Exam Bulletin

Department of Social Services

Exam Code: EX-2309

Examination Plans Included:

  • CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT - Open

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

Bulletin Updates

  • Salary Updated.

Classification Details

CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT: $7,997.00 - $10,010.00 per Month

View the CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT classification specification.

Application Instructions

The Child Development Consultant examination package consists of an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and a Training and Experience examination. The link to the examination can be found under the Examination Information section on this bulletin.

This examination utilizes monthly cut-offs. Each cut-off date is anticipated to be on the last calendar day every month. Cut-off dates are subject to change, please see below for the most current cut-off dates.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 10/31/2024
  • 11/30/2024
  • 12/31/2024

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.

Results will be sent by mail or electronically within 2 weeks following each cut-off date.

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):

  • CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

    2309

For CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02309

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:

  • Examinations Unit
    California Department of Social Services
    P. O. Box 944243 - MS 8-15-58
    Sacramento, CA 94244-2430

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:

  • California Department of Social Services
    744 P Street MS 8-15-58
    Sacramento, CA 94244-2430
    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.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit their State Examination Application and Training and Experience Assessment packets on time and to ensure the envelope is postmarked if applying by way of U.S. mail or contains proof of timely deposit with a parcel delivery or courier service. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the United States Postal Service (USPS), are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an examination application.

Application packets may be personally delivered between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except State holidays), to the Department of Social Services, HRSB - Examination Unit, Mail Station 8-15-58.

You may email your completed Examination Packet (STD 678 and T&E):

Examinations@dss.ca.gov

For e-mail submission, documents must be attached as a PDF file to your email, no other format will be accepted.

The State Examination Application (STD. 678) is available through your CalCareers Account or the internet at State Examination Application (Std. 678). Please be sure to include your current email address on your State Examination Application.

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)
  • Other - Credential or permit authorizing public-school service in California

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.

00102834 - CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

Credential Requirements

All Levels:
Possession of a valid credential or permit authorizing public-school service in California. (Applicants who do not possess the required credential or permit will be admitted to the examination but must secure the credential or permit before they will be considered eligible for appointment.) (A Master's Degree or equivalent in Child Growth and Development, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, or a related subject with emphasis in childhood development may be substituted for the credential requirement. 

Possession of a valid administration credential or credential or life diploma of equivalent authorization. (One year of experience in the California Department of Education performing the duties of a professional education class at a level equivalent to the class of Child Development Assistant, Range B, or higher may be substituted for the required credential. Experience used in this manner to meet the credential requirement must be in addition to that used to meet the general experience requirement. And

Experience

Experience applicable to one of the following patterns may be combined on a proportional basis with experience applicable to the other to meet the total experience requirement.

Experience in the California state service applied toward the general experience pattern must include the same number of years of qualifying experience as required in the promotional pattern performing the duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to that described in the promotional experience pattern.

Either I:
One year of experience in the California state service performing child development or elementary education duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to a Child Development Assistant, Range B.

Or II:
Two years of administrative, supervisory, or consultant level experience in a nonfamily child development center, preschool program, parent-involvement child development program, or a comparable child development program administered by a school, community action agency, county school office, or State, or Federal agency.

Note: Applicants must submit a copy of their unofficial college transcripts and credential information along with the application package when using education to meet the entrance requirements for this examination.

Position Description

00102834 - CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

This is the full journey level in the series. The Consultant serves as a departmental representative on child development programs in a geographic area or serves as a statewide specialist for particular child development components. Under the direction of an Administrator, consultants have general responsibility for all activities in their geographic, subject-matter, or functional area. They provide coordination and liaison among various private, State, and other public agencies which provide services to children; evaluate curricula for use in child development programs; review recommendations of lower level staff related to applications for funding, site, and facilities inspections and decide what action is to be taken; participate in developing the annual work plan as part of the budget; and perform the more difficult, sensitive, and complex program formulation, analysis, implementation, administrative, and assessment activities. Consultants may also provide leadership and training to incumbents in the Assistant class in this series.

Evidence of: Willingness to travel throughout the State.

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

Examination Information

The examination will consist of a Training and Experience Assessment (supplement report) weighted 100%. The link to the PDF examination is provided below.

The examination is designed to elicit specific information regarding each candidate’s training and experience relative to the classification. Responses to the examination will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria.

Applications will be reviewed by the Examinations Unit to determine if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their completed Training and Experience Assessment rated.

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.

Complete and submit the following items with your application. These will be scored and count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items will result in disqualification from the examination.

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. Modern principles, trends, and practices in children's centers and preschool childhood education.
2. Educational programs for children from varied social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
3. Growth and development patterns, and problems of young children.
4. Current developments and research in children's centers, preschool education, parent education, and kindergarten.
5. Literature and other instructional material in the fields of preschool education.
6. Functions and purposes of Federal legislation, the Education Code, and regulations of the State Board of Education pertaining to preschool education.

Ability to:
1. Demonstrate effective classroom procedures.
2. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with persons contacted in the course of the work.
3. Communicate effectively with individuals of various ethnic backgrounds.
4. Communicate effectively.
5. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
6. Develop curricula in the field of preschool education.
7. Formulate and carry out research studies.
8. Conduct conferences, workshops, and teachers' institutes.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the CHILD DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Social Services

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.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Social Services

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Social Services
Examinations Unit
P. O. Box 944243 - MS 8-15-58
Sacramento, CA 94244-2430
Phone: (916) 657-1762
Examinations@dss.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 Social Services 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)