• Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 3/17/2025
• 6/17/2025
• 9/16/2025
• 12/16/2025

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.

Testing is considered continuous as dates can be set at any time. Applications will be reviewed to ensure the minimum requirements for participation in this exam are met. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Once you have taken the examination, you may not retest for 12 months from the established list date.

Applications must be submitted by the filing dates indicated below. Applications postmarked, personally delivered, or received via interoffice mail after the final filing date, will be held for the next administration of the exam. The filing dates are:

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):

• PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICAL ADMINISTRATOR I - Open

Persons who meet the minimum qualifications as stated on this announcement may take this competitive examination.

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

Exam Code(s):

2704

For PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICAL ADMINISTRATOR I, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-02704

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:

• Human Resources Division
  Department of Public Health
  Examination Services Unit
  P.O. Box 997378 MS 1700 – 1702
  Sacramento, CA 95899-7378
  

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 Public Health
  Examination Services Unit
  1615 Capitol Avenue
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  CDPHExamUnit@cdph.ca.gov

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.

To apply for this examination, please complete and return the following:

STANDARD STATE APPLICATION (FORM 678)

COPY OF UNOFFICIAL/OFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS SUPPLEMENTAL RESPONSES

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

• Transcript (Official or Unofficial)
• Other - Supplemental Responses

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.

Possession of the legal requirements for the practice of medicine in California as determined by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance* (see below) or the California Board of Osteopathic Examiners. (Applicants who are in the process of securing approval of their qualifications by the Board of Medical Quality Assurance or the Board of Osteopathic Examiners will be admitted to the examination, but the Board to which application is made must determine that all legal requirements have been met before candidate will be eligible for appointment.)

AND

Possession of a valid certificate issued by an American Medical Specialty Board or an American Osteopathic Specialty Board as a specialist in one of the fields of medicine, or eligibility for examination for one of these certificates as evidenced by written statement from Secretary of the Board.

AND

Five years of increasingly responsible administrative, supervisory and/or consultative experience as either a Board-eligible or Board-certified physician in a public health program with at least three of the five years in an administrative or supervisory capacity. (Successful completion of one year of graduate study toward a Master’s Degree in Public Health or its equivalent in a recognized school of public health may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)

*The Board of Medical Quality Assurance changed and is now named the Medical Board of California (MBC).

NOTE: Applicants who already possess the medical license and specialist certification must show the license and certification numbers, titles, and expiration dates on the application.

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.

The examination will consist of a Supplemental Application weighted 100%. Applicants are required to respond to the seven supplemental items provided on this announcement. These supplemental items are designed to identify job achievement in specific areas that demonstrates ability to successfully perform at the Public Health Medical Administrator I level. Responses to the supplemental items will be assessed based on predetermined job-related rating criteria. In appraising the relative qualifications of candidates, consideration will be given to the extent and type of pertinent experience and education over and above that required under the minimum qualifications.

The California Department of Public Health 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 law and rules and all competitors will be notified.

SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

When responding to the supplemental items, please follow these guidelines:

1.      Your responses must be typewritten or generated by word processing on 8½” X 11” paper.

2.      Your responses must be limited to one page per item.

3.      Identify each page with your full name.

4.      Make sure your responses are complete, specific, clear, and concise.

5.      Answer each numbered item separately indicating the corresponding item number for each response. You may include multiple responses on a single page.

6.      Include place of employment, pertinent dates, duties performed, etc., when responding to items.

 7.In the event that one particular job contained responsibilities applicable to several items, separate the different functions of the job in order to respond to all items completely.

NOTE: Resumes, letters and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as responses to the supplemental items.

Supplemental Questions:

1.      Describe your experience in analyzing a major health problem, its root causes and consequences. What perspectives were important to consider, how did you gather information, and how was the outcome used?

2.      Describe your experience planning a major health initiative. What information did you use to characterize the problem and determine a course of action? How did you implement and monitor the plan to ensure program objectives were met.

3.      Describe your experience communicating both orally and in writing, to all levels of officials and the public.

4.      Describe your experience and what steps you would take in evaluating and implementing a new policy. Give examples of your role and the outcome.

5.      Describe your management and leadership skills as well as the ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multi-disciplinary professional and administrative staff.

6.      Describe your experience with budgetary development and management, including a description of the largest budget for which you were responsible.

7.      Describe your experience in engaging partner organizations (i.e., government, professional associations, health care sector, community members, advocates) to address a health problem. What were some of the challenges and successes?

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. Basic general medicine to manage a Public Health program.
2. Basic state and federal standards including legislations and regulations impacting state and local Public Health agencies.
3. Basic program policy with a major emphasis on the medical aspects and Public Health issues of the program.
4. Basic Public Health and health care services deliveries systems at State, Federal and local levels.
5. Basic comprehensive studies of major health problems and programs.
6. Basic principles of public administration including fiscal, personnel management and supervision.
7. Basic supervisory principles and techniques to appropriately and effectively plan, oversee and direct the work activities of staff.
8. Principles and practices of general medicine with particular emphasis on Public Health.
9. Current programs, problems and trends in Public Health.
10. Equal employment opportunity regulations and objectives to promote the department’s equal employment opportunity policies and goals in making hiring and employment decisions.
11. Manager/supervisor’s role in the implementation of the department’s equal employment opportunity program and accompanying policies to promote fair and equitable hiring and employment decisions within the work unit.
12. Cultural differences of a diverse subordinate staff to ensure that supervisory decisions and expectations relate to staff interaction, work task completion, assignment of work, and general oversight activities.
13. Effective supervisory principles, practices, and techniques to appropriately and effectively plan, oversee and direct the work activities of subordinate staff.

Skill to:

1. Communicate verbally, clearly and concise to staff in the work unit.
2. Ensure timely and consistent completion to staff work and projects.
3. Prepare policies and procedures for the operation of the work unit.
4. Promote the department’s equal employment opportunity policies and practices in making hiring and employment decisions.
5. Plan and organize the work of subordinate staff.
6. Direct and oversee the work of subordinate staff.

Ability to:

1. Provide leadership to all staff to ensure program objectives meet Department goals.
2. Plan, organize, direct and coordinate a major Public Health program of statewide scope.
3. Carry out responsibilities and demands of the management role in a major Public Health agency.
4. Adapt to new leadership and direction and effectively implement policy and program changes.
5. Effectively secure the cooperation of all groups interested in promoting Public Health.
6. Analyze accurately and adapt an effective course of action.
7. Effectively contribute to the Department’s Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.

A Departmental Open eligible list for the PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICAL ADMINISTRATOR I Classification will be established for:

• Department of Public Health

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.

• Department of Public Health

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 Public Health 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.