Exam Bulletin

Department of State Hospitals

Exam Code: EX-2555

Examination Plans Included:

  • PHYSICAL THERAPIST I, DEPARTMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES - Open

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

Bulletin Updates

  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been changed.
  • Continuous filing dates have been changed.
  • Continuous filing dates have been changed.
  • Continuous filing dates have been changed.

Classification Details

PHYSICAL THERAPIST I, DEPARTMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES: $4,663.00 - $8,024.00 per Month

View the PHYSICAL THERAPIST I, DEPARTMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES classification specification.

Application Instructions

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 1/3/2025
  • 1/17/2025
  • 2/7/2025
  • 2/21/2025
  • 3/7/2025
  • 3/21/2025
  • 4/4/2025
  • 4/18/2025
  • 5/2/2025
  • 5/16/2025
  • 6/6/2025
  • 6/20/2025
  • 7/4/2025
  • 7/18/2025
  • 8/1/2025
  • 8/15/2025
  • 9/5/2025
  • 9/19/2025
  • 10/3/2025
  • 10/17/2025
  • 11/7/2025
  • 11/21/2025
  • 12/5/2025
  • 12/19/2025

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):

  • PHYSICAL THERAPIST I, 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):

    2555

For PHYSICAL THERAPIST I, 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-02555

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:

  • 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.

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.

00108315 - PHYSICAL THERAPIST I, DEPARTMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

Possession of the legal requirements for the practice of physical therapy in California as determined by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance. (Applicants may be admitted to the examination prior to meeting these requirements, but the Board of Medical Quality Assurance must determine that all legal requirements have been met before candidates will be eligible for appointment.)

Position Description

00108315 - PHYSICAL THERAPIST I, DEPARTMENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

Administer active, passive, and resistive therapeutic exercises and local or general massage, muscle training and corrective exercises, and coordination work; administer hydrotherapy treatments; assist in administering various types of electrotherapy including ultraviolet, infrared, diathermy and inductothermy; teach parents of hospitalized children exercises which are to be continued at home and interpret to them the significance of physical therapy services; instruct clients in walking, standing, balance, use of crutches, cane, or walker and in the care of braces and artificial limbs; demonstrate plans for the construction of home equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs, and assist parents in planning their construction; take pulse, temperature, weights, and measurements of clients; observe clients undergoing treatment and report unusual occurrences and physical condition of clients to medical officers and supervisors; attend clinics and keep clinical notes and records and make reports; maintain the treatment room and equipment in sanitary condition; order necessary equipment and supplies.

Special Personal Characteristics

A sympathetic understanding of the mentally and developmentally disabled; willingness to work in a State hospital or institution; tact; high moral standards; reliability; emotional stability and freedom from communicable diseases.

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

Examination Information

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 8th, 2024 (which is after the July 5th, 2024 cut-off) you must complete the exam by July 19th, 2024.  Filing Cut-Off Dates are listed at the beginning of the exam bulletin.

 

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: Principles and methods of physical therapy; operations of therapeutic machines, including ultraviolet, infrared, diathermy, and inductothermy, and the physical effects resulting from such treatment; skeletal anatomy and the basic pathology involved in diseases or injuries resulting in physical and mental disabilities; construction and use of appliances and equipment suitable for home construction.

Ability to: Administer various types of physical therapy; teach the disabled the fundamentals of self-care and other suitable activities; interpret physical therapy treatments to nurses, attendants, parents and clients, and teach others the treatment which must be continued after hospitalization; prepare reports and keep records and case histories; analyze situations accurately and take effective action.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the PHYSICAL THERAPIST I, 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.

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.

Training and Experience Examination Preview

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

 

  1. Perform physical therapy evaluations on patients to deliver clinical services.
  2. Administer active, passive, and resistive therapeutic exercises to improve patient’s functional level.
  3. Take vital statistics to document pulse, temperature, weight, and measurement of individuals.
  4. Observe individuals undergoing treatment to report unusual occurrences and changes in physical condition of individuals.
  5. Assist with operating various types of therapeutic machines to improve patient’s health.
  6. Take notes to record patient progress and write reports for reference.
  7. Maintain the treatment room and equipment using anti-viral cleansers to keep them in sanitary condition.
  8. Instruct patients in the use of devices (walker, braces, artificial limbs, etc) per the patient’s treatment plan.
  9. Request equipment repairs by completing work orders to submit to appropriate vendor.
  10. Administer local or general massages to reduce pain and help muscles relax according to patient’s treatment plan.

 

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

 

  1. Knowledge of principles and practices of physical therapy treatment.
  2. Knowledge of operations of therapeutic machines and the physical effects.
  3. Knowledge of skeletal anatomy and the basic pathology involved in diseases or injuries.
  4. Knowledge of current first aid techniques to administer basic emergency care and treatment.
  5. Ability to administer various types of physical therapy to be used in patient treatment.
  6. Ability to teach patients the fundamentals of self-care and other suitable activities.
  7. Ability to interpret physical therapy treatments to nurses, attendants, parents and patients.
  8. Ability to prepare reports to keep records and case histories.
  9. Ability to analyze situations accurately in order to take effective action.
  10. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
  11. Ability to observe and accurately record patient’s signs, symptoms, and behavior to discern progress or lack thereof toward treatment goals.
  12. Ability to provide a safe, secure, and healthy environment for patients.

Testing Departments

  • Department of State Hospitals

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of State Hospitals
Department of State Hospitals - Sacramento
Human Resources Office
1215 O Street, MS 17
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 654-2351

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 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.

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)