilderness safety and etiquette; and foster and develop volunteer assistance from the local communities to support the Department's wildland firefighting and search operations. At times you will be expected to work weekends and long, irregular hours. You may also directly supervise volunteers and seasonal Assistant Forest Rangers and Wildland Firefighters.

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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. Applying written information (rules, regulations, policies, procedures, directives, etc.) in police situations - These questions test for the ability to apply written rules in given situations similar to those typically experienced by police officers.
2. Memory for facts and information - These questions test for the ability to remember facts and information presented in written form. You will be given 5 minutes to read and study the information in the Memory Booklet. After the 5-minute period, the Memory Booklet will be taken away. You will then be required to answer questions about the material that was presented in the Memory Booklet.
3. Reading, understanding and interpreting written information - These questions test for the ability to read, understand, and interpret the kinds of written information that police officers are required to read during their formal training period and on the job.
4. Preparing written material in a police setting - These questions test for the ability to prepare the types of reports that police officers write. You will be presented with a page of notes followed by several questions. Each question will consist of four restatements of the information given in the notes. From each set of four, you must choose the version that presents the information most clearly and accurately.
5. Natural resources and environment - These questions test for basic practical knowledge of fish, wildlife and other natural resources; outdoor recreation; forestry and environmental awareness.
6. Wilderness management and outdoor recreation, tree and plant identification, map interpretation and surveying - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices of outdoor recreation on forest lands and management for public recreational use and other purposes; identification and characteristics of trees and other plants found in New York State forests; and understanding and interpreting maps and surveying fundamentals.

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.

A Guide to the Written Test for the Environmental Conservation Police Officer Trainee and Forest Ranger 1 Series is available at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

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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.

S2/TC1 KXM-rkv
Issued: 8/2/19

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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