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In his first executive order, Shapiro removes degree requirement for thousands of state jobs
Caption: Gov. Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov. Austin Davis host a ceremony to sign their administration’s first executive order on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, at the Capitol in Harrisburg. (Capital-Star photo by Marley Parish)
(link) https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/in-his-first-executive-order-shapiro-removes-degree-requirement-for-thousands-of-state-jobs/
On his first full day in office, Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, signed his first executive order, removing a four-year degree requirement for tens of thousands of state government jobs.
Shapiro — who took the oath of office on Tuesday with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis — said the order applies to 92% of commonwealth jobs, estimating that roughly 65,000 positions in the state will be open to Pennsylvanians regardless of whether they hold a college degree.
“In Pennsylvania, the people should decide what path is best for them, not have it decided by some arbitrary requirement or any arbitrary limitation,” Shapiro said during a public signing ceremony on Wednesday.
Along with the executive action, Shapiro ordered all executive branch agencies to emphasize skills and experience during the hiring process and launched a review of the remaining 8% of jobs that still require a four-year degree. The administration also opened a new website that lets applicants search and filter state government job openings based on degree requirements.
“Pennsylvania government should be a place where every single person has the opportunity to serve and to succeed,” Davis said. “This is a significant step in tearing down barriers for employment here in Pennsylvania.”
Shapiro — who took the oath of office on Tuesday with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis — said the order applies to 92% of commonwealth jobs, estimating that roughly 65,000 positions in the state will be open to Pennsylvanians regardless of whether they hold a college degree.
“In Pennsylvania, the people should decide what path is best for them, not have it decided by some arbitrary requirement or any arbitrary limitation,” Shapiro said during a public signing ceremony on Wednesday.
Along with the executive action, Shapiro ordered all executive branch agencies to emphasize skills and experience during the hiring process and launched a review of the remaining 8% of jobs that still require a four-year degree. The administration also opened a new website that lets applicants search and filter state government job openings based on degree requirements.
“Pennsylvania government should be a place where every single person has the opportunity to serve and to succeed,” Davis said. “This is a significant step in tearing down barriers for employment here in Pennsylvania.”
- more at link -
Good move, Governor Shapiro.
21 replies
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Employees can be hired without the 4-year degree, and after a few years they can earn their degree while working for the state government.
No need for the working class to go get an education so that you can debate philosophy or economics. The ruling class will teach us everything we need to know.
I totally believe that entry-level clerical and administrative positions should be open to those with a 2-year degree or the equivalent in work experience. These new hires can be encouraged to continue their education, if they have the resources and the time to do so.
If they choose to stay at entry-level, then so be it. However I believe most state employees do aspire to higher positions and pay levels, and they realize that continuing their education is the key to moving up to executive and supervisory positions.
Those of us who actually have 4 year college degrees shouldn't be snobbish about it either. "Share Your Knowledge" has always been my motto in my career and in outside interests.
did screening/interviews of potential hires, it's not just "administrative" or "clerical". You can have tech and health-related entry-level positions that either don't have or need a 4-year degree.
For example, PA has "Health Aides" and they assist other state healthcare staff and I even spotted this - https://careers.employment.pa.gov/Home/GetJobNameInfo?jobCode=30001
JOB TITLE: AIDE TRAINEE
JOB CODE: 30001
DEFINITION: This is trainee level work in providing non-professional direct rehabilitative nursing care and treatment or habilitative care and services for individuals.
An employee in this job attends formal classroom training sessions and receives on-the-job training assignments to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to assist nursing staff in the direct and daily care of individuals residing in a state operated facility. Training is achieved through formal classroom instruction, computer-based training, reading assignments, and behavioral observation of individuals. An employee receives on-the-job training in non-professional direct care methods, techniques, and procedures. As knowledge and skills are acquired, further developmental assignments are given in actual work situations. Training and work assignments are performed under the close supervision and review of higher-level staff.
EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)
• Completes formal classroom and on-the-job training.
• Instructs, guides, and assists individuals with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and oral hygiene.
• Records daily observations of individuals’ physical or behavioral changes due to reactions to medication, personal events, or other circumstances.
• Serves meals and assists individuals with eating.
• Assists individuals with walking and transports non-ambulatory individuals by wheelchair, stretcher, gurney, or other means.
• Lifts and positions non-ambulatory individuals.
• Assists with basic first aid measures, such as applying small adhesive bandages.
• Maintains cleanliness of wards, living areas, or buildings including emptying trash containers and sanitizing bathrooms.
• Transports and empties bed pans.
• Collects urine and fecal specimens for laboratory analysis.
• Takes and records individuals’ weight, blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiration readings.
• Assists professional staff in implementing individuals’ treatment plans by participating in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and instructing and guiding individuals to participate in therapeutic programs and activities.
• Washes and sterilizes individuals’ medical equipment, such as medical implements, instruments, basins, bedpans, and urinals.
• Adheres to established fire, safety, and infection control policies and procedures.
• Reports safety hazards in buildings, wards, and living areas.
• Performs related work as required.
ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to read and understand written materials.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
JOB CODE: 30001
DEFINITION: This is trainee level work in providing non-professional direct rehabilitative nursing care and treatment or habilitative care and services for individuals.
An employee in this job attends formal classroom training sessions and receives on-the-job training assignments to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to assist nursing staff in the direct and daily care of individuals residing in a state operated facility. Training is achieved through formal classroom instruction, computer-based training, reading assignments, and behavioral observation of individuals. An employee receives on-the-job training in non-professional direct care methods, techniques, and procedures. As knowledge and skills are acquired, further developmental assignments are given in actual work situations. Training and work assignments are performed under the close supervision and review of higher-level staff.
EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)
• Completes formal classroom and on-the-job training.
• Instructs, guides, and assists individuals with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and oral hygiene.
• Records daily observations of individuals’ physical or behavioral changes due to reactions to medication, personal events, or other circumstances.
• Serves meals and assists individuals with eating.
• Assists individuals with walking and transports non-ambulatory individuals by wheelchair, stretcher, gurney, or other means.
• Lifts and positions non-ambulatory individuals.
• Assists with basic first aid measures, such as applying small adhesive bandages.
• Maintains cleanliness of wards, living areas, or buildings including emptying trash containers and sanitizing bathrooms.
• Transports and empties bed pans.
• Collects urine and fecal specimens for laboratory analysis.
• Takes and records individuals’ weight, blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiration readings.
• Assists professional staff in implementing individuals’ treatment plans by participating in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and instructing and guiding individuals to participate in therapeutic programs and activities.
• Washes and sterilizes individuals’ medical equipment, such as medical implements, instruments, basins, bedpans, and urinals.
• Adheres to established fire, safety, and infection control policies and procedures.
• Reports safety hazards in buildings, wards, and living areas.
• Performs related work as required.
ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to read and understand written materials.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
And a step up from "trainee" might be - https://careers.employment.pa.gov/Home/GetJobNameInfo?jobCode=30320
JOB TITLE: NURSE AIDE
JOB CODE: 30320
DEFINITION: This is non-professional nursing work in the care and rehabilitation of individuals.
An employee in this job performs non-professional nursing work in the direct care and rehabilitation of individuals residing in state operated facilities, such as a veterans’ home, restoration center, or state correctional facility. Work involves carrying out the daily routine of individualized care plans; assisting individuals with activities of daily living, personal care needs, and rehabilitative activities; maintaining individuals’ living areas; observing and reporting changes in individuals’ physical condition and behavior; and documenting daily care performed and information obtained in individuals' records. Work also involves participating in on-the-job, in-service, and formal training in nursing care procedures to update and maintain non-professional nursing care expertise. Nursing duties are of limited scope and are performed in accordance with established regulations, rules, care plans, and specific instructions. Work is performed under close supervision of a licensed professional supervisor who reviews work through reports, inspections, and observations, but employees are expected to perform the more routine duties independently.
EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):
• Assists individuals in prescribed therapeutic rehabilitative programs intended to improve their social and physical wellbeing.
• Assists individuals with activities of daily living and personal care needs, such as bathing, oral hygiene, shaving, hair care, nail care, dressing, walking, exercising, and getting in and out of bed using mechanical lifts or manual lifting techniques.
• Demonstrates and teaches individuals how to meet their daily living and personal care needs without assistance, within the limits of their physical capabilities, and in accordance with nursing care plans.
• Takes and records individuals’ temperatures, weight, pulse, and respiration rates.
• Records and reports indicative signs and symptoms of individuals’ behavior and conditions, and their responses to care and treatment in their clinical records.
• Performs daily activities for individuals such as making beds, changing linens, sorting laundry, giving rubs, lifting and repositioning, administering unmedicated ointments and lotions, and applying hot water bottles and ice caps as prescribed.
• Serves nourishment, meals, and liquids to individuals and assists them with feeding.
• Prepares and assists in applying unmedicated soaks.
• Applies comfort and control devices such as binders, supports, back rests, side rails, walking-assist devices, and other types of prostheses under the direction of licensed professional staff.
• Collects specimens, passes bed pans and urinals, empties and cleans drainage bottles, and records amount of drainage.
• Participates in multidisciplinary, nursing care, occupational therapy, and other types of meetings to discuss individuals’ needs, to report observations, and to receive recommendations and plans of rehabilitation, care, therapy, and treatment of individuals from medical and therapeutic personnel.
• Provides input to professional staff during the development of care plans.
• Observes and reports unusual incidents or emergency occurrences to supervisory personnel and assists as required.
• Assists with routine admission, transfer, and discharge procedures.
• Escorts individuals to recreational, rehabilitative, clinical, and other onsite and offsite appointments and activities.
• Makes rounds with professional personnel at the beginning and close of the tour of duty.
• Sterilizes and cleans medical equipment such as feeding pumps, nebulizers, IV pumps, and glucometers.
• Cares for an individual’s body after death and before arrival of the ambulance or funeral home staff.
• Follows fire, safety, and infection control policies and procedures.
• Performs related work as required.
ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
• Knowledge of non-professional nursing practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of first aid practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of common physical illnesses and their obvious signs and symptoms.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):
• Active registration as a Nurse Aide in the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry;
or
• Six months of paid experience in the care and treatment of geriatric or physically ill patients or residents.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
• Positions assigned to a long-term care facility in the Department of Human Services or in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs require active registration as a Nurse Aide in the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry.
JOB CODE: 30320
DEFINITION: This is non-professional nursing work in the care and rehabilitation of individuals.
An employee in this job performs non-professional nursing work in the direct care and rehabilitation of individuals residing in state operated facilities, such as a veterans’ home, restoration center, or state correctional facility. Work involves carrying out the daily routine of individualized care plans; assisting individuals with activities of daily living, personal care needs, and rehabilitative activities; maintaining individuals’ living areas; observing and reporting changes in individuals’ physical condition and behavior; and documenting daily care performed and information obtained in individuals' records. Work also involves participating in on-the-job, in-service, and formal training in nursing care procedures to update and maintain non-professional nursing care expertise. Nursing duties are of limited scope and are performed in accordance with established regulations, rules, care plans, and specific instructions. Work is performed under close supervision of a licensed professional supervisor who reviews work through reports, inspections, and observations, but employees are expected to perform the more routine duties independently.
EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):
• Assists individuals in prescribed therapeutic rehabilitative programs intended to improve their social and physical wellbeing.
• Assists individuals with activities of daily living and personal care needs, such as bathing, oral hygiene, shaving, hair care, nail care, dressing, walking, exercising, and getting in and out of bed using mechanical lifts or manual lifting techniques.
• Demonstrates and teaches individuals how to meet their daily living and personal care needs without assistance, within the limits of their physical capabilities, and in accordance with nursing care plans.
• Takes and records individuals’ temperatures, weight, pulse, and respiration rates.
• Records and reports indicative signs and symptoms of individuals’ behavior and conditions, and their responses to care and treatment in their clinical records.
• Performs daily activities for individuals such as making beds, changing linens, sorting laundry, giving rubs, lifting and repositioning, administering unmedicated ointments and lotions, and applying hot water bottles and ice caps as prescribed.
• Serves nourishment, meals, and liquids to individuals and assists them with feeding.
• Prepares and assists in applying unmedicated soaks.
• Applies comfort and control devices such as binders, supports, back rests, side rails, walking-assist devices, and other types of prostheses under the direction of licensed professional staff.
• Collects specimens, passes bed pans and urinals, empties and cleans drainage bottles, and records amount of drainage.
• Participates in multidisciplinary, nursing care, occupational therapy, and other types of meetings to discuss individuals’ needs, to report observations, and to receive recommendations and plans of rehabilitation, care, therapy, and treatment of individuals from medical and therapeutic personnel.
• Provides input to professional staff during the development of care plans.
• Observes and reports unusual incidents or emergency occurrences to supervisory personnel and assists as required.
• Assists with routine admission, transfer, and discharge procedures.
• Escorts individuals to recreational, rehabilitative, clinical, and other onsite and offsite appointments and activities.
• Makes rounds with professional personnel at the beginning and close of the tour of duty.
• Sterilizes and cleans medical equipment such as feeding pumps, nebulizers, IV pumps, and glucometers.
• Cares for an individual’s body after death and before arrival of the ambulance or funeral home staff.
• Follows fire, safety, and infection control policies and procedures.
• Performs related work as required.
ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
• Knowledge of non-professional nursing practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of first aid practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of common physical illnesses and their obvious signs and symptoms.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):
• Active registration as a Nurse Aide in the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry;
or
• Six months of paid experience in the care and treatment of geriatric or physically ill patients or residents.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
• Positions assigned to a long-term care facility in the Department of Human Services or in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs require active registration as a Nurse Aide in the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry.
where the above applicant might have a 2-year LPN degree (or equivalent training/certification) that can eventually lead to more formal schooling to move up - including to 4 year Bachelors/Masters/PhD-level nursing degrees...
And given the state of health workers after COVID I *know* it's probably universally difficult to get people back into the field - let alone for the state!
I was thinking more of the office staffing.
Hospital orderlies, nurse's aides and similar jobs are perfect examples.
Thanks for this info, it could be helpful to a lot of people.
so much of the "administrative/clerical" positions were pretty much eliminated (or renamed). It was all part of the "do more with less" era that came with more automation in the '90s and early '00s, with people typing and filing their own reports, entering their own data into the tracking databases (including work dispositions, timekeeping requests, and completing their own travel vouchers, etc.). So no more dictation/transcriptions/editing or performing other clerical things like faxing scanning documents, etc., EXCEPT for the top managers.
Previously most of that was done by administrative/secretarial staff and that forced a much tinier footprint for those types of positions from that point on.
I know just before I retired in 2017, our Administrative Office (alone) that originally had about 10+ people (including fiscal) when I started, was down to 3 (including the supervisor) when I left. The other programmatic offices were down to 1 administrative staff person per branch after having multiple support staff in the past per group.