Frequently Asked Questions

Some jobs allow you to take the assessment/exam before you meet all of the minimum requirements (i.e., length of job experience, education, license or credential requirements), on the condition that you meet those requirements by the time you are hired. Examples for early-entry may include, but are not limited to, the following exams:

• Chief Dentist, Correctional Facility
• Chief Physician and Surgeon, Correctional Facility
• Chief Psychiatrist, Correctional and Rehabilitative Services (Safety)
• Clinical Social Worker, Health/Correctional Facility (Safety)
• Dental Hygienist, Correctional Facility
• Dentist, Correctional Facility
• Nurse Consultant II
• Nurse Consultant III (Sup.)
• Nurse Instructor, Correctional Facility
• Nurse Practitioner, Correctional Facility
• Nursing Consultant, Program Review
• Occupational Therapist, Correctional Facility
• Pharmacist I
• Pharmacy Technician (Safety)
• Physical Therapist I, Correctional Facility
• Physician and Surgeon, Correctional Facility
• Physician Assistant, Correctional Facility
• Psychiatric Technician (Safety)
• Psychologist-Clinical, Correctional Facility
• Public Health Nurse I/II, Correctional Facility
• Radiologic Technologist, Correctional Facility
• Recreation Therapist, Correctional Facility
• Registered Dietitian, Correctional Facility
• Registered Nurse, Correctional Facility
• Senior Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Correctional Facility
• Senior Psychiatrist (Spec. & Sup.), Correctional Facility
• Senior Psychologist (Spec. & Sup.), Correctional Facility
• Senior Radiologic Technologist, Correctional Facility (Spec.)
• Staff Psychiatrist, Correctional and Rehabilitative Services (Safety)
• Supervising Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Correctional Facility
• Supervising Dental Assistant, Correctional Facility
• Supervising Dentist, Correctional Facility
• Supervising Psychiatric Social Worker I, Correctional Facility
• Supervising Registered Nurse II, Correctional Facility
• Supervising Registered Nurse III, Correctional Facility

To verify your eligibility and score please follow the steps below.

1. Log in to your CalCareers account.
2. Click the “Exam/Assessment Records” link from the list on the left-hand side of the screen.
3. Select the “Active Eligibility” tab to view the list(s) by classification for which you are currently eligible.
4. Select the “Exam Notifications” tab to view both your assessment results (score and ranking) and any scheduled future assessments/exams. Please note that it may take up to three business days for online assessment/exam results and three to six weeks for paper assessment/exam results to appear under this tab.

Please note that some eligibility lists have up to nine ranks. Candidates must be in the top three ranks to be considered reachable and subsequently eligible for hire. Most of the licensed medical, dental, and mental health eligibility lists consist of only three ranks.

Veterans’ Preference is an assistance program aimed at helping eligible individuals who are seeking employment with the state. Any veteran, widow/widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100% disabled veteran who achieves a passing score on the assessment/exam, shall be moved to the top rank of the eligibility list. Veterans who have been dishonorably discharged or released are not eligible for Veterans’ Preference.

Please note that not all assessments/exams qualify for Veterans’ Preference, so be sure to review the bulletin carefully.

To apply for Veterans’ Preference, please visit https://calcareers.ca.gov and select the icon titled, “Veterans,” located in the middle of the page. Next, select the icon titled, “Veterans’ Information.” Be sure to read the page thoroughly, as it provides detailed instructions regarding the application process.

When you apply for a job your application is sent to the Human Resources (HR) Office, where it goes through a screening process. Only the most competitive applications pass the screening process. Those that pass the screening process are then forwarded to a hiring manager for further review. The hiring manager determines from these applications which candidates to interview. If you are successful, a CCHCS staff person will contact you by telephone to schedule your interview. Please note that the screening and review process may take as little as a few weeks or as long as several months.

Employment with CCHCS is very competitive. To make your application standout, be sure to carefully describe in detail as much of your employment history as possible and list all of your professional degrees, licenses, and certifications. Note: Follow the directions in the Special Requirements.

Most importantly, do not be discouraged if you do not hear from CCHCS right away. Even if you have submitted multiple applications for one institution, your application may be reviewed by a different hiring manager each time, or for a similar position requiring different skill sets. We encourage you to keep trying.

When completing an assessment/exam you must enter or select employment conditions, such as the location(s) where you are willing to work, tenure, and time base preferences. To verify and/or change the preferences you selected on the assessment/exam, follow the steps below.

1. Log in to your CalCareers account here.
2. Click the “Exam/Assessment Records” link from the list on the left-hand side of the screen. Your completed exam(s)/assessment(s) will be listed under the “Active Eligibility” tab.
3. Click the List Code link of the exam/assessment for which you would like to change your preferences.
4. Click “Change Conditions of Employment” under “Eligibility Records Actions” on the right-hand side of the screen.
5. Click on the tab for the preference you wish to change. Please note that the only preferences that may be changed at this time are the working locations, tenure, and time base.
6. Make appropriate changes.
7. Click “Save.”

Information about vacancies can be accessed several ways:

1. 1. Click on the “Careers” tab at the top of this page.
      1. Under Quick Links select “Job Search,” and you will be redirected to our job posting site. Here you can enter search terms and filter for the perfect job with CCHCS.
      2. Click the “Search” button to locate vacancies under the criteria you selected. A page with a list of available jobs will appear.
      3. Click the link to the career title in which you are interested.
   2. Questions?
      1. For assessment or questions related to Minimum Qualifications email CPHCSSelectionServices@cdcr.ca.gov
      2. For questions on the CCHCS Careers job posting and application website please email CCHCSHR@cdcr.ca.gov
      3. For questions on your application status, please contact the individual listed on the job posting.

CCHCS offers three time bases for part-time positions:

1. Part-Time Permanent – The employee works the amount of time required to be compensated on an hourly rate of pay. The job bulletin will indicate the number of required hours.
2. Part-Time Limited-Term – The employee works the amount of time required to be compensated on an hourly rate of pay up to a maximum of two years. Limited-Term appointments do not confer civil service employment rights beyond the specified time period.
3. Permanent Intermittent – The employee works periodically or for a fluctuating portion of the full-time work schedule. A Permanent Intermittent employee may work up to 1,500 hours in any calendar year. The hours and work schedule are based on the needs of the individual hiring programs.

CCHCS participates in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Federal Loan Repayment Program.

For more information about this program, please visit the NHSC website:

For some jobs CCHCS accepts the H-1B, J-1 Waiver, and TN visas, as well as the National Interest Waiver and PERM petitions. Be aware that obtaining visas or waivers is a lengthy process and outcomes are not guaranteed.

• Psychology Internships