• Continuous filing dates have been added.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 3/17/2026
• 6/17/2026
• 9/16/2026
• 12/16/2026

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.

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):

• ASSISTANT HEALTH PHYSICIST - Open

Persons who meet the minimum qualifications as stated on this announcement may take this competitive examination.

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

Exam Code(s):

2291

For ASSISTANT HEALTH PHYSICIST, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-02291

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:

• Examination Services Unit
  P.O. Box 997378 MS 1700 – 1702
  Sacramento, CA 95899-7378
  

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:

• Examination Services Unit
  1615 Capitol Avenue
  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.

STANDARD STATE APPLICATION (FORM 678)

COPY OF UNOFFICIAL/OFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS

Applications and any additional documents must be submitted via the U.S. Postal Service or hand delivered to the Department of Public Health Human Resources Office (hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). Submit (California State Application STD 678) and any additional documents to:

Via Email: CDPHExamUnit@cdph.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.

• Transcript (Official or Unofficial)
• Certificate - Please provide if meeting MQs under Pattern 2

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.

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

Either One
One year of experience performing the duties of a Junior Health Physicist in California state service.

Or Two

Possession of a valid certificate in diagnostic or therapeutic radiologic technology or nuclear medicine technology issued by the California Department of Public Health (formerly California Department of Health Services) or possession of a health physics technology certificate from an accredited two-year program (applicants who are in the process of securing a certificate will be admitted to the examination, but must provide proof of certification before they will be considered for appointment).

AND

Five years of experience in a public health agency or county contract inspection agency or hospital conducting investigations and surveying the use of radiological equipment; providing advice on safe practices in radiation; and compliance with rules and regulations governing radiation use.

Or Three

Two years of professional experience in health physics or a closely related field.

AND

Graduation from college with a major in radiologic health, radiologic science, health physics, engineering, mathematics, physical science, life science, or a closely related field.

The required degree must have been obtained from a recognized U.S. university or from a foreign university approved by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education under the provision of California Education Code Chapter 3, Part 59, Division 10.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

All candidates for, appointees to, and employees in the state civil service shall possess the general qualifications of integrity, honesty, sobriety, dependability, industry, thoroughness, accuracy, good judgment, initiative, resourcefulness, courtesy, ability to work cooperatively with others, willingness and ability to assume the responsibilities and to conform to the conditions of work characteristic of the employment, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

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

This examination utilizes an evaluation of education and experience (E&E) weighted 100% and is based solely upon information provided with the application. Information provided with the application will be assessed compared to a standard developed in relation to the elements of the job and linked to the knowledge and abilities required on the job.

Special care should be taken to submitting a complete description of your education and experience relevant to the typical tasks, scope, and minimum qualifications stated on this announcement. Supplemental information will be accepted but competitors should read the announcement carefully to determine what kind of information will be useful to those individuals completing the evaluation.

The California Department of Public Health 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 law and rules and all competitors will be notified.

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. Basic research techniques to effectively and accurately conduct radiation safety and complianceinspections.

2. Theory and practice of health physics and radiation protection to protect the public, radiationworkers, and the environment.

3. Principles and theories of physical science and engineering to protect the public, radiationworkers, and the environment.

4. California Health and Safety Codes, California Code of Regulations, and Federal Regulationspertaining to X-ray machines and the users of these.

5. Emergency response procedures needed to respond to accidents involving radioactive materials.

6. Radiation dosimetry and the theory and design of instruments and methods used to measureradiation.

7. Use, transport, and care for equipment necessary to support radiological investigations.

Skills to:
1. Analyze radiation program elements when carrying out daily duties.

2. Identify project resources and deadlines in order to prioritize work assignments, establishtimelines for completion, and to assure that project goals are met.

3. Make modifications or adaptations to established methods, procedures, and/or techniques tosolve problems in the work environment.

4. Work cooperatively and effectively with staff, management and others to maintain a healthyworking environment.

5. Maintain detailed workbooks/documentation and ensure all documentation fulfills generallyaccepted professional/industry standards.

6. Maintain a neat and orderly workspace in order to uphold health and safety standards.

7. Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions,

8. Prepare and maintain individual records of daily activities and complete detailed and thoroughwork tasks to achieve departmental goals.

9. Communicate effectively in verbal and written form.

Ability to:

1. Analyze situations accurately, derive recommendations, and take effective action.

2. Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with staff, management, and others in thecourse of the work.

3. Effectively and accurately communicate both orally and in writing, with staff, management, thepublic, and others to provide information and direction.

4. Prepare clear and concise reports regarding radiologic investigations.

5. Evaluate plans and specifications to insure prevention of radiation hazards.

6. Gain the confidence and compliances with persons of varied scientific disciplines in orderto achieve departmental goals.

7. Prepare technical reports and correspondence regarding radiologic investigations.

8. Develop new or modify existing methods and procedures to stay in compliance withchanging rules and regulations.

9. Practice proper safety procedures to minimize the risk of any hazardous accidents.

A Departmental Open eligible list for the ASSISTANT HEALTH PHYSICIST Classification will be established for:

• Department of Public Health

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

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.

• Department of Public Health

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

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.

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 Public Health 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.