Quick Links:

• Louisiana Department of State Civil Service: https://jobs.civilservice.louisiana.gov/
• State of Louisiana Current Job Opportunities: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/louisiana

How to Obtain a State Job: 

Interested applicants can search for job vacancies through the State of Louisiana Current Job Opportunities website. Select the job posting of interest and review the job responsibilities and minimum qualifications. Select “Apply” to login or create a new account and complete the online application. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their own applications to determine where they are in the recruitment process; status is viewable by selecting the ‘Applications’ link after logging into an existing account.

Note that some agencies require advanced testing to be completed prior to an application being submitted for a vacancy. The Louisiana Department of State Civil Service administers tests on a continuous basis, which are not directly associated with job vacancies, but are available to provide applicants with the opportunity to test and obtain a score in advance of a vacancy being posted. Once you obtain a score, it is automatically available to state agencies. Not all jobs require completion of an exam, and more information can be found on the state’s civil service website: https://jobs.civilservice.louisiana.gov/TestInformation/TestRegistration.aspx.

How to Apply: https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/files/divisions/staffing/onlineapplicationguide.pdf

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry 

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) is responsible for meat inspection, poultry, eggs, produce, and animal feed. The entry level classification utilized by LDAF is: 

Agriculture Specialist 1 
Annual Salary Range: $36,608 – $64,147 

Minimum Qualifications: A baccalaureate degree with at least twelve semester hours in agribusiness, agricultural science, agronomy, animal science, biology, botany, chemistry, dairy science, entomology, environmental science, food science, forestry, geology, horticulture, physical science, physics, plant pathology, poultry science, soil science, veterinary science, wildlife and fisheries science, zoology, or any combination AND an additional twelve semester hours in accounting, agribusiness, agricultural science, agronomy, animal science, biology, botany, chemistry, dairy science, economics, education, entomology, environmental science, food science, forestry, geology, health sciences, horticulture, management, marketing, physical science, physics, plant pathology, poultry science, soil science, veterinary science, wildlife and fisheries science, zoology or any combination. 

Substitution:  Experience in inspecting or enforcing for compliance with agricultural laws, rules or regulations, or inspection and testing of weighing and measuring devices will substitute for the baccalaureate degree and specialized coursework on the basis of 30 semester hours with 6 semester hours of specialized coursework for one year of experience. 

Note:  Any college hours or degree must be from a school accredited by one of the following regional accrediting bodies:?the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; the New England Commission of Higher Education; the Higher Learning Commission; the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  

Louisiana Department of Health 

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) regulates manufactured food processors and distributors, bottled water, retail food establishments, milk and dairy, seafood, and shellfish. The entry level classification utilized by LDH is: 

Sanitarian 1 
Annual Salary Range:  $36,608 – $64,147 

Minimum Qualifications:  

Education: Either of the following will qualify: (1) A baccalaureate degree with a major in environmental health; OR (2) A baccalaureate degree with 30 semester hours of specialized science coursework, to include at least six hours in chemistry or physics, ten hours in biological sciences, and an additional fourteen hours in any combination of chemistry, physics, or biological sciences. 

Acceptable coursework in biological sciences (as defined by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners for Sanitarians) include but are not limited to biology, entomology, microbiology, zoology, and such applied sciences as animal husbandry, dairy husbandry, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, and veterinary science. The Louisiana State Board of Examiners for Sanitarian will make the final determination of acceptable coursework for permit/licensure eligibility. 

Any college hours or degree must be from a school accredited by one of the following regional accrediting bodies: the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; the New England Commission of Higher Education; the Higher Learning Commission; the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. 

Louisiana State Board of Examiners for Sanitarians: Candidates must possess a valid temporary permit issued by the Louisiana State Board of Examiners for Sanitarians at the time of appointment. The Louisiana State Board of Examiners for Sanitarians will make the final determination regarding permit/licensure eligibility. 

Molluscan Shellfish: Positions in the Molluscan Shellfish program require that applicants complete the Louisiana Boating Education program and be certified by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.  

Temporary and Registered Sanitarian Requirements: 
The Louisiana State Board of Examiners for Sanitarians, https://lsbes.org/ 

An applicant for a Registered Sanitarian must meet the following requirements: graduation from an accredited college or university, with a bachelor’s degree and concentration of courses in the general area of environmental health. In lieu thereof, an applicant may offer a bachelor’s degree which includes at least thirty (30) semester hours (or the equivalent) of courses in the physical and biological sciences, with a minimum of six (6) hours in the physical sciences and a minimum of ten (10) hours in the biological sciences. The physical sciences will be said to include only chemistry and physics; the biological sciences include but are not limited to biology, entomology, microbiology, zoology; and such applied sciences as animal husbandry, dairy husbandry, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, and veterinary science. 

Note: Must be registered as an Environmental Health Specialist/Sanitarian under the provisions of KRS 223 within twelve (12) months of appointment and maintain this registration for the length of employment in this job title. Upon appointment, employees in this class may be required to maintain a valid driver’s license and required to drive a licensed vehicle.

Want to see more about what working for LDH is like? 

Watch this “Sanitarian Job” preview video created by the Louisiana Department of Health that covers what it’s like to work as a Sanitarian (1-3):