A Criminalist is subject to call at any hour and may work under unpleasant and adverse conditions, including high places, dangerous locations, and in proximity to dead bodies and biological and chemical hazards, in order to investigate crime scenes.

1. Graduation from a recognized four-year college or university with a major in a physical or natural science and successful completion of 8 semester or 12 quarter units in general chemistry and 3 semester or 4 quarter units in quantitative analysis in chemistry. All candidates must list their school name and location, type of degree earned, major, chemistry course titles with the number of semester or quarter units, and completion dates in the School Training section of the online application;and
   
2. A qualifying score on the Criminalist qualifying written test; and
   
3. In addition to the regular City application, each candidate is required to complete and submit a Criminalist Supplemental Training and Experience Questionnaire at the time of filing. Candidates who fail to submit these documents within the time required will not be considered further in this examination and their applications will not be processed.

A valid California driver's license is required prior to appointment. Applicants will be disqualified and not eligible for hire if within the past 36 months they were convicted of a major moving violation, such as driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and may be disqualified if there are three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents within the past 36 months.

NOTES:

1. You will need to have Internet Explorer version 5.5 or above and Acrobat Reader 6.0 or better.
   
2. You must complete both the application and the Supplemental during the initial session. We recommend that you preview the Supplement at http://www.lacity.org/per/exams/2234Sup.pdf prior to completing your online application to ensure you provide yourself with sufficient time to complete both the online application and the Criminalist Supplemental Training and Experience Questionnaire.
   

The qualifying written test may examine for knowledge of: scientific methods of analysis, including principles and problem identification; scientific definitions and terminology; mathematics and measurement techniques; appropriate handling of physical evidence at a crime scene; organic and inorganic chemistry, including physical properties of chemical substances; biology, including biochemistry and physiology; anatomy; hematology; genetics; physics; use of appropriate types of charts and graphs to display data; and reading comprehension.

You may bring an automatic hand-held calculator to the test site for use during the written test. There will be no power source provided at the test site so your calculator must have its own power source.

The qualifying written test will be held in Los Angeles and will take approximately 4 hours. In the same half-day session, candidates will be required to prepare some written material. This material will not be separately scored, but its content and its quality as a written communication will be considered in the overall evaluation of the candidate's Criminalist Supplemental Training and Experience Questionnaire. Candidates will be notified later by mail of the date, time, and location of the written test.

The written test is a qualifying test on which candidates must achieve a passing score for their Criminalist Supplemental Training and Experience Questionnaire to be evaluated. Candidates must submit a new application and Criminalist Supplemental Training and Experience Questionnaire each time they take the written test.

The examination score will be based entirely on an evaluation of the candidate's overall qualifications. The evaluation, conducted by a panel of subject matter experts, based on job-related criteria, will consist of a review of the candidate's employment application, including background and training; the information contained in the Criminalist Supplemental Training and Experience Questionnaire; and the prepared written material.

1. As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities.
   
2. Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
   
3. This examination is based on a content validation study, and as provided by Civil Service Commission Rule 4.20, the written test will not be subject to candidate inspection.
   
4. A final average score of 70% is required to be placed on the eligible list.
   
5. You may take this examination once a year (365 calendar days). Your name may be removed from the eligible list after six months.
   

Class Code 2234 CONT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . REVISED (10-30-09)

If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment.

Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position.

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Applicants or employees who believe that they have been discriminated against are encouraged to contact the Office of Discrimination Complaint Resolution at (213) 473-9123.