Exam Bulletin - Nurse Instructor

Department of Veterans Affairs

Exam Code: EX-2528

Examination Plans Included:

  • NURSE INSTRUCTOR - Open

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

Bulletin Updates

  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.

Classification Details

NURSE INSTRUCTOR: $7,465.00 - $9,709.00 (A) per Month
NURSE INSTRUCTOR: $8,117.00 - $10,584.00 (B) per Month
NURSE INSTRUCTOR: $9,476.00 - $11,864.00 (T) per Month

View the NURSE INSTRUCTOR classification specification.

Application Instructions

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 1/1/2026
  • 2/1/2026

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.

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):

  • NURSE INSTRUCTOR - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

    2528

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

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02528

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
    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

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.

00108154 - NURSE INSTRUCTOR

Either I: 
Possession of the legal requirements to practice as a professional nurse in California as determined by the California Board of Registered Nurses. (Applicants who are in the process of securing approval of their qualifications by the Board of Registered Nurses will be admitted to the examination, but they must possess all legal requirements as determined by the Board before they will be eligible for appointments.) and Either I Possession of a valid California standard designated subjects teaching credential with specialization in vocational trade and technical teaching or equivalent credential. (Applicants who do not possess the required credential may take the examination, but before appointment must have on file with the State Department of Education an application to secure the credential and must secure the credential within 90 working days after appointment. After issuance, the credential must be maintained by completion of any examinations and course work required.)

Or II:
Two years of experience as a registered nurse in teaching nursing, one year of which must have been in teaching psychiatric nursing in one or a combination of the following settings:
 1. In a California state hospital under the direction of a Psychiatric Nursing Education Director. or
2. In a State hospital or any other state of the United States under the direction of a Nursing Education Director who holds similar qualifications to those employed in California's state hospitals. or
3. In the California State Veterans Home and Medical Center under the direction of a Nursing Education Director, Veterans Home and Medical Center. or
4. In a school of professional nursing in any state of the United States which is accredited by a state board. or
5. In a California Department of Corrections institution under the direction of a Chief Medical Officer, Correctional Facility, or designee.

Or III:
Experience: One year of working experience in a nursing classification comparable in level of responsibility to a Registered Nurse, Range B. (Possession of a Master's Degree in Nursing may be substituted for the required experience.) and
Education: Graduation from a recognized college or university.

Position Description

00108154 - NURSE INSTRUCTOR

1. In a State hospital/developmental center setting, teaches theory and clinical practice to Psychiatric Technician Trainees in a course designed to prepare them as Psychiatric Technicians and gives training to other nursing staff and student professional nurses; supervises and reviews on-the-job training of Psychiatric Technician Trainees; confers with the Psychiatric Nursing Education Director.
2. In a correctional facility or the Veterans Home and Medical Center, gives training, teaches theory and clinical practice to nursing staff and student professional nurses; may conduct orientation and evaluation of new nursing staff in relation to geriatric education; researches and develops classroom teaching modules.

 In addition to the above, receives instructions, and makes reports and recommendations on the training of Psychiatric Technician Trainees and/or other nursing service personnel; participates in the evaluation of education programs and in the development of education policies; plans and evaluates students' overall educational experience; confers with ward and/or section supervisors and advises them on training principles and practices; and keeps records and prepares reports.

Aptitude for and interest in teaching nursing; sympathetic understanding of mental patients, inmates, or wards; emotional stability; patience, tact, and alertness.

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

Examination Information

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. General and psychiatric nursing principles and techniques in planning, organizing, and conducting educational courses in general and psychiatric nursing and related subjects.
2. Medical and psychiatric terminology.
Ability to:
1. Apply the principles, methods, and techniques involved in conducting training courses in general and psychiatric nursing and related subjects.
2. Supervise on-the-job training of students.
3. Evaluate the progress of students.
4. Communicate effectively.
5. Keep records and prepare reports.

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the NURSE INSTRUCTOR Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Veterans Affairs

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 Veterans Affairs

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Veterans Affairs
Examinations Unit
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)