CITY HIRING THOUSANDS OF CORRECTION OFFICERS

The city is seeking to hire thousands of qualified candidates for Correction Officer jobs.

Applicants have the option of taking a walk-in computerized test that will be given daily until June 30, or taking the next written exam on Nov. 1, for which applications must be received by Aug. 15. There is a $30 filing fee and residency requirements apply.

The starting salary for Correction Officer is $27,734, which will rise to $28,843 as of Aug. 1 and to $37,577 on Sept. 1. Individuals hired on or after Sept. 1, however, will start at $35,000. Maximum pay for Correction Officers, reached after five years' service, will be $68,475 as of Aug. 1.

Job Requirements

Appointees must be U.S. citizens and residents of New York City or Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, or Putnam counties. They must be at least 17-1/2 years old by the last day of filing and at least 21 years old to be hired. They need a valid state driver's license (moving violations, license suspensions or an accident record may be cause for disqualification), which must be maintained for the duration of employment.

Candidates must pass a character and background check. Felony convictions, convictions of offenses that indicate lack of moral character, a propensity for violence or disrespect for the law, or a dishonorable discharge from the armed forces are cause for disqualification.

Applicants will undergo medical, psychological and physical evaluations and drug-and-alcohol screening. These tests may be repeated at random during the length of employment. There is a $75 fee for fingerprint screening and the background investigation.

Education Standards

To be appointed, candidates must have 60 college credits by the end of academy training, 21 of which may be satisfied by successfully completing that training; or a high-school diploma/GED and two years of honorable full-time U.S. military service. Individuals with a high-school diploma/GED who have two years of experience as a city, state, or Federal law-enforcement officer may also qualify.

In addition, applicants must score at least 70 percent on a written multiple-choice exam. Scores will determine applicants' positions on the eligible list. Questions will measure the following skills: written comprehension; written expression; memorization; problem sensitivity; problem-solving; deductive reasoning; inductive reasoning; spatial orientation and visualization, and basic mathematics.

Two-Year Probation Period

Appointees will have probationary status for 24 months and must complete a training course. Officers must pass an annual firearms test and must remain authorized to carry firearms under Federal and state laws. Officers are required to work weekends and holidays, change tours and work overtime.

Further information about both exams is available on-line at www.nyc.gov/dcas, by writing to the DCAS Application Center, 18 Washington St., New York, N.Y., 10004, or by calling 1-877-NY1-BOLD.