Salary : $106,343.04 - $143,306.16 Annually
Location : Los Angeles County, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: P5036B-R
Department: MEDICAL EXAMINER
Opening Date: 05/28/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Position/Program Information

EXAM NUMBER

P5036B-R
TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

We welcome applications from everyone!
WHEN TO APPLY
The application filing period will begin on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT).
We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

WHAT YOU WILL DO!
As a Pathologists' Assistant, you will work under the supervision of a licensed pathologist to prepare and perform gross examinations and dissections of anatomic pathology specimens, as well as assist with human postmortem examinations.
Essential Job Functions

• Prepares surgical specimen for pathology gross examination through a comprehensive macroscopic examination and evaluation of all surgical pathological specimens, including measuring, weighing, inking margins, dissecting, and sectioning tissues.
• Obtains relevant clinical information, identifies necessary techniques or procedures, describes gross anatomic features of specimens, dissects surgical specimens, and prepares tissue for histological examination.
• Obtains related clinical history (i.e., scans, x-rays, and laboratory data) to direct the processing of specimens. Obtains biological specimens for studies, such as flow cytometry, image analysis, immunohistochemistry, etc.
• Assists the Pathologist with rendering the provisional gross anatomic diagnosis, through observations made in dissection.
• Performs frozen sectioning and staining for intraoperative consultation.
• Performs biomedical photography of specimens.
• Performs postmortem examinations including external examinations, in situ organ inspections, evisceration, dissection and recording of applicable data.
• Moves bodies from crypt to autopsy table and manipulates other large surgical specimens.
• Updates and maintains laboratory databases and orders supplies for the grossing and frozen section rooms.
• Fulfills administrative duties in the grossing room, including coordination of specimen type to grossing station, accessioning specimens, managing holding times for stored specimens after processing, and managing inventory.
• Assists in troubleshooting workflow issues and recommends changes using process improvement techniques.
• Acts as a preceptor and assists Pathologist in training pathology residents and other pathology lab personnel. Assists in the organization and coordination of anatomic pathology conferences.
• Communicates with surgeons, pathologists, residents, and ancillary medical staff for continuity of care concerning orientation, gross findings, and margins.
• Assists in maintaining surgical pathology policies, protocols, procedures, and quality reports. Participates in departmental inspections and surveys to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Assists in obtaining proper legal authorizations for autopsies and notifies appropriate authorities to coordinate requests for tissue sampling.
• Assist with receiving and processing cytology specimens (e.i., gynecological and non gynecological) as needed.
• Performs accessioning of specimens as needed.

For more information, please view the classification specification: Pathologists' Assistant

Requirements
REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

EXPERIENCE:

No experience required.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT:

A current and valid certification as a Pathologists' Assistant from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)* is required.
*In order to receive credit for the required certification, you must include a legible copy of the official certificate and/or license at the time of filing or within seven (7) calendar days from the date of filing application. Please submit documentation to and indicate your name, the exam name, and the exam number.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.
LICENSE:

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

No withholds will be allowed for this examination. Requirements must be fully met and indicated on the application by the last day of filing.
PHYSICAL CLASS:

Physical Class 3 - Moderate: This class requires that the incumbent stand or walk most of the time with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

Additional Information
OUR ASSESSMENT PROCESS:

Once we have identified that you meet our requirements, an invitation for the following assessment process will be sent:

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

This examination will consist of a multiple-choice and/or simulation assessment worth100%, assessing:

• Professional Potential, Achievement, Coping with Uncertainty, Responsibility, Working to High Quality Standards, Willingness to Learn, Working Relationships, Analyzing Information, Learning Quickly, Generating New Ideas, Using Time Efficiently, Adapting to Change, and Following Instructions

Applicants must meet the requirements and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the assessment to be placed on the eligible register.
MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PERCIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:
If you have taken identical components recently for other exams, your responses may be automatically transferred to this examination. This exam contains test components that might be used on future exams, and your responses could be transferred to that exam.

TEST PREPARATION:
We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

• Various information can be found on our website at The section dedicated to test preparation is "Employment Test Assistance."
• Online practice tests are available at

ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION:
Applicants who pass the assessment are placed on a register in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months. Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the register accordingly. We will use this register to fill vacancies in the Department of Medical Examiner as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT:

Any
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.

Note: New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, please include yours when applying.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:

For those who do not have access to a computer or the internet, we provide access to complete an application at public libraries throughout the 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, you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.
Have any questions about anything listed above? Please contact:
Testing Accommodations Coordinator:
Testing Accommodations Phone: (213) 441-3150
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
Department Contact Name: Erika Alcazar
Department Contact Email:
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.