Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 6/21/2024
• 7/5/2024
• 7/19/2024
• 8/2/2024
• 8/16/2024
• 9/6/2024
• 9/20/2024
• 10/4/2024
• 10/18/2024
• 11/1/2024
• 11/15/2024
• 12/6/2024
• 12/20/2024

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.

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):

• PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN INSTRUCTOR - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

2539

For PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN INSTRUCTOR, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-02539

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:

• Department of State Hospitals
  Department of State Hospitals - Sacramento
  Human Resources Office
  1215 O Street, MS 17
  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 State Hospitals
  Department of State Hospitals - Sacramento
  Human Resources Office
  1215 O Street, MS 17
  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.

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.

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.

Possession of a valid license to practice as a Psychiatric Technician issued by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners. And possession of a Standard Teaching Credential with specialization in junior college teaching or a Standard Designated Subjects Teaching Credential, or shall otherwise have training, education, or experience required to teach in the accredited program or any portion thereof in a California junior college or State college.

Applicants must submit their exam application AND complete the exam during the same cut-off period.  For example, if you submit your exam application on July 8^th, 2024 (which is after the July 5^th, 2024 cut-off) you must complete the exam by July 19^th, 2024.  Filing Cut-Off Dates are listed at the beginning of the exam bulletin.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

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.

Psychiatric Technician Instructor: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3MFYTR9

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: Fundamental, developmental and psychiatric nursing principles and techniques; principles, methods, and techniques in planning, organizing, and conducting educational courses in general behavioral and psychiatric nursing and related subjects; medical and psychiatric terminology.

 Ability to: Apply the principles, methods and techniques involved in conducting training courses in general behavioral and psychiatric nursing and related subjects; supervise on-the-job training of students; evaluate the progress of students; communicate effectively; keep records and prepare reports.

A Departmental Open eligible list for the PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN INSTRUCTOR Classification will be established for:

• Department of State Hospitals

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.

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.

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

1. Provide training and clinical skills to Psychiatric Technician Trainees, Psychiatric Technician Assistants, pre-licensed Psychiatric Technicians, apprentices, students, and other licensed personnel in classroom and patient care settings for successful job performance. 
2. Teach non-medical/surgical nursing training to other hospital personnel and/or participants for the purpose of meeting the operational needs of the department. 
3. Present a variety of approaches to teaching such as videos, handouts, visual presentations, group interactive exercises, and role-play that is relevant to subject matter. 
4. Evaluate training courses for non-medical/surgical nursing training to ensure courses meet the operational needs of the department. 
5. Evaluate training courses through tests, return demonstrations, written competency evaluations, and participant feedback.
6. Teach students/staff about policies and procedures directly related to patient care in order to meet and comply with departmental regulations.
7. Participate in the planning, evaluation, and development of in-service training and policies to ensure training needs are met in accordance with departmental needs and professional standards of care.
8. Provide and teach new employee orientation classes and competency-based training courses (e.g. mentor program) to hospital staff, students, volunteers, and contractors.
9. Develop and implement learning materials and psychiatric nursing training courses appropriate for instructional use in classroom and patient care settings by using online resources, text books, periodicals, and applicable laws and regulations.
10. Provide curriculum development, expansion, and revision as it relates to in-service training of nursing personnel and other staff.
11. Research and prepare lectures, lesson plans, and testing materials as applicable in order to ensure students are prepared for licensing as a Psychiatric Technician or other licensed classification.
12. Assist with maintaining and keeping records related to nursing training to maintain documentation as it relates to the operational needs of the department.
13. Prepare and maintain reports related to nursing training (e.g., quarterly compliance report) to meet facility policies, procedures, and licensing requirements as related to the operational needs of the department.
14. Provide input, recommendations, and policy improvement for training curriculum as it relates to training in order to meet the operational needs of the department.
15. Provide hands-on instruction and training (e.g., cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, skilled lab, medication administration, therapeutic strategy and intervention (TSI)) to ensure participants can effectively perform the job.
16. Identify current training needs for all participants to maintain standards of care. 
17. Provide input to management for performance improvement and policy revisions as they relate to training.
18. Review on-the-job training in order to make recommendations as necessary, including providing additional orientation to trainees and/or make suggestions to improve course curriculum and student performance.
19. Design tests and interpret results in order to evaluate achievement of course objectives in classroom and patient care settings.
20. Facilitate mock drills to provide opportunity for students/staff to maintain and demonstrate competence in emergency situations.

Instructions: Rate your knowledge and experience performing specific job-related knowledge and abilities.

1. Knowledge of fundamentals, developmental, and psychiatric nursing principles and techniques to teach courses.
2. Knowledge of principles, methods, and techniques in planning, organizing, and conducting educational courses in general behavioral and psychiatric nursing and related subjects.
3. Knowledge of medical and psychiatric terminology for the purpose of providing input and policy improvement in psychiatric nursing training.
4. Knowledge of basic math (e.g., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, percentages, fractions) to calculate numerical data.
5. Knowledge of nursing principles and techniques in planning, organizing, and conducting educational courses in psychiatric nursing, developmental disabilities, and nursing science.
6. Knowledge of education programs and policies as they apply to the development of instruction and training curriculum.
7. Knowledge of lesson plan course outlines and agendas used in curriculum development to ensure materials covered in class are thorough and comprehensive.
8. Knowledge of training methods and techniques for curriculum, training design, teaching, and instruction for individuals and groups.
9. Knowledge of techniques used to manage classroom milieu and behavior to support a constructive learning environment.
10. Knowledge of a variety of teaching methods (e.g., videos, visual aids, interactive exercises, role play) to offer participants comprehensive instruction.
11.  Ability to apply the principles, methods, and techniques involved in conducting training courses in general behavioral and psychiatric nursing and related subjects.
12. Ability to supervise on-the-job training and evaluate progress of employees in nursing training.
13.  Ability to prepare reports using a variety of data related to training.
14.  Ability to comply with all California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) requirements for Continuing Education classes taught in accordance with departmental standards.
15.  Ability to provide student development and promotion to maintain a learning environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
16.  Ability to evaluate the progress and performance using objective measures to ensure that it meets the quality and timeliness of departmental standards.
17.  Ability to identify behaviors or conditions that may require corrective disciplinary action per departmental policy and apply such actions and reviews as appropriate.

• Department of State Hospitals

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 State Hospitals 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.