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):

• PHARMACY TECHNICIAN, DEPARTMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

2545

For PHARMACY TECHNICIAN, DEPARTMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-02545

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.

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

• License - Valid certificate

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 certificate of registration as a Pharmacy Technician issued by the State Board of Pharmacy set forth in Section 4115 and 4202 of the Business and Professions Code.

Registration requirements shall not apply during the first year of employment for a person employed or utilized as a Pharmacy Technician to assist in the filling of prescriptions for a person receiving treatment in a facility operated by the State Departments of Mental Health or Developmental Services. and Either I One year of clerical work experience in a pharmacy relieving a pharmacist of clerical or subprofessional duties. Primary duties must have included stocking shelves with pharmaceutical supplies or typing pharmaceutical labels. [Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must be in a class at a level of responsibility not less than that of Office Assistant (General), Range B.] (Academic education above the 12th grade may be substituted for the experience on the basis of one year of education of a science or mathematical nature being equivalent to six months' experience. Students who are enrolled in the last semester or its equivalent of course work which upon completion will fulfill these requirements will be admitted to the examination, but they must submit evidence of completion before they can be considered for appointment.)

Or II

Completion of an academic curriculum and formal on-the-job training program for Pharmacy Technician.

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.

Pharmacy Technician, Departments of Mental Health: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XLJ7M9S

Click the above link to take the exam after you have submitted your application.  Exam responses must be received with the corresponding cut-off date as your application.

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: Basic clerical, record keeping, and pharmaceutical office practices; basic pharmaceutical terminology; weights and measures; sterile techniques.

Ability to: Follow meticulous written and oral instructions; read and write English; perform mathematical computations with accuracy; learn and distinguish subtle differences in pharmaceutical terminology; type accurately.

A Departmental Open eligible list for the PHARMACY TECHNICIAN, DEPARTMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES 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. Assisting in the operation of the pharmacy to ensure efficient and effective operations, utilizing a computerized pharmacy system, packaging machinery, and basic office supplies, in accordance with federal and state rules and regulations.
2. Maintaining drug and supply inventory and inventory records in order to take action to replenish medications and/or supplies when quantities are too low, referencing inventory and purchase records, in compliance with federal and state rules and regulations.
3. Checking goods received against purchase orders, invoices, and requisitions, to ensure goods received are the goods ordered, referencing various forms (e.g., purchase orders, invoices, requisitions), in accordance with federal and state rules and regulations.
4. Segregating, labeling, storing, and rotating pharmaceutical supplies, to ensure quick retrieval upon future use, utilizing affixing-labels, and predetermined product location, in compliance with federal and state rules and regulations.
5. Reviewing pharmacy stock for expired drugs in order to remove expired medications from inventory in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, referencing labeled dates to the calendar to make determinations.
6. Delivering medications to the units to ensure the patients consistent and continued access to current medication treatment, utilizing a computer and drawer system to stock medications into, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
7. Cleaning equipment, shelves, and work areas to maintain a sanitary environment and minimize the spread of infection, utilizing disinfectant wipes and other common cleaning supplies, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
8. Operating the packaging machinery for unit dose or prepackaged dispensing system. (i.e., med-select dispensing unit, fast-pack exp/packaging machinery) to ready medications for dispensing to the units, utilizing packaging and dispensing equipment, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
9. Interfacing with unit dose processes, physician orders scheduling, distribution of automated orders, and Medication Administration Records to ensure the medications are correct and the units have what they need, utilizing office equipment (e.g., fax machine) to retrieve copies of physicians’ orders.
10. Retrieving expired or changed medication orders for removal by waste vendor, in response to various situations (e.g., patient discharged, patient refused medication, medication order has changed), in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
11. Maintaining patient medication profiles to ensure patient information is accurate and current, utilizing a computerized pharmacy system, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
12. Maintaining records of prepackaged medications in order to have a record of it for future reference (e.g., quantity of medication, name of medication, who the medication was filled by), utilizing labels, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
13. Preparing unit dose cassettes for review by pharmacist, utilizing trays so medications can be hand-filled, under the direction of the Pharmacist.
14. Aiding pharmacist in preparation of various prescriptions (e.g., fill eye and ear medications, lotions, creams, create and deliver labels), to ensure medications are delivered to the right patient, utilizing a computerized pharmacy system, labels, secure bags, etc. under the direction of the Pharmacist.
15. Filling prescriptions for discharge patients with the assistance of the Pharmacist to encourage continued medication treatment upon discharge, utilizing vials for transport, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
16. Processing patient medication transfer orders to ensure patients transferring units continue receiving medications on the new unit, utilizing medication order forms, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
17. Maintaining the automated dispensing equipment to ensure continued efficient turnover of medications, utilizing knowledge of the equipment (e.g., user’s manual, the equipment’s help function), in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
18. Printing and sending validated physician medication monthly renewals (MTRs) to the appropriate units for physician signature and changes, utilizing physicians order forms and MTR, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
19. Making purchases from prime and individual vendors to maintain pharmacy supplies, utilizing a computer, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.  
20. Solving purchasing problems (e.g., manufacture backorder, manufacture ran out and they have to select a different medication) to ensure the pharmacy is stocked with sufficient supplies for patient use, utilizing the computer, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
21. Participating in medication room inspections in order to speed up the process of checking for outdated medications, expired prescriptions, excess stock, and accuracy of controlled medications kept on each unit, matching the medication with its accountability sheet to ensure they are accurately labeled (e.g., not expired, unit on-hand supply matches master listing).
22. Reviewing quantity of medications used by units to ensure there is proper supply on hand, by tracking the velocity of medication usage (e.g., how many tablets used in a 6-day period).
23. Answering phones regarding various questions in order to route calls to appropriate staff and/or resolve pharmacy-related issues, utilizing telephones and customer service skills, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

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

1. Knowledge of basic clerical, recordkeeping, and pharmaceutical office practices to create and maintain documentation of work.
2. Knowledge of basic pharmaceutical and other medical terminology and abbreviations (e.g., codes BID means twice a day, treatment for a particular condition) in order to do the job effectively.
3. Knowledge of generic and brand names of medications to carry out daily tasks.
4. Knowledge of weights and measures (e.g., powders, liquids in compounding, IVs) in order to differentiate between the various measurements and ensure proper dosage requirements.
5. Knowledge of sterile techniques to maintain cleanliness and sterility, to prevent the spread of infection.
6. Knowledge of pharmacy, nursing policies and procedures, etc. (e.g., Administrative Directives) regarding facility medication processing in order to accomplish tasks.
7. Knowledge of policies and procedures related to medications as they are processed through various equipment and machinery within the facility (e.g. medication destruction, how to administer, if half is being returned, how to receive it and what to do with it).
8. Knowledge of and proficiency in the electronic medical record system in order to interpret and process orders correctly.
9. Skill to type/enter information, utilizing a keyboard, accurately to perform pharmaceutical processes (e.g., transcribing orders from doctors into the electronic medical record system so the orders can be processed, creating labels).
10. Ability to interpret and follow meticulous written and oral instructions (e.g., interpret orders from doctors, requests from nursing staff) in order to carry out daily duties.
11.  Ability to perform basic mathematical computations with accuracy in order to calculate various important measurements (e.g., dosing, injectable/vial amounts to know how much to dose, dose equivalency).
12. Ability to obtain knowledge of medications (e.g., upper limits, interactions) over time in order to discuss and/or clarify issues with other pharmacy staff.
13.  Ability to maintain therapeutic boundaries with patients in order to ensure a safe and professional work environment.

• 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.