Exam Bulletin

Department of State Hospitals

Multiple Testing Departments. Please see list of Departments.

Exam Code: EX-3678

Examination Plans Included:

  • STAFF PSYCHIATRIST (SAFETY) - 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.

Classification Details

STAFF PSYCHIATRIST (SAFETY): $11,743.00 - $28,791.00 per Month

View the STAFF PSYCHIATRIST (SAFETY) classification specification.

Application Instructions

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 2/28/2025
  • 3/7/2025
  • 3/14/2025
  • 3/21/2025
  • 3/28/2025
  • 4/4/2025
  • 4/11/2025
  • 4/18/2025
  • 4/25/2025
  • 5/2/2025
  • 5/9/2025
  • 5/16/2025
  • 5/23/2025
  • 5/30/2025
  • 6/6/2025
  • 6/13/2025
  • 6/20/2025
  • 6/27/2025

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):

  • STAFF PSYCHIATRIST (SAFETY) - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

    3678

For STAFF PSYCHIATRIST (SAFETY), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-03678

How To Apply:

The primary method of contact for this exam will be email. Please ensure your email address is provided on your application.

The preferred method to apply is by emailing your Standard State Application, (STD. 678) and the Training and Experience Assessment to: Careers@dsh.ca.gov

Click HERE for a copy of Standard State Application (STD.678)

Click HERE for a copy of the Training and Experience Assessment

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
    Selection Services Unit
    1215 O Street, MS 14
    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
    Selection Services Unit
    1215 O Street, MS 14
    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.

00107619 - STAFF PSYCHIATRIST (SAFETY)

Possession of the legal requirements for the practice of medicine in California as determined by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance or the California Board of Osteopathic Examiners. (Applicants who are in the process of securing approval of their qualifications by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance or the California 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 candidates will be eligible for appointment.) and

One year of experience in the practice of psychiatry or completion of one year of an approved residency in psychiatry.

Position Description

00107619 - STAFF PSYCHIATRIST (SAFETY)

In an institutional capacity, examines and diagnoses psychiatric forensic clients, patients, or inmates; determines type of psychiatric and general medical treatment needed; administers psychiatric treatment with assistance, as necessary, from nurses and technicians; performs general medical and surgical work; performs ward duties, such as giving medications and tube feeding; makes ward rounds and reviews progress of forensic clients, patients, or inmates; prescribes changes in treatment when indicated; consults, as necessary, with supervisory psychiatrist on unusual, complex, or serious cases, or presents such cases to a clinical conference for advice or decision; may instruct and supervise interns, residents, other physicians, nurses, technicians, and personnel assigned for special training; participates in staff conferences and clinics; keeps and supervises the keeping of medical records; provides relatives with information concerning forensic clients, patients, or inmates in person or by correspondence; performs research in psychiatry; serves periodically as officer-of-the-day; and observes and intervenes in instances of disruptive or assaultive behavior.

 

Assists staff in the counting, distribution, and accounting for all utensils to prevent their use as weapons; inspecting facility to identify security breaches that could lead to forensic client, patient, or inmate escape; and observing and intervening in forensic client, patient, or inmate behavior that may signal an impending escape attempt.

Special Personal Characteristics

Willingness to work at developmental centers, State hospitals, or correctional facilities contracting with the Department of Mental Health for diagnostic and treatment services; demonstrated leadership ability; sympathetic and objective understanding of the problems of developmentally or mentally disordered offenders; tact; patience; and emotional stability.

Special Physical Characteristics

Incumbents must possess and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during physically, mentally, and emotionally stressful and emergency situations encountered on the job without endangering their own health and well-being or that of their fellow employees, forensic clients, patients, inmates, or the public.

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.

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 psychiatry, general medicine, and surgery, and skill in their application; current developments in the field of psychiatry; mental hospital organization and procedures; principles and application of psychiatric social work, clinical psychology, physical therapy, various rehabilitation therapies, and other ancillary medical services; principles and techniques of psychiatric research; principles and practices of effective supervision and directing the work of others.

 

Ability to: Direct the work of others; instruct in the principles and practices of psychiatry; interpret laboratory analyses and x-rays; prepare and supervise the preparation of case histories and the keeping of hospital records; analyze situations accurately and take effective action.

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the STAFF PSYCHIATRIST (SAFETY) 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.

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.

Staff Psychiatrist (Safety) Training & Experience Preview

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

 

  1. Gather subjective and objective information, examination findings, test results, assessment of the current clinical condition and future treatment needed to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
  2. Conduct face-to-face (in person or via telepsychiatry) evaluations to assess patients' symptoms of mental illness, side effects to medication(s), problematic behavior and medical issues that need to be addressed.
  3. Write orders for admission, transfer, discharge, medications, laboratory tests, restraints, and seclusion, and/or enhance observations.
  4. Interact with unit staff and patients on a variety of daily psychiatric issues.
  5. Assess patients' mental and physical status based on the presenting symptoms, complaints, and findings from examinations, data, and assessments.
  6. Diagnose and examine patients to evaluate response to a variety of treatments.
  7. Meet with patients to review their clinical condition, diagnosis, and treatment to help patients understand their disease, process, and treatment expectations.
  8. Discuss risks and benefits of treatment to obtain informed consent, monitor patients for side effects from medications, and evaluate and treat any side effects.
  9. Determine types of psychiatric and general medical treatment needed based on previous and current examinations.
  10. Maintain proper documentation by intergrating patient information and records obtained from patients, family, or other professionals.
  11. Complete requjired documentation and forms, such as progress and admission notes, Discharge Summaries, treatment plans, transfer notes, and legal documents.
  12. Record patients' condition in the psychiatric/medical record (e.g., paper and/or electronic) to document clinical observations and evaluations.
  13. Analyze and interpret data from test findings (e.g., laboratory, medical procedures, etc.).
  14. Order laboratory studies, x-rays, medications, and consultations (e.g., Dental, Medical, Neurological, Psychological), including specialized studies, for the diagnosis of mental or emotional disorder.
  15. Review clinical records that include patients' histories, examination findings, diagnosis, and legal court records to formulate initial treatment plan and/or modification.
  16. Conduct initial evaluations upon patients' admission to obtain information about functional status of areas such as cognitive abilities and mental status.
  17. Develop and administer individualized treatment plan based on psychiatric and physical diagnoses and evaluation of factors such as general health, risk factors, skills, and limitations.
  18. Review and evaluate treatment procedures and test results.
  19. Conduct daily rounds to address patient concerns and assist patients with their mental and physical stability.
  20. Evaluate the Medical and/or Psychiatric aspects of treatment programs for quality and conformance with regulatory requirements.

 

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

 

  1. Knowledge of principles and methods of psychiatry, general medicine, and surgery, and skill in their application.
  2. Knowledge of performing and mental capacity evaluation to obtain consent to or refusal of a particular medical or surgical intervention.
  3. Knowledge of safety policies and procedures to maintain the safety and security of self, staff, and patients.
  4. Knowledge of current developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health.
  5. Knowledge of principles and application of psychiatric social work, clinical psychology, physical therapy, various rehabilitation therapies, and other ancillary medical services.
  6. Ability to understand various classes of medications, their effect on different disease processes, drug-drug interactions, and their potential side effects to accurately prescribe medication.
  7. Ability to interpret medical records, laboratory studies, and imaging reports to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.
  8. Ability to assess situations and take effective action.
  9. Ability to read and comprehend basic written materials (e.g., report, summaries, memos, letters) to apply information and determine appropriate courses of action.
  10. Ability to maintain tact, patience, and emotional stability to provide professional treatment and maintain safety.
  11. Ability to communicate with other health care professionals and provide adequate documentation (e.g., procedures, signs, symptoms) to ensure continuity of care.
  12. Ability to prepare and monitor the preparation of case reports and the maintenance of pertinent hospital records.

Testing Departments

  • Department of State Hospitals
  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of State Hospitals
Selection Services Unit
1215 O Street, MS 14
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-8832
SacramentoExamsUnit@dsh.ca.gov

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)