Exam Bulletin - Pharmaceutical Program Consultant

Department of Health Care Services

Exam Code: EX-3159

Examination Plans Included:

  • PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAM CONSULTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES - Open

Final Filing Date: 8/2/2024

Classification Details

PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAM CONSULTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES: $8,578.00 - $11,809.00 per Month

View the PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAM CONSULTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES classification specification.

Application Instructions

Final Filing Date: 8/2/2024.

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 not be accepted.

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):

  • PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAM CONSULTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES - Open

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.

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.

00107964 - PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAM CONSULTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

Possession of a valid certification of registration in pharmacy issued by the California State Board of Pharmacy. And

 

Either I

Two years of experience performing the duties of a Pharmaceutical Consultant II, Department of Health Services (Specialist) or a Pharmaceutical Consultant II, Department of Health Services (Supervisory).

 

Or II

Four years of experience performing the duties of a Pharmaceutical Consultant I, Department of Health Services.

 

Or III

Five years of experience within the last seven years in the practice of community or hospital pharmacy (exclusive of internship) including at least three years of administrative, consultative, or supervisory experience in a public or private health insurance program as a licensed pharmacist responsible for the specialized review of pharmacy-related issues.  The experience must provide the high level of skill required

to manage a broad range of administrative and pharmacy-related issues associated with the Medi-Cal Program.

Position Description

00107964 - PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAM CONSULTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

This is the Department's highest level pharmaceutical consultant in this series, wherein the incumbents at this level serve as chief pharmaceutical consultant within the Department's major programs; give professional advice and guidance to the Department's executive staff and other agencies on matters relating to the scope and quality of pharmaceutical benefits and/or services; develop and refine pharmaceutical policy; interpret and evaluate Federal and State legislation relating to the scope of medical benefits and/or services. The incumbents at this level also have responsibility over subordinate staff.

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

Examination Information

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.

The Training and Experience Evaluation examination is designed to elicit specific information regarding each candidate’s training and experience relative to the testing classification. Responses to the examination will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. In appraising the relative qualifications of candidates, consideration will be given to the extent and type of pertinent training and experience over and above that which is required under “Minimum Qualifications”.

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. Drugs and medical supplies required in the operation of a pharmacy
  2. Pharmaceutical chemistry
  3. Drug utilization
  4. Pharmacy economics
  5. Drug purchasing, pricing, and inventory control
  6. Principles of statistics
  7. Medical care administration
  8. Pharmaceutical manufacturing methods and drug distribution
  9. Interrelationships of federal, state, and local professional and voluntary health and welfare agencies, and of programs and services of such agencies
  10. Policies, standards, and regulations applicable to the Department's pharmaceutical programs
  11. Principles of effective supervision
  12. The Department's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program objectives
  13. A manager's/supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment

 

Ability to:

  1. Recognize, assess, and develop solutions to problems involved in the pharmaceutical aspects of medical care programs
  2. Evaluate the quality and scope of pharmaceutical services provided under the program
  3. Interpret and apply policies and standards for the pharmaceutical aspects of medical care programs
  4. Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships
  5. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action
  6. Report on the effects of proposed changes in the pharmaceutical aspects of the programs
  7. Communicate effectively
  8. Formulate policies and standards for the pharmaceutical aspects of medical care programs
  9. Plan, coordinate, direct, and evaluate the work of others
  10. Effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the PHARMACEUTICAL PROGRAM CONSULTANT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Health Care Services

The list(s) will be abolished 12 months after being established, unless the needs of the State and conditions of the list(s) warrant a change in this period.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies in

    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.

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Department of Health Care Services is committed to addressing disparities within our organization and in our communities through efforts toward greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is accomplished, in part, by a commitment toward employing a diverse workforce which reflects the many communities we serve, and by promoting and enforcing equal employment opportunity.

    Testing Departments

    • Department of Health Care Services

    Contact Information

    Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

    Department of Health Care Services
    Selection Section
    MS 1300
    P.O. Box 997411
    Sacramento, CA 95899-7411
    Phone: (916) 775-5398

    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 Health Care Services 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)