You should have received a letter from the Department of Education requesting you to submit an administrative employee application form, cover letter and resume by June 27, 2014. This letter relates to the recent exam you took for the position of Occupational Therapist-DOE or Physical Therapist-DOE.

As you may recall, you were advised to take the exam appropriate for your discipline because the exam for supervising therapist hasn't been offered since 1986-87. This means most supervising therapists are serving as provisional civil service employees. Taking the exam for Occupational Therapist-DOE or Physical Therapist-DOE puts you on the path to permanent civil service appointment in the underlying therapist title. Submission of the application, cover letter and resume is the next step in the civil service appointment process.

For your convenience, we have worked with the Department of Education to partially complete the application forms for both therapist titles with some of the suggested responses. You will need to fill in the information that is specific to you.

View the application for physical therapists »

View the application for occupational therapists »

Please note, you will not be penalized if you already submitted your form and provided information that is different than the suggested responses or if you left some information blank because you were unsure of the answers.

We have also created a sample resume and sample cover letter.

View sample resume »

View sample cover letter »

We understand that this is a confusing situation for you. Be assured that appointment as a therapist does not affect your current position as a supervising therapist or your work assignment. Once you are appointed as a therapist, you will be immediately placed on leave from that position and continued as a provisional supervising therapist. This is an administrative task that requires no further action on your part.

We would like to clarify several additional issues that you may be concerned about when you receive this letter:

• While this letter appears on DOE letterhead, we have been informed that it is standard language used by the NYC Division of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) for all candidates for civil service appointment. This letter has been sent to all individuals on the civil service lists, both DOE employees and non-DOE employees.

• According to DCAS requirements, individuals who have passed an exam must either come in for an interview or submit a cover letter and resume notifying the employing agency that they wish to be considered for appointment. The DOE chose the latter because it was simpler and more expeditious.

• The letter makes reference to a one-year probationary period. This period starts on the date you are appointed from the therapist list. Your time working as a supervisor will be credited toward completion of the one-year civil service probation period in your therapist title so that you can attain permanent status as a therapist.

• The letter also states that you will be assigned "in the borough of Citywide." Please understand that in the context of this letter, "Citywide" does not mean District 75. The appointment process will not change or impact your current assignment.

• We have spoken with the DOE about the cover letter and resume requirements. The DOE does not expect you to go to the expense of having them professionally prepared.

• The DOE will also accept responses by email sent to this address, AskAQuestionAboutCivilServiceExaminations@schools.nyc.gov, or by fax to 718-935-5368. Fax and email responses must be received by the DOE by June 27, 2014.

It is imperative that you send your cover letter and resume within the timeframe specified in the letter. If you mail your cover letter and resume, they must be sent to the address in the letter and postmarked no later than Friday, June 27, 2014. If you send them by fax or email, they must be received by June 27.