• 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.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 2/21/2025
• 3/7/2025
• 3/21/2025
• 4/4/2025
• 4/18/2025
• 5/2/2025
• 5/16/2025
• 6/6/2025
• 6/20/2025

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):

• DENTAL ASSISTANT (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):

3842

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

Exam Code(s):

• EX-03842

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.

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.

Pattern 1
One year of experience as a dental assistant. (Training in a school for dental assistants may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of three months of training being equal to six months of experience.)

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.

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 sterilization; uses of the more common dental instruments, equipment, and materials; dental hygiene and prophylaxis; dental office procedures and principles of modern dental record keeping; techniques used in dental x-ray; names of the teeth and various surfaces of the crown of the tooth.

Ability to: Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance; identify the more common dental instruments, equipment, and materials; mix amalgam and prepare dental accessories; stand for long periods of time; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; follow directions.

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the DENTAL ASSISTANT (SAFETY) Classification will be established for:

• Department of State Hospitals

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.

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

Task:

1. Schedule and confirm dental appointments for patients using patient electronic charts and tracking system.

2. Perform preliminary work with patients such as taking dental images/x-rays using a dental x-ray unit and appropriate radiation safety techniques.

3. Process dental images/x-rays of patients by using a dental image/x-ray processing system/computer to produce a diagnostic result and record patients’ existing dental conditions.  

4. Assist the dentist at chairside while performing dental procedures and observing patients’ behaviors wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., gloves, safety glasses, masks, etc.).  

5. Set up dental operatory and prepare the proper instruments, equipment, and accessories for each specific dental procedure.

6. Disinfect, sterilize, and care for dental instruments and equipment (e.g., suction unit, image processor, air water, syringe, patient chair, etc.).

7. Maintain a count of dental instruments and materials before and after each dental procedure.

8. Educate and show patients the proper oral hygiene and preventative care using audio, visual aids, dental self-care instructions and/or educational handouts.

9. Perform necessary record keeping of dental procedures performed, “missed” appointments, reschedule appointments, etc., in the chart monitoring and any other necessary data collection for monitoring and reporting purposes.

10. Maintain accurate patient dental records by creating a new electronic dental record for all new admissions (being certain that no prior electronic chart exists) and checking to see if a prior hard copy exists.

11.  Maintain adequate levels of supplies and instruments in each operatory and clinic storeroom and notify the appropriate staff in charge of ordering when the stock needs to be refilled.
12.  Clean and disinfect the clinic room after each procedure using approved cleaners, disinfectants, and sanitizers.

13. Properly dispose of hazardous dental waste materials (e.g. sharps, instruments, contaminated gauze, teeth) to the appropriate waste containers and hazardous bin(s).  

14. Verbally explain and deliver written post-op instructions to the patients after oral surgery.

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

Knowledge, Skill, or Ability:

1. Knowledge of principles and methods of proper sterilization.

2. Knowledge of dental instruments (e.g., explorer, cotton pliers, carvers, scalers, elevators, forceps, composite instruments, etc.), equipment, and materials.

3. Knowledge of dental equipment (e.g., x-ray system, sterilizers, hand pieces, ultrasonic scalers, curing lights, etc.)

4. Knowledge of dental hygiene, prophylaxis, and oral surgery.

5. Knowledge of dental office procedures, computers, and principles of modern dental record keeping.  

6. Knowledge of dental terminology (i.e., names of the teeth, tooth anatomy and surfaces of the crown of the tooth).

7. Knowledge of tool control procedures.

8. Knowledge of the proper procedures for how to dispose of hazardous and bio-hazardous dental.

9. Ability to identify the more common dental instruments, equipment, and materials.

10. Ability to mix other dental materials such as amalgam, composites and cement.

11.  Ability to take and process an image/x-ray using a computer system to produce a clear diagnostic picture.

12. Ability to handle dental instruments and materials carefully to prevent injuries to oneself and others.

13. Ability to utilize computer software systems to schedule appointments and track patient records.

14. Ability to maintain accurate dental record keeping and maintain patient information confidentiality in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

• Department of State Hospitals

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 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.