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):

• SUPERVISING LABORATORY ASSISTANT I - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

2624

For SUPERVISING LABORATORY ASSISTANT I, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-02624

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.

Either I

In California state service either:

1. One year of experience performing the duties of a Senior Laboratory Assistant; or

2. Two years of experience performing the duties of a Laboratory Assistant, Range B.

Or II

Experience: One year of experience performing technical laboratory work; and

Education: Equivalent to the completion of two years of college, including at least twelve semester hours in college laboratory courses, such as chemistry, physics, biology, or bacteriology. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

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, 2024 (which is after the July 5, 2024 cut-off) you must complete the exam by July 19, 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.

Supervising Laboratory Assistant I Exam: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DZ9HP37

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: Names and uses of common types of laboratory equipment, elementary laboratory methods and procedures; principles of effective supervision; preparation of laboratory specimens and application of simple laboratory techniques.

Ability to: Follow oral and written directions; prepare simple reports and keep records.

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the SUPERVISING LABORATORY ASSISTANT I Classification will be established for:

• State of California

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. Observe all safety and infection control guidelines (e.g., utilizing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and managing biological byproducts).
2. Ensure all laboratory safety and infection control guidelines are followed to maintain a safe environment.
3. Prepare specimens for analysis.
4. Clarify unclear orders prior to processing to ensure proper patient care.
5. Analyze various types of specimens.
6. Coordinate the tracking and ordering of reagents and supplies used in the laboratory.
7. Assist supervisor with planning, organizing and/or directing laboratory work.
8. Provide guidance to new laboratory assistants.
9. Perform competency training on machine used in the laboratory (i.e., Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waived machines) to ensure proper use.
10. Prepare clear and comprehensive reports and statements.
11. Assist with ensuring that quality control/assurance of various laboratory items (i.e., equipment, reagents, supplies, procedure manuals, and test results) are in compliance with current regulatory standards.
12. Perform routine preventive maintenance and corrective action on machines used in a laboratory (i.e., Clinical Laboratory Improvement (CLIA) waived machines) to ensure proper functionality.
13. Process incoming laboratory requisitions.
14. Perform order entry and results retrieval from the laboratory software program and/or paper files.

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

1. Knowledge of names and uses of common types of laboratory equipment, elementary laboratory methods and procedures.
2. Knowledge of the principles and practices of clinical laboratory work including the use and care of laboratory equipment.
3. Knowledge of preparation of laboratory specimens and application of simple laboratory techniques for in-house and/or external laboratory analysis.
4. Knowledge of standard protocol for keeping sensitive data confidential and secure to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
5. Knowledge of communicable disease transmission and strategies in infection for control/prevention.
6. Skill in preparing specimens for transport to reference laboratory.
7. Ability to read and write English at a level required for successful job performance.
8. Ability to give clear verbal direction and guidance to individuals with varying levels of understanding.
9. Ability to speak and write effectively with staff and external parties.
10. Ability to clean and care for all laboratory areas and equipment to prevent the spread of infection and contamination.
11. Ability to satisfactorily distinguish colors most frequently found in laboratory work.
12. Ability to follow oral and written directions.
13. Ability to be objective and flexible in adapting to changes in priorities, work assignments, and other situations.
14. Ability to analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
15. Ability to prepare simple reports and keep records in an organized fashion.

• Department of State Hospitals
• State of California

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.