• Continuous filing dates have been added.
• Continuous filing dates have been added.
• Continuous filing dates have been added.
• Continous filing dates have been deleted.
• Continous filing dates have been deleted.
• Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.

To apply for this examination, you must submit a complete application package which includes an Employment Application (STD. 678), the Qualifications Assessment Questionnaire with the Affirmation Statement, and evidence of completion of the education requirement (unofficial copies are acceptable). Please click the "Apply Now" button (found at the top of this page) to submit all required documents.

This examination utilizes monthly cut-offs. Cut-off dates are subject to change, please see below for the most current cut-off dates.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 3/14/2025
• 4/15/2025
• 5/15/2025
• 6/16/2025
• 7/15/2025
• 8/15/2025
• 9/15/2025
• 10/15/2025
• 11/14/2025
• 12/15/2025

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.

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):

• CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

2872

For CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-02872

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:

• Examination and Recruitment Office, HRD
  Department of Education
  1430 N St, Room 1802
  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 Education
  Examinations and Recruitment Office, HRD
  1430 N St, Room 1802
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Do not forget to date stamp prior to placing your application package in the drop box.

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.

• Other - Qualifications Assessment Questionnaire
• Other - Evidence of possession of a valid credential or permit authorizing public school service in California or Master's degree (unofficial copies are acceptable).
• Other - Evidence of a valid children's center supervision permit or comprehensive parent education credential or a credential of equivalent authorization (unofficial copies are acceptable)

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.

Credential Requirements:

Possession of a valid credential or permit authorizing public-school service in California. (Applicants who do not possess the required credential or permit will be admitted to the examination, but must secure the credential or permit before they will be considered eligible for appointment.) (A Master's Degree or equivalent in Child Growth and Development, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, or a related subject with emphasis in childhood development may be substituted for the credential requirement.)

Possession of a valid children's center supervision permit or comprehensive parent education credential or a credential of equivalent authorization. and

Experience Requirements: 

Two years of experience as a teacher in a child development, preschool, or related community action program, and one year of experience in one of the following:

1. As head teacher in one of the above schools or centers.

2. As a team leader of a differentiated staff in preschool education.

3. As a consultant, supervisor, or administrator in preschool education.

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.

Child Development Assistant QAQ: https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/jb/documents/cdaqaq.pdf

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: Modern principles, trends, and practices in children's centers and preschool childhood education; educational programs for children from varied social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds; and growth and development patterns, and problems of young children.

Ability to: Demonstrate effective classroom procedures; establish and maintain cooperative relations with persons contacted in the course of the work; communicate effectively with individuals of various ethnic backgrounds; communicate effectively; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; develop curricula in the field of preschool education; formulate and carry out research studies; and conduct conferences, workshops, and teachers' institutes.

Willingness to travel throughout the State. 

A Departmental Open eligible list for the CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT Classification will be established for:

• Department of Education

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 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 Education

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 Education 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.