Job Opportunities | Exam Information | Finding Employment | Licensing & Links to Associations
Job Opportunities
Click Here for an all inclusive search of available positions within Department of Mental Health, including Sacramento Headquarters, State Hospitals, and field offices. Available position information is updated daily.
The Department is looking for creative and talented individuals who enjoy working with and helping people and who are interested in joining a team dedicated to providing quality mental and medical health services to its patients and clients. If this sounds like you, send us your application and resume. For directions on completing an application, see "Job Applications".
Exam Information
Applications are now being accepted for the following examinations:
- Open Exams Examinations open to all candidates who meet the minimum qualifications.
- Promotional Exams Competition is limited to current state employees.
- Career Executive Assignment (CEA) Exams Competition is limited to current State employees. These are high management-level positions.
- Continuous Filing Exams Examinations are administered on a continuous basis as needed by the testing office. Applications are accepted continuously.
Please Note: Except for continuous exams (for which you may file applications at any time), applications are only accepted after exams are announced; therefore, it is important to read the bulletins before applying to obtain specific filing instructions.
Examination Bulletins are available at Department of Mental Health Headquarters and State Hospitals Personnel Offices, the State Personnel Board, Employment Development Department and Department of Rehabilitation.
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Finding Employment with the Department of Mental Health
The Department of Mental Health, headquartered in Sacramento, employs approximately 8000 full and part-time employees and operates four state hospitals, (Atascadero, Metropolitan, Napa and Patton) and an Acute Psychiatric Program at the California Medical Facility at Vacaville.
Headquarters, Hospitals and Field Office Locations
The Department of Mental Health uses a variety of clinical, professional, technical, trades and other classifications.
These classifications include doctors, nurses, psychiatric technicians, physical and rehabilitation therapists, psychiatric social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists; and a variety of food service, janitorial, law enforcement, mechanical/electrical, carpentry, and other trades classifications. Most of these positions exist at our hospitals and the psychiatric program at Vacaville.
We also employ other classifications in areas such as information technology, human resources, accounting, clerical and a variety of analytical classifications. While some of these positions exist at each hospital, a majority of these positions are in our Sacramento headquarters location.
Click here to access the classification list.
Most positions are covered by the California State civil service hiring process and are generally filled through competitive examinations.
Click here for information on how to get a job with The Department of Mental Health.
For more information on the California State Civil Service Hiring Process click here.
Licensing and Links to Professional Associations
California Examination and Licensing Requirements
- Nursing
- Other
Links to Professional Associations
- Nursing
- American Nurses Association
600 Maryland Avenue, SW Suite 100 West
Washington, DC 20024
1-800-274-4262- California Nurses Association
2000 Franklin St.
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 273-2200
Sacramento Office
Email: cnasac@igc.org- Recreational Therapy
- California Parks and Recreation Society
7971 Freeport Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95832-9701
(916) 665-2777 Fax: (916) 665-9149
Email: cprs@cprs.org- National Therapeutic Recreation Society
22377 Belmont Ridge Road
Asburn, VA 20148-4501
(703) 858-0784 Fax: (703) 858-0794
Email: NTRSNRPA@aol.com- American Therapeutic Recreation Association
1414 Prince Street, Suite 204
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-9420- Psychologists
- American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
1-800-374-2721
(202) 336-5500- California Psychological Association
1022 "G" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814-0817
(916) 325-9786 Fax: 916-325-9790
Email: calpsych@calpsychlink.org- Social Work
- National Organization of Forensic Social Work
(734) 944-2820- National Association of Social Workers
750 First Street NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002-4241
(202) 408-8600 or (800) 638-8799