PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN ASSISTANT (SAFETY)

Job Description and Duties

Under the direction of the Shift Lead, the Psychiatric Technician Assistant (Safety) provides a safe, clean and therapeutic environment on the residence where forensic individuals reside. The PTA (S) also assists licensed care staff by participating in the rehabilitation/habilitation treatment programs, including behavioral management training, care and supervision. Assists individuals in developing and utilizing their potential for self-care and activities of daily living and perform other related work for which training has been received. A PTA (S) must have the ability to work extended hours and various shifts and must float to all work areas within the facility if called upon to do so.

A PTA must maintain professional manner and a high level of work performance when conducting themselves in their job duties.

* Must maintain required Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification to practice as a Psychiatric Technician Assistant.
* Must maintain current on all required annual training and complete annual physical requirements.

Temporary state housing may be available for those relocating to fill hard to recruit positions. Housing assignments and rates will be determined in accordance with Department policy, operational priorities, and applicable labor agreements.

This position is not eligible for telework, this position is in person only. 

Interested individuals may take the Psychiatric Technician Assistant (Safety) examination to obtain list eligibility. Click the following link or copy and paste the link into your web browser to be taken to the Exam Bulletin where you will find the instructions for the exam: .

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment. This recruitment may be utilized to fill future vacancies that may occur during the life of the certification list.

Please tell us how you heard about us (click on link below). 

Pursuant to California Government Code requirements, candidates must be residents of the State of California at the time of appointment.

This position requires lawful authorization to work in the United States. The Department does not sponsor employment visas for this position.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Special Requirements

Selected candidates are subject to special requirements. This position is required to complete a medical evaluation.

Electronic application submission is highly encouraged.

Submit a completed standard state application (STD. 678); copy of CNA certificate; and copy of high school diploma/transcripts, GED, or college transcripts by the final filing date. Applications submitted for vacancies must include the Position Title and Position Number in the Job Title Section and MUST be signed and dated. Applicants should indicate on their application, in the job title section, the type of eligibility they currently possess and which qualifies them to apply at this time. In the "Employment History” section of the application you must list your current employment history by providing the To and From dates with the month, day and year, the hours per week that you worked, which should be a whole number and not a range and the Total Worked (years/months). You must complete the Duties Performed section on the application. Applications with “see resume” are not acceptable. Applications received without all of this information will be considered incomplete and will not be processed. Candidates who do not submit all of the required documents will not be considered in the selection process. Surplus applicants must attach a copy of their surplus letter. Applications may be obtained from the Human Resources Personnel Office at the Porterville Developmental Center or completed and downloaded from the website indicated below. NOTE: All appointments are subject to State Restriction of Appointment (SROA), Departmental Restriction of Appointment (DROA), and Re-employment List procedures, pre-employment physical and fingerprint clearances. Further Information on the definition of the above may be found on the California State Department of Human Resources website at . 

*** You must submit a copy of your high school diploma/transcripts, GED, or college transcripts to prove you meet the MQs. Please redact birthdate and social security number from transcripts. If selected for hire, an official transcript will be required prior to being appointed. Note: All foreign transcripts MUST be accompanied by a third party academic credential evaluation . ***Foreign Degrees or Transcripts – Applicants with foreign degrees or transcripts who wish to apply that coursework toward meeting the minimum qualifications of the classification must provide a transcript evaluation that indicates the number of units to which his/her foreign coursework is equivalent. PDC accepts foreign transcript evaluations that are completed by one of the services listed on these webpages:
- or
- Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc.

Application Instructions

Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: Until Filled

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Developmental Services - Porterville Developmental Center

Attn: HR/Recruitment and Examinations

P.O. Box 2000

Porterville , CA 93258

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Developmental Services - Porterville Developmental Center

Porterville Developmental Center

HR/Recruitment and Examinations

Porterville Developmental Center

26501 Ave 140

Porterville , CA 93257

Administration Building, Room 64 (non-operational on weekends and holidays)

08:00 AM - 04:30 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

As a state employee working for the Department of Developmental Services, you and your family will have access to excellent medical, dental and vision insurance benefits in addition to retirement benefits. 

Benefit eligibility may be based on job classification, bargaining unit, time base and length of appointment. Additional benefits may also be outlined for specific bargaining units in employee collective bargaining contracts. For more information, please visit the links below:

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Human Resources Contact:
Evangelina Valle
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Hiring Unit Contact:
Monica Rodriguez
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Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Kerrie Sawyer
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California Relay Service: View phone number on us.fitly.work (TTY), View phone number on us.fitly.work (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Cutoff Dates

Applications are being accepted on a continuous basis until the position is filled. The first cutoff date will be 08/14/2026 with cutoffs every month thereafter and may be processed as conditions warrant to meet hiring needs.