Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 11/6/2026
• 11/20/2026
• 12/4/2026
• 12/18/2026

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.

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):

• HEALTH RECORD TECHNICIAN I - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

5441

For HEALTH RECORD TECHNICIAN I, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-05441

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.

Education Requirements:
Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.
(Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

AND

Either I

One year of California state service clerical experience which includes training and supervised work experience in the procurement and processing of health data.

Or II

Two years of clerical experience in the medical or health records section of a health facility.
(Successful completion of an academic curriculum in medical records science in an accredited school may be substituted for the required general experience on a year-for-year basis.)

Applicants must submit their exam application AND complete the exam during the same cut-off period. For example, if you submit your exam application on November 10th, 2026 (which is after the November 7th, 2026 cut-off) you must complete the exam by November 20th, 2026. Filing Cut-Off Dates are listed at the beginning of the exam bulletin.

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:
Basic medical terminology, human terminology and human anatomy; health record systems and methodology used by health facilities; classification of morbidity and mortality information for statistical purposes.

Ability to:
Understand and conform to specific basic principles and rules of health data abstracting and coding; meet and deal tactfully with the public; communicate effectively; and benefit from academic and in-service training and job experience.

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the HEALTH RECORD TECHNICIAN I 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.

1. Audit medical records to verify the accuracy and completeness of data for statistical purposes by using various reports (e.g., daily census reports, Forensics, inpatient/outpatient medical records, etc.).
2. Provide detailed coding of medical diagnoses and procedures using standard classification systems (e.g., International Classification of Diseases 10th Edition Clinical Modification [ICD-10-CM], Current Procedural Terminology [CPT], Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V [DSM V], HCPCS Level 2, etc.). .
3. Abstract information from medical records utilizing medical terminology, medical dictionary, pharmaceutical reference books, approved abbreviation list, etc..
4. Communicate incomplete record findings to responsible staff (e.g., clinician, level-of care, etc.) in a timely manner.
5. Process approved requests for copies of correspondence records.
6. Update existing databases by entering complete and current client/patient information.
7. Assemble records of discharged client/patient ensuring accuracy of information.
8. Analyze client/patient medical records for accuracy and completeness.
9. Retain and/or maintain client/patient death records.
10. Answer/route a variety of telephone calls.
11. Schedule and conduct medical record interviews to fulfill client/patient requests.
12. Catalog, retrieve, and re-file medical records utilizing filing systems (e.g., terminal digit, alphabetical, etc.).
13. Convert medical data using information collected from census, audits, and treatment.
14. Maintain medical record volumes (e.g., correcting misfiles and making chart repairs) to confirm they are accurate and complete.
15. Process approved requests for discharge or court appearance.

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

1. Knowledge of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
2. Knowledge of administrative/clerical procedures and systems (e.g., basic office equipment, computer software programs, word processing, file management, etc.).
3. Knowledge of health records systems and methodology (e.g., chart assembly, analysis, terminal digit filing, statistical reporting, etc.).
4. Knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology to convert medical data from census, audits, and treatments for statistical reporting.
5. Knowledge of classification of morbidity and mortality systems (e.g., Clinical Modification, International Classification of Diseases [ICD-10-CM], etc.).
6. Skill to use a variety of computer software applications and/or programs to process data.
7. Skill in gathering and analyzing information or data (e.g., categorize, calculate, audit, etc.) to maintain accurate and complete medical records.
8. Ability to work independently on projects or assignments without close supervision or detailed instructions.
9. Ability to use standard office equipment and machines (e.g., fax machines, copiers, telephones, etc.) to complete various work processes.
10. Ability to perform on-unit documentation review, chart maintenance, thinning and/or filing.

• Department of State Hospitals
• State of California

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.