Exam Bulletin - Health Program Specialist I

State of California

Exam Code: EX-1192

Examination Plans Included:

  • HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I: $6,061.00 - $7,587.00 per Month

View the HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I classification specification.

Application Instructions

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1192

For HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01192

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00108338 - HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I

Either 1

One year of experience in the California state service performing duties equivalent to Associate Health Program Adviser. (Applicants who have completed six months of service performing the duties as specified above will be admitted to the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of this experience before they can be eligible for appointment.)

Or 2

Experience: Three years of progressively responsible experience in health program administration, at least one year of which shall have been with major responsibility for a significant program such as is normally found in a complex or departmentalized medical care delivery setting or health institution or organization. (Possession of a Doctoral Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Health Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related health professional field may be substituted for up to one year of the required general experience.) and

Education: Possession of a Master's Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Hospital Administration, Comprehensive Health Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related health professional field. (One year of additional specialized qualifying experience may be substituted for the required master's degree.)

Position Description

00108338 - HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I

Incumbents at this level function as highly skilled, technical program consultants in areas of extreme sensitivity and with responsibility for coordinating the development of broad policy with multiple departmental, immediate and long-range impact. Positions at this level are those where the level of expertise required is definably greater than that for any other supervisory position at this level and the function performed is critical to the department's basic mission.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following components:

  • Online Exam : A passing score must be achieved and is weighted 100% of the final score.

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Public health, mental health and health care services programs and trends
  2. Problems and procedures involved in establishing community relationships and assessing community health program needs and resources
  3. Preparation and planning for coordinated programs with local and Federal agencies, private agencies and health care providers
  4. Principles and methods of public administration including organization, personnel and fiscal management
  5. Methods of preparing reports
  6. Research and survey methods
  7. Methods and principles of medical care administration, disease and disability prevention, health promotion and medical rehabilitation
  8. Procedures, planning, implementation and monitoring of programs
  9. Design and plan for coordination of programs with Federal and local agencies
  10. Legislative processes
Ability to:
  1. Assist in development of public health and health care projects
  2. Apply health regulations, policies and procedures
  3. Participate in monitoring and evaluating health programs and projects
  4. Gather, analyze and organize data related to health programs
  5. Analyze administrative problems and recommend effective action
  6. Speak and write effectively
  7. Act as program liaison with staff in other programs at the Federal, State, and local level
  8. Assist in planning, conducting and evaluating of field projects
  9. Recommend and take actions on a variety of health programs, project activities, staffing and budgetary processes
  10. Analyze proposed legislation, regulations and health program standards
  11. Provide consultation and technical assistance to local agencies
  12. Serve on task forces and committees as a program representative

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Health Program Specialist I Exam Preview

Section 1
Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks:
1. Developing and implementing solutions to problems relating to programs, policies and procedures, and/or business processes to ensure compliance and/or improve efficiency of the health-related system or program.
2. Assist in updating, developing and/or implementing health-related guidelines, protocols, policies and procedures and/or decision support tools.
3. Preparing documents, reports and correspondence regarding health-related programs, services, operations, compliance issues, and/or policies and procedures.
4. Researching, analyzing, and interpreting laws, rules, and regulations to ensure policies are consistent and compliant.
5. Responding to questions and concerns from internal and/or external stakeholders regarding health-related programs.
6. Reviewing documents and/or reports for accuracy and clarity; and evaluating recommendations to determine impact on health-related program operations.
7. Preparing briefing documents, diagrams, graphs, flowcharts, and/or organizational charts to support meetings, discussions, report findings, and/or document project status and timelines.
8. Analyzing problems and issues concerning health-related programs, procedures, business processes, and/or policies.
9. Tracking, maintaining, and monitoring data concerning health-related programs.
10. Monitoring and/or evaluating health-related programs to ensure compliance with laws, rules, and regulations.
11. Reviewing, analyzing and/or validating health-related data to ensure data integrity and assess program/system performance.
12. Facilitating multi-disciplinary teams to plan health-related projects, evaluate quality issues, and/or assist in developing and testing interventions/process improvements.
13. Creating data-specific health-related program compliance reports.
14. Conducting audits of health-related program performance.

Section 2

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, and/or your EDUCATION.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Task:
15. Notifying management about health-related project and/or program status and/or potential issues in operations.

Testing Departments

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalHR - Exam Services
1515 "S" Street, North Bldg.
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@CalHR.CA.GOV

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)