DEADLINE NEAR FOR CORRECTION OFFICER

DEADLINE NEAR FOR CORRECTION OFFICER
Thousands Who Pass June Test To Be Hired; Pays $29G to $60G; Need College Or Military Duty

Filing is set to close April 25 for an exam leading to Correction Officer jobs, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services said.

The city is looking to hire at least 800 officers this year, according to a department spokesman. Candidates who score near the top of the eligible list can expect to be hired within six months of the list being established, the official added.

Filing was originally set to close March 21, but was extended to attract more candidates.

Salary Range

The written test is set for June 10. Based on the collective-bargaining agreement negotiated last October, the starting annual salary is $28,900 and top pay is $59,588 after 5-1/2 years on the job.

Candidates must have completed 39 college credits or two years of full-time U.S. military service, and must have a high school diploma or GED by the time they enter the training academy. Individuals with a high school diploma who have two years of experience as a city, state, or Federal law-enforcement officer may also qualify.

To be appointed, candidates must be at least 21 years old. Applicants must be 171/2 by the end of the filing period to take the exam. Appointees need to have a state driver's license and must be residents of New York City or Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Orange, Rockland, or Putnam counties. The multiple-choice exam will test candidates' abilities in written comprehension and expression, problem identification, basic arithmetic, and deductive and inductive reasoning. It will also gauge candidates' abilities to order information, determine where they are in relation to an object, and visualize how something will look after it is moved or changed.

Screening Process

In addition, candidates must also pass a background check, a psychological evaluation, physical exam, and a drug and alcohol screening. A $75 fee for fingerprint screening is required for the background investigation. Appointees will have probationary status for 24 months and must complete a training course. Correction Officers have to pass an annual firearms test. They are required to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

April 25 is also the last day to apply for evaluations leading to Computer Aide jobs and Real Property Manager positions. There is no written or practical exam. Candidates will be ranked based on their education and experience.

The starting salary for Computer Aide jobs is $29,203. The position is available in city agencies and the Health and Hospitals Corporation.

To qualify, by the last day of filing candidates must have a high school diploma or GED and six months of full-time mainframe and/or mini-computer operations experience within the past year.

Alternative Criteria

Candidates who have graduated from an approved technical school specializing in work-related fields within the past five years can also apply. Various other combinations of education and experience are also acceptable; individuals should consult the exam notice for a complete listing.

The Real Property Manager starting pay is $31,329. To qualify, by the last day of filing candidates must have a bachelor's degree or a high school diploma or GED with two years of work-related experience.

Real Property Managers run city-owned properties and housing units. They may be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

DCAS is also accepting applications for promotion to Real Property Manager for city workers. Further information and copies of the exam notice can be obtained online at www.nyc.gov/dcas , or by writing the DCAS application Center, 18 Washington St., New York, N.Y., 10004.