About the Department

Erie County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to workplace diversity.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS: CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE SUBMITTED APPLICATION AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT. 

If you pass the examination, your name will appear on the continuous eligible list for one year. After one year, your name will be removed from the list. You may apply for retest at six-month intervals. The eligible list will be used to fill vacancies at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation and the Erie County Health Department. 

Position Duties

A Clinical Laboratory Technologist performs multiple tests or examinations on patient specimens in a clinical laboratory using defined procedures to aid in the diagnosis or treatment of diseases.

Receives and prepares specimens to perform routine or special tests on such material as blood, urine, sputum and body fluids according to established procedures in two or more clinical laboratory sections: Biochemistry, Blood Bank, Diagnostic Immunology, Hematology and/or Microbiology;

Conducts tests, examinations or analysis according to established procedures in two or more clinical laboratory sections;

Evaluates and interprets laboratory test data as to necessity for further process of specimens utilizing laboratory information system (LIS);

Sets up, calibrates and performs preventative maintenance on clinical laboratory equipment;

Prepares various types of media, reagents, and test solutions;

Prepares and reads smears, stains, fluids, crystals and slides for microscopic examination and analysis;

Communicates essential laboratory data to physicians and other health officials as rapidly as is necessary to optimum patient care;

Performs quality control as needed to ensure accuracy of instrument function and appropriateness of reagents used in patient testing;

Investigates quality control problems; determines and performs basic fixes such as recalibration; reports moderate to complex problems to supervisor;

Exercises care and safety in handling infections and biologically active specimens and in using clinical laboratory equipment;

Collects specimens from patients which may include phlebotomy;

Assists in the training of technical personnel and students through the demonstration or explanation of policies and procedures;

Maintains records and prepares patient reports for tests and examinations.

Minimum Qualifications

Reissued Nov. 2023

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet the following requirements on or before submission of application:

A.) Possession of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree* in Clinical Laboratory Technology, Medical Technology, biology, chemistry or physical science or related title that meets the standards set forth in Title 8, Article 165 of New York State’s Education Law and Subpart 79-13 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education; or

B.) Possession of a current clinical laboratory technology certification by a national certification organization or licensure in a jurisdiction acceptable to the NYS Education Department; or:

C.) Possession of a Bachelor’s degree* in a natural science or clinical laboratory science and either two years of experience in a clinical laboratory while licensed as a clinical laboratory technician in NYS or two years of experience in a clinical laboratory while certified as a clinical laboratory technician by a national certification organization.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Possession of a license or limited or provisional permit to practice as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist as issued by the New York State Education Department at time of appointment and possession of license within 24 months, which is then maintained throughout duration of appointment; or:

Possession of a license to practice as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist as issued by the New York State Education Department at time of permanent appointment and maintenance throughout duration of appointment.

IN ADDITION, SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ASSIGNMENT TO THE ERIE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT:

Health Department applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of 42 CFR 73 (“Select Agent Rule”), including, but not limited to successful completion of a Security Risk Assessment (i.e. “background check”) to be conducted by the United States Dept. of Justice; and

Health Department applicants must perform routine laboratory activities in a Biosafety Level 2 and/or Level 3 laboratory facility; and

Health Department applicants must have a thorough knowledge of Biosafety Level 2 and/or 3 safety and operating procedures.

Notes:

1. *Your degree 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 was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency.   A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm.  You must pay the required evaluation fee. 

2. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.

Notice to Candidates: Transcripts will now be accepted by the Department of Personnel ONLY at time of application.  All subsequent transcripts must be submitted at time of interview.

Other Qualifications

SUBJECT OF 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.  Be specific; vagueness and ambiguity will NOT be resolved in your favor.  Candidates who submit incomplete applications or documentation may be disqualified.

Notes:

HOW TO APPLY: Either online by clicking "Apply" on the top right of the online exam announcement or by printing a paper application from erie.gov, Erie County Application for Examination or Appointment (Download PDF reader), or if you do not have internet access you may pick up an application form at the Erie County Personnel Department, 95 Franklin Street, Room 604, Buffalo, New York 14202. Forms are also available at Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries and at Town, Village and School District administrative offices.

Completed forms should then be returned to the Erie County Personnel Department. In addition, candidates must request their colleges to send transcripts to the Erie County Personnel Department or attach transcripts to your application. No applications will be evaluated until all the above information, including transcripts, is received.

MILITARY STATUS: If you expect to enter military service, you may still compete in this examination and may be appointed or reinstated after you return home from active duty.

VERIFICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates may be investigated or called for an interview to determine whether they qualified for appointment. In addition to meeting specific requirements, candidates and appointees must be of good moral character and habits.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Candidates may be subject to a thorough background investigation to determine suitability for appointment. Applicants may be required to authorize access to educational, employment, criminal history and other records check as part of such investigation. Criminal convictions or other offense are subject to evaluation and may result in disqualification. Applicant will be required to submit the necessary fees for the fingerprint processing, where required.

VETERANS: Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 5 and 2.5 points, respectively, added to their earned scores if successful in the examination. You should claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment. If you have already used these credits you may not claim them again. Children of firefighters or police officers killed in the line of duty may also be eligible for additional credit. Contact the Erie County Personnel Dept. for more information.

This examination is prepared by the New York State Department of Civil Service and held in compliance with the New York State Civil Service Law and the rules and regulations of the New York State Department of Civil Service.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $15.00 filing fee is required for this exam. If applying online the payment process will be outlined. When submitting by mail or hand delivering, the required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.

APPLICATION FEE WAIVER: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the 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, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.

All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. If you can verify eligibility for application fee waiver, complete a Request for Application Fee Waiver and Certification form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Application Deadline as listed on the Examination Announcement.