Exam Bulletin - Activity Coordinator

Department of Veterans Affairs

Multiple Testing Departments. Please see list of Departments.

Exam Code: EX-1989

Examination Plans Included:

  • ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, VETERANS HOME AND MEDICAL CENTER - Open

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

Bulletin Updates

  • Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.
  • Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.
  • Salary adjustment

Classification Details

ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, VETERANS HOME AND MEDICAL CENTER: $3,167.00 - $3,966.00 per Month

View the ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, VETERANS HOME AND MEDICAL CENTER classification specification.

Application Instructions

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 6/1/2026
  • 7/1/2026
  • 8/1/2026
  • 9/1/2026
  • 10/1/2026
  • 11/1/2026
  • 12/1/2026
  • 1/1/2027

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will be processed in the next group.

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):

  • ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, VETERANS HOME AND MEDICAL CENTER - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1989

For ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, VETERANS HOME AND MEDICAL CENTER, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01989

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.

You may apply by mail to:

  • Exams Unit
    Department of Veterans Affairs
    Human Resources Branch
    1227 O Street, Room 404
    Sacramento, CA 95814

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

  • Department of Veterans Affairs
    Human Resources Branch
    1227 O Street, Room 404
    Sacramento, CA 95814
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

You may email your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Exams@calvet.ca.gov

The following items must be submitted with your Examination/Employment Application form. Failure to submit these items may result in rejection of your application.

  • Certificate - Attendance in Activity Coordinator Training Course

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.

00108319 - ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, VETERANS HOME AND MEDICAL CENTER

Possession of a Certificate of Attendance in the Activity Coordinator Training Course. 
AND
Either I: Two years of general experience in a health care facility.
Or II: One year of experience in a long-term care facility for geriatrics.

Position Description

00108319 - ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, VETERANS HOME AND MEDICAL CENTER

Plans, coordinates, and carries out activities which involve geriatric patients, including discussion and study groups, reading, gardening, games, exercise, art, music, creative ventures and religious and educational pursuits; assists in developing activity plans to carry out the goals of individual activity programs; plans and recommends program activities to the interdisciplinary team; coordinates activity schedules with other patient services; requests and maintains equipment and supplies; maintains a current record of the type and frequency of activities and the names of patients participating in each activity; coordinates volunteer participation in the activity program with Volunteer Services; participates in in- service training; prepares routine activity reports documenting the participation of each patient; and develops and maintains appropriate contacts with community resources.

Objective and empathetic understanding of the elderly; tolerance, tact and emotional stability.

The talent to motivate people by virtue of a positive, friendly attitude in order to create a pleasant and safe environment in which the patient feels confident and secure.

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

Examination Information

To request a copy of the examination, please email exams@calvet.ca.gov.

Be sure to include the examination title in your request.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Supplemental ReportWith Application100%

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

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.Principles, procedures, techniques and trends of activity programs.
2.Physical, psychological, and social problems of the geriatric patient.
Ability to:
1.Plan, coordinate and carry out program activities.
2.Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with individuals andorganizations contacted in the course of the work.
3.Be able to speak and write effectively.
4.Operate all necessary tools and equipment; maintain supplies.
5.Analyze situations accurately and adopt a suitable course of action.

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the ACTIVITY COORDINATOR, VETERANS HOME AND MEDICAL CENTER 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.

Training and Experience Preview

Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

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.

Task:
  1. Complete departmental assessment forms on a new patient.
  2. Develop comprehensive individual care plans.
  3. Review and complete quarterly and annual re-assessments and update individual care plans.
  4. Record daily attendance and activity participation.
  5. Monitor patients closely during activities taking appropriate precautions.
  6. Modify activities.
  7. Communicate with patients verbally and in writing.
  8. Assist in the completion of Quality Assurance reports detailing successful activities as communicated from the patients.
  9. Orient and supervise volunteers and member helpers.
  10. Accompany groups of patients to community functions.

Knowledge, Skill, Ability:
  1. Basic knowledge of principles, procedures, techniques, and trends of activity programs.
  2. Basic knowledge of physical, psychological, and social problems.
  3. General knowledge of Cal-OSHA, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and California Highway Patrol (CHP) rules, laws, and safety regulations.
  4. General knowledge of computer software and databases (e.g., Microsoft Office, etc.).
  5. Working knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  6. General knowledge of the principles and processes of providing customer and personal services.
  7. Skill to give full attention to what other people are saying, take time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate, and not interrupt at inappropriate times.
  8. Skill to effectively adjust actions in relation to others’ actions.
  9. Skill to actively look for ways to help patients.
  10. Skill to adequately communicate with and understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Veterans Affairs
  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Veterans Affairs - Human Resources Division
1227 O Street, Room 404
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2535
Exams@calvet.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.

Department of Veterans Affairs 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)
By Mail
In Person (see bulletin for details)
Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)