Autopsy Support Technician I

LA County Department of Medical Examiner; California; On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

LA County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner seeks personnel to assist pathologists in performing autopsies, with emphasis on safety, meticulous documentation, and maintaining proper chain of custody. The role requires handling decedents and equipment, and collaboration with law enforcement and families.

Requirements include an AS in Mortuary Science or higher, relevant experience, and a valid California driver license.

Qualifications

• One year of experience handling, transporting, and preparing deceased persons for post-mortem examinations and release.
• An Associate of Science Degree in Mortuary Science or higher.
• Valid California Class C Driver License or equivalent.
• Physical ability to lift 25 pounds or more and perform demanding tasks.

Responsibilities

• Prepare decedents for post-mortem examinations, verify identity, and set up equipment and solutions.
• Assist pathologists during autopsies, including opening cavities and handling specimens.
• Assist in minor laboratory work and maintaining proper storage of specimens.
• Maintain proper chain of custody for evidence and comply with safety policies.
• Sterilize autopsy room, equipment, and tools and manage personal effects of decedents.
• Provide testimony in judicial proceedings when required.

Skills

Autopsy support experience

Heavy lifting

Education

Associate of Science in Mortuary Science

Job description

Los Angeles County will not accept claims of not receiving assessment invitations as a reason for a reschedule.

Position/Program Information

DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL EXAMINER-CORONER

Exam Number

P4887E-R

Type Of Recruitment

Open Competitive Job Opportunity

Filing Start Date

Applications will be accepted starting on October 17, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. (PT).

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

Reposting Information

This announcement is a reposting to reopen the filing period and update Additional Information.

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The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner investigates and determines the circumstances, manner and cause of all violent, sudden or unusual deaths occurring within the County.

Each year approximately 18,000 cases are reported to the Department, of which about half fall within its jurisdiction. The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner conducts about 5,700 autopsies per year, making it one of the largest coroner’s offices in the world. It has also become one of the most technologically advanced offices in the world, due to the complexity of cases investigated, including numerous high profile cases.

What You Will Do

As a Forensic Technician I you will assist pathologists in performing autopsies at the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. This position requires incumbents to lift and move heavy equipment and decedents while preparing for, and assisting in, autopsies and other job-related duties.

Essential Job Functions

Prepares decedents for post-mortem examinations by removing specified decedent or specimen from crypt storage area and placing it on the autopsy table, verifying decedent's identity from a toe and ankle tag, setting up the necessary equipment instruments and solutions in order to ensure compliance with Federal and State laws, County ordinances, safety guidelines, and departmental policies.

Assists the pathologist in performing autopsies by opening the cranium, thoracic and abdominal cavities using tools; excising and dissecting organs and specimens using instruments; obtaining blood samples and other body fluids for toxicological examinations; recording weights of organs and body fluids; preparing specimens for cultures; filing pathologic specimens; suturing and cleaning bodies; and returning decedents to crypt storage area under close supervision.

Assists in performing minor laboratory work by preparing specimens for examination and assuming responsibilities for the proper storage of specimens.

Assists the pathologist in identifying, gathering, and properly storing physical evidence by maintaining a proper chain of custody to ensure the integrity of the collected evidence in compliance with the Federal and State rules regarding evidence collection, safety guidelines, and departmental policies and procedures.

Cleans and maintains the autopsy room, equipment, and tools by sterilizing instruments, removing soiled linens, stocking clean linens and other necessary supplies to ensure proper and safe functioning of the autopsy room and equipment.

Takes custody of the decedent's personal effects (e.g., money and valuables) by creating a written inventory of decedent's collected property in the presence of a witness, storing them at the Department or securing them at the death scene in order to safeguard or properly transfer the possession of said property to the decedent's next of kin.

Interacts with a variety of individuals to collaborate with other Coroner staff and law enforcement agencies and provide general information to families and members of the public in order to represent the Department in a professional, sensitive, and empathetic manner and facilitate communication and cooperation between the Department and interested parties.

Prepares a variety of written documents by compiling and organizing the necessary information and composing the text in a logical manner using appropriate computer software programs in order to facilitate accurate and effective communication, reporting, and record keeping within the Department.

Complies with all applicable health and safety standards by following the applicable guidelines and reporting defects or problems so they can be appropriately addressed or repaired in order to maintain a clean, safe, and professional work environment.

Provides testimony in judicial proceedings by conveying procedural and/or technical information related to procurement of evidence and/or property during the autopsy with professionalism and clarity in order to accurately represent the findings determined by the Department, as needed.

Requirements

We are looking for dedicated individuals who have either:

Option i

One year* of experience handling, transporting, and preparing deceased persons for post-mortem examinations and subsequent release at the level of Forensic Attendant**.

Option Ii

An Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree***, or higher, in Mortuary Science.

License

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Physical Expectations

This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working on irregular surfaces; and occasionally requires extraordinary physical activity.

Special Requirement Information

• One year is defined as full-time work of forty (40) hours per week for twelve (12) months for a total of 2080 hours or more. Performance of the required duties on a part-time basis will be prorated to equivalent full-time basis.
• Experience at the level of Forensic Attendant in the County of Los Angeles is defined as transporting and preparing decedents for post-mortem examinations and for release to mortuary subsequent to examination.
• In order to receive credit for an Associate's degree or higher, you MUST include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or an official letter from the accredited institution, which shows degree has been conferred with the area of specialization at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission by either uploading the required documents as attachments or submitting via email to [e-mail]. These documents should clearly indicate the degree received in the English language, the date when the degree was conferred, and should be in either Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, or JPEG file format and must be less than 5.0 MB in size per document.
  
  

Please note if applicants do not submit a copy of their official diploma, transcript, or official letter from the accredited institution at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from submission of their application, their application will be considered as incomplete.

Endorsement Of County Qualifications

County employees who wish to meet the Option I requirements using out-of-class experience must provide official documentation such as additional responsibility bonus, out-of-class bonus, temporary assignment bonus, or reclassification study from CEO Classification with your application at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission. Employees do not need to submit such verification if they hold or have held the Forensic Attendant position or a position deemed to be at equivalent level. Out-of-class duties should be accurately described in the application work history, and questionable experience will be verified through the departmental HR Manager when necessary.

Withhold Information

No withholds will be allowed for this examination. All required education or experience must be possessed at the time of filing.

Additional Information

Examination Content

This examination will consist of a multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted 100%, assessing:

• Achievement
• Responsibility
• Safety Orientation
• Teamwork
• Following Instructions
• Deductive Reasoning
  
  

MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND ACHIEVE A PASSING SCORE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON THE EXAMINATION IN ORDER TO BE PLACED ON THE LIST OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES.

Notices of Non-acceptance and Final Result Letters will be sent via E-mail. Multiple choice and simulation assessment scores cannot be given over the telephone.

Important Notice

Please add [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], and [e-mail] to your email address book and/or list of approved senders to prevent email notifications, including exam notices and invitations, from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

Los Angeles County will not accept claims of not receiving assessment invitations as a reason for a reschedule.

Transfer Of Exam Components

• Applicants that have taken identical components recently for other exams will have their responses automatically transferred to this examination.
• This examination contains components that may be used in the future for new examinations and your responses may be transferred.
  
  

Test Preparation

Study guides and other test preparation resources are available to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides will help in preparing for the test, we advise you to review all related materials that you deem necessary.

• An interactive, Online Test Preparation System for taking practice tests may be accessed on the Department of Human Resources website at http://hr.lacounty.gov/. Please click on "Find A Job" and then "Job Search Toolkit". Test preparation information is located under the "Employment Test Assistance" section.
• You can also access test preparation for the computerized portion of the test by going to https://www.shl.com/shldirect/en/practice-tests/.
  
  

Eligibility Information

The names of candidates receiving a passing grade in the examination will be placed on the list of eligible candidates in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of promulgation.

Applications will be processed on an as-received basis and promulgated to the list of eligible candidates accordingly.

Vacancy Information

The list of eligible candidates resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies in the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT: Any

Application And Filing Information

Applications must be filed online only. We must receive your application before 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person will not be accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of 5:00 p.m. PT on the last day of filing as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

Important: Please note that all information included in the application materials is subject to verification at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made per Civil Service Rule 6.04. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment. Utilizing verbiage from the Class Specification and requirements serving as your description of duties will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and you may be disqualified.

Social Security Number

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

Computer And Internet Access At Public Libraries

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

No Sharing Of User Id And Password

All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

Testing Accommodation

If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, that you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

Anti-Racism, Diversity, And Inclusion (ARDI)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO)

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

California Relay Services Phone: [phone]

Testing Accommodations Coordinator: [e-mail]

Teletype Phone: [phone]

Alternate Teletype Phone: [phone]

Department Contact Name: Erika Alcazar

Department Contant Phone: [phone]

Department Contact Email: [e-mail]

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Employment Information

Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.

This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement

The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit: https://employee.hr.lacounty.gov/eeo-programs/.

Testing Accommodations For Applicants

The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit: https://hr.lacounty.gov/accessibility/.

Fair Chance

The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

Employment Eligibility

Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.

Career PathFinder

Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at http://career-pathfinder.hr.lacounty.gov.

Veteran’s Credit

Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.

For more information on veteran’s credit, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205102_PPG_115.pdf (Download PDF reader)

Revised September 2025