ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED WITH THE ONONDAGA COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

SALARY AND VACANCIES: The resulting open competitive eligible list will be used to fill present and future vacancies in any jurisdiction where the title exists. Changing conditions may make it necessary to certify for future vacancies at higher or lower salaries than those announced.

This title exists in the following jurisdictions:
Onondaga County Department of Long Term Care at Van Duyn $43,466-$48,094 (2009)
OCM BOCES, Baldwinsville School District, East Syracuse Minoa School District, Fayetteville Manlius School District, Jamesville-Dewitt School District, Lafayette School District, Liverpool School District, North Syracuse School District, Syracuse City School District, Westhill School District ($ salaries vary in school districts)

DUTIES: The work involves responsibility for conducting an occupational therapy program for patients in one of the following areas: treatment of residents or patients in a skilled nursing center or health care facility; patients in a health care program; or physically handicapped students in a school district. This is a professional position involving responsibility for patient evaluation, development of treatment plans, and providing occupational therapy treatment in accordance with written prescription or referral from a physician who provides medical direction. Supervision may be exercised over the work of subordinate certified and uncertified personnel assigned to the service. Certain assignments made to employees in this class will require reasonable access to transportation to meet field work requirements made in the ordinary course of business in a timely and efficient manner. Does related work as required.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT: Candidates must have resided in the United States of America or one of its territories for not less than one (1) month immediately preceding the date of application. Preference in appointment may be given to local residents. Appointments to positions in some municipalities are subject to residence requirements pursuant to local laws.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: On the date of examination, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Licensed and currently registered by the New York State Education Department as a Occupational Therapist.
NOTE: Candidates must submit a copy of their current registration with their application.

SUBJECT OF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EXAMINATION The only subject of examination will be an evaluation of your training and experience. You are, therefore, asked to include in your application a summary of all pertinent training and experience in sufficient detail so that your background may be evaluated against the duties of the position.

In Your Summary Of Training: include all college course work, formal in-service training, and seminars you have attended. You must specify either the number of credits received or the number of contact hours and dates of attendance. Also include a copy of your professional license or documentation indicating eligibility for licensure. Specify the date that your license was first issued.

In Your Summary Of Experience: you must specify the dates of your employment, the number of hours worked per week, your title, and the main duties for each. . To receive credit for work experience you are listing, you must specify the license/certification(s) level you held at the time of the employment for which you are claiming credit and the initial date(s) you obtained the license/certification level you held during this period of employment.
Be specific; vagueness and ambiguity will not be resolved in your favor.

Candidates who submit incomplete applications or documentation may be disqualified.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Applications and credit card payment forms may be obtained in person from the Onondaga County Department of Personnel, by mail (include a self-addressed, stamped envelope) or downloaded at www.ongov.net/employment/document_center
APPLICATION FEE: Although a separate application is required for each examination number, candidates applying for more than one examination may pay all fees with a single check/money order or credit card form. You may pay by check, money order or by VISA or MasterCard, payable to “Chief Fiscal Officer”. Cash will be accepted only if paying in person. Payment must accompany your application(s) (indicate examination number(s) on your check or money order).
APPLICATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. You are, therefore, urged to carefully compare your qualifications with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified. If proofs (i.e. copy of license, certification, or transcript) are required, be sure that they accompany your application.
If you want “Proof That You Submitted Your Application and/or Examination Fee”, ask for a receipt or, if mailing your application, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope and request a receipt.
NOTE: A bounced check fee will be charged to you for any checks returned. Unless such fees are paid in full, you will not be permitted to participate in any examination(s) or be considered for appointment from resultant eligible lists. In addition, any subsequent application fees will not be refunded unless all such fees are paid in full.

FEE WAIVER: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for support of a household. In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments (SSI); or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance of Safety Net Assistance); or are receiving Foster Care or are certified Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local service agency. A waiver of application fee will also be allowed if you are an Onondaga County resident and have honorably served or are now honorably serving in the Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves (attach DD214, NGB-22, or current DD2-Military ID card or a Statement of Honorable Service from Unit to completed “Application Fee Waiver Request and Certification” form). All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. If you can verify eligibility for application fee waiver, complete an “Application Fee Waiver Request and Certification” form and submit it with your application by the close of business at 4:30pm on the last file date as listed on the Examination Announcement.
The “Application Fee Waiver Request and Certification” form can be found in our office lobby or on our website in the Document Center.

EVALUATION OF FOREIGN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION: If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States or it's territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies providing this service may be obtained in person from the Onondaga County Department of Personnel, by mail (include a self-addressed, stamped envelope) or downloaded at www.ongov.net/employment/document_center. You will be responsible for the required evaluation fee.

ADDITIONAL CREDIT TO CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY:
In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline date to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.

VETERAN CREDITS: War veterans applying for additional credit must submit a copy of their DD-214 (discharge papers) with their application for examination or by one month following the date of examination. Veteran’s Credit Instructions and Application Forms are available in person from the Onondaga County Department of Personnel, by mail (include a self addressed stamped envelope) or online at www.ongov.net/employment/document_center. Veteran’s credit can only be added to a passing score on the examination. No credit may be granted after the establishment of the list. Candidates currently in the armed forces may apply for and be conditionally granted veteran’s credit in examinations. Any candidate who applies for conditional credit must provide proof of their military status with their application for examination or by one month following the date of examination. When discharged, it is the responsibility of the candidate to provide appropriate documentary proof, indicating that service was in time of war, as defined in Section 85 of the Civil Service Law, and that the candidate received an honorable discharge or was released under honorable conditions in order to be certified at a score including the veteran’s credit.

APPLICATION DEADLINE POLICY: All applications along with application fees or proofs of waiver must be submitted to the Onondaga County Department of Personnel before the close of business at 4:30 p.m. on the date of last file as listed on the Examination announcement. Applications received via U.S. Mail will be accepted only if postmarked on or before the Application Deadline. Applications that are received through inter-office mail after the Application Deadline or that are submitted to any other department, office or agency and are not received in the Department of Personnel by the Application Deadline will not be accepted.

EXAM INFORMATION:
EXAM RATING: When the written examination is prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law, the provision of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations will apply.

ELIGIBLE LIST: Eligible lists are established, on average, within three months after the examination date. In accordance with the New York State Civil Service Law, an eligible list must remain in existence for one year from the date of its establishment or until there are no candidates left who are willing to accept appointment, whichever occurs first. The Personnel Commissioner may extend the list beyond one year to a maximum of four years. Agencies are required to hire from the eligible list according to the rule of three (see our FAQ document for examples of the Rule of Three). All candidates at the highest score are immediately eligible for consideration for appointment. Candidates at lower scores can only be considered when there are fewer than 3 candidates at the highest score.
When the eligible list is established you will be able to view the current eligible list and your status on-line by going to www.ongov.net/Employment/jobs/ and simply clicking the link to Civil Service Exam Test Results.

CANDIDATE FITNESS: Inquires may be made as to character and ability of all candidates. All statements made by candidates are subject to verification. Falsification of any part of the “Application for Employment” may result in disqualification and possible legal action.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the Onondaga County Personnel Department in writing of any change in address. No attempt will be made by this department to locate candidates who have moved. Address change forms are available in the Personnel Department during normal office hours or online at www.ongov.net/Employment/document_center.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOCES: Per Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, and by Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, to be employed in a position designated by a school district or BOCES as involving contact with students, a clearance for employment from the State Education Department is required.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION ACT OF 1985, candidates for appointment to Onondaga County government positions which involve regular and substantial contact with children will be required to complete a State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment clearance form. Failure to complete this form may result in decertification of your name from this eligible list for appointments in Onondaga County.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG TESTING: Candidates for appointment or promotion to Onondaga County government positions that are designated as safety sensitive are required to undergo pre-employment drug testing for alcohol and drugs after a conditional offer of employment has been extended and prior to any applicant’s performance of a safety-sensitive function.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in disqualification.

SPECIAL NECESSARY REQUIREMENT: Candidates for appointment or promotion to positions in Onondaga County government which require the operation of motor vehicles must, at the time of appointment, possess an appropriate NY State drivers license and a dependable personal vehicle or must have reasonable access to private/public transportation.