GOT-IT

Youth Counselor 1

Grade 18

New York State has approximately 320 positions* in this title statewide. You may view a breakdown of positions by county. This position exists in Children&Family Svcs, Off of. View links to all New York State agencies including agencies that have this title. For more information, New York State employees can contact the Career Mobility Office at (518) 485-6199 or (800) 553-1322. If you are not a current New York State employee, you can use the Department of Civil Service Web site to explore possible employment opportunities.

*The number of positions is approximate and represents the number of positions established (both filled and vacant); it is not an indication or reference to position type or duration, or intent to be filled. If you are viewing a trainee title, please note this number reflects the number of positions established at the journey level. Agencies may fill at the trainee level(s) or at the journey level based on employee qualifications. GOT-IT does not provide information on any job postings or job availability. For information on current job postings, please visit State Jobs NY. You may also visit specific New York State Agency websites for information about an agency and its job opportunities.

Career Ladder

A listing of titles that are most commonly used as steps for upward mobility for this title series. The salary schedule for this career ladder is also available.

  1. Youth Counselor 1

    Grade 18

  2. Youth Counselor 2

    Grade 21

  3. Youth Counselor 3

    Grade 23

  4. Youth Counselor 4

    Grade 25

Summary of Job Description

As a Youth Counselor 1, you would be responsible for supervising, evaluating, guiding, and the case management of juvenile and youthful offenders, juvenile delinquents, or other trouble prone youth placed with the Office of Children and Family Services. Your actual duties may vary depending on the setting to which you are assigned, including secure, limited secure, or non-secure residential centers, community foster care, intake services units, evening reporting centers and aftercare teams in the community. You would be expected to promote and maintain a structured environment and be able to physically restrain youth, if required. Training on restraints will be required, and will be provided by the agency as part of the probationary period. Refresher training will also be provided by the agency every year. Duties might also include maintaining facility security and personal safety; interaction with other agencies, families, and schools; placement of youth in appropriate treatment programs in the community; and supervision of Youth Division Aides.

View the classification standard for this title, on the Classification and Compensation webpage.

The NYS Title and Salary Plan provides additional information regarding other titles. If there is a classification standard available there will be a link under the column labeled STD. NO. If no link is available there is no classification standard available at this time for that title.

Summary of Minimum Qualifications

Please note: qualifications for this position may be subject to change. If substitutions for education and/or experience are allowed, this information would be available on the announcement.

You must take and pass a Civil Service examination in order to be considered for this position.

There are two examinations for this position. Please note: New York State employees may qualify for both.

For employees of New York State: On or before the date of the examination, the candidate must be a qualified employee of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and have a bachelor’s degree AND three months of permanent, contingent-permanent, non-competitive, or 55-b/55-c service as a Cadet Leader 2, Youth Division Aide 3, or Youth Division Aide 4.


For all other qualified individuals, on or before the date of the examination, the candidate must have a bachelor’s degree and two years of direct counseling, educational, clinical, or supervisory experience in prevention, protection, or rehabilitative programs for individuals between the ages of 10 and 21 years of age who are generally considered to be “juvenile delinquents," “youthful offenders," or youth residing in a residential setting which may include, youth who are diagnosed with mental or developmental disabilities, mental illness, or addictions who could potentially become involved in the juvenile justice system.

Examples of Non-Qualifying Experience: casework services not related to children and families; classroom teacher, tutor or Head Start worker, daycare provider or administrator of a daycare center, camp counselor or provider of recreational services, foster parent, transportation service worker, clerical duties, or provider of correctional services.

For informational purposes only, click on the examination number(s) listed below to see the current or previous examination(s) that are used to fill this title.

00-359 26-181

How to Apply

When this examination is scheduled to be held, the announcement can be found on the Department of Civil Service, Examination Announcements web page. If you do not see an examination currently scheduled please check back on a monthly basis or sign up for announcement notification by email so that you will automatically be notified when new examinations are being offered.

Career Mobility

Career mobility is not just limited to the titles in the Career Ladder, above. Additional movement may be achieved through other examinations, additional education and/or work experience or transfer opportunities. For additional information or clarification of transfer determinations, current State employees should contact the Career Mobility Office. Visit ELMS Online to view established open-competitive, promotion, and transition eligible lists. If you are not a current New York State employee, see Employment Opportunities with New York State and find out how to become a New York State employee.

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