• Mailing address, drop-off address, and Department contact information has been updated.

  
  

• Mailing address, drop-off address, and Department contact information has been updated.

All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for this examination by the cut-off date.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 9/2/2025
• 10/1/2025
• 11/3/2025
• 12/1/2025
• 1/2/2026
• 2/2/2026
• 3/2/2026
• 4/1/2026
• 5/1/2026
• 6/1/2026
• 7/1/2026

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.

Note: Check back periodically as cut-off dates may be added in the future. Additionally, cut-off dates are subject to change or be cancelled at any time. Such changes or cancellations will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules.

Results notices will be sent in 6-7 weeks following each cut-off date. Please contact Talent Acquisition at (279) 223-2700 if you have not received your notice after 7 weeks.

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):

• RESEARCH SPECIALIST II (VARIOUS STUDIES) - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

3691

For RESEARCH SPECIALIST II (VARIOUS STUDIES), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-03691

All applicants must complete and submit an Examination Application (STD. 678) and Qualifications Assessment

NOTE: Applications submitted by mail or in person must be signed.

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 Services Unit
  California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  Talent Acquisition
  PO BOX 942883
  Sacramento, CA 94283-0001
  

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:

• California Department of Corrections and Rehalibitation
  Talent Acquisition
  10000 Goethe Road Suite C-1
  Sacramento, CA 95827
  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.

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)

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.

Experience: Two years of experience carrying out a research study which must have included responsibility for the determination of research design and method. (Research involved in the completion of the dissertation required for the doctoral degree in a field of specialization appropriate to the applicable research study may be substituted for one year of the required experience.) and Education: Equivalent to graduation from college supplemented by one year of postgraduate education.

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college supplemented by one year of postgraduate education.

1. The postgraduate education, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees referred to in the requirements:

a. Must be in a field of specialization appropriate to the applicable research study. or

b. Must have been obtained from a recognized U.S. or Canadian University, or from a foreign university deemed equivalent.

2. The required experience must have been in a field of specialization appropriate to the applicable research study.

3. If the position of a physician on a research study involves diagnosis, treatment, or prescription, the 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 will be required prior to appointment.

4. If the position of a veterinarian on a research study involves the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery, or any branch thereof, a valid license issued by the Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine for the State of California to practice as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine must be secured within twelve months of the date of appointment.

OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE: A “completion of an out-of-class assignment” memorandum, dated within one year of assignment completion, is required to use as out-of-class experience to meet the minimum qualifications for examination purposes. Employees may obtain this documentation from his/her Institutional Personnel Officer/Personnel Liaison. Out-of-class experience without required documentation will not be considered for examination purposes.

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.

Qualifications Assessment for Research Specialist II (Various Studies) is available from the CDCR website at: Research Specialist II (VS).

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:

Scope:  Emphasis in the examination will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each candidate’s:

Knowledge of:

1. Current research literature and trends applicable to the research study.
2. Principles and procedures of research planning, design, methodology, and analysis applicable to the research study.
3. Methods of preparation of research reports.
4. Statistical methods and procedures and data processing techniques.
5. Problems involved in bibliographic survey or previous related research.
6. Determination and qualification of variables and mechanization or compilation and analysis of data.
7. Principles and practices of effective consultation and supervision.
8. A general familiarity with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) concepts, including goals/timetables, reasonable accommodation, focused recruitment, and the role of a supervisor in carrying out an EEO Program.

Ability to:

1. Evaluate the relative importance of various areas of research.
2. Evaluate the adequacy of proposed research designs and techniques.
3. Do independent creative thinking.
4. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with hospital staff and with officials of Federal, State, local, university, and private research organizations.
5. Communicate effectively and prepare articles for publication.
6. Provide persuasive and skilled leadership in scientific research.
7. Apply professional knowledge and administrative ability to concrete situations.
8. Teach research principles and methods to trainees, research assistants, and other staff.
9. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
10. Effectively contribute to the department's affirmative action objectives. 
11. At the level of Research Specialist III and higher, coordinate and administer a program of research.

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the RESEARCH SPECIALIST II (VARIOUS STUDIES) Classification will be established for:

• Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation

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.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) are committed to building an inclusive and culturally diverse workplace. We are determined to attract and hire more candidates from diverse communities and empower all employees from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts to increase representation at all levels of the Department.

• Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation

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 Corrections & Rehabilitation 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.