PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIAN I

Position/Program Information

EXAM NUMBER

b8161C

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

We welcome applications from everyone.

WHEN TO APPLY

We will be accepting online applications from June 3, 2026, at 8:00 am (PT)-Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

Why work for us?

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, over 116,000 employees in more than 38 Departments, we provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, public health protection, water conservation, cultural activities and many more.

We are dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. The County has more than 2,300 different job descriptions, offering a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We offer one of the strongest public-sector benefits packages in the country. Join us and discover a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

CHECK OUT OUR OUTSTANDING BENEFITS! The County of Los Angeles offers an excellent benefits package that includes a Cafeteria Benefit Plan, Contributory Defined Benefit Retirement Plan, Deferred Compensation & Thrift Plans, and 13 paid Holidays. Click here to see a list of employee benefits.

Essential Job Functions

Applies principles of mental health in relationships with mentally ill or emotionally disturbed clients as a member of a Psychiatric Mobile Response Team, Clinical Behavioral Management Response Team, crisis intervention team or therapeutic team at an outpatient or inpatient facility.
Observes, evaluates, records and reports to professional staff significant changes in the client's condition.

Provides direct and indirect patient care including helping clients with personal hygiene such as bathing and personal grooming.

Records measures of the client's physical condition such as pulse, temperature, respiration, weight, and body mass index.

Aids or restrains clients to prevent injury to themselves or others.

Prepares appropriate forms in connection with emergency calls, evaluation of the client's condition, and maintenance of the client's records.

Assists professional staff members in providing and documenting occupational, recreational and vocational therapy programs related to the client's treatmentplan.

Administers, either orally or by injection, prescribed medications to clients inacute psychiatric settings.

Signs the application for immediate 72-hour detention of disturbed psychiatric clients if Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) designated by the Office of Medical Director as needed.
Click on the link Psychiatric Technician I f or complete details of this classification.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

LICENSE: A valid and active license as a Psychiatric Technician issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.

A copy of a valid California State License to practice as Psychiatric Technician MUST be attached to the application at the time of filing or send by email to exams@dmh.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from date of application submission. Applications submitted without the required copy of licensure will be considered as incomplete until such information is provided. Original license must be presented at the time of appointment.
Some positions in this classification, depending upon assignment, require possession of a valid California Class C Driver License to perform job-related essential functions. Candidates offered these positions will be required to show proof of a valid driver license before appointment.

Successful applicants for this position who will be required to drive will be required to obtain a copy of his/her driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before being appointed. Applicant's License must not be suspended, restricted or revoked, or have more than four moving violations within the last two years. This information will be verified at the time of appointment.

PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class IV - Arduous: This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with severely mentally ill clients, providing therapeutic support.
• Experience working on a psychiatric multidisciplinary team*.
  *Psychiatric Multidisciplinary tam definition: For this examination, psychiatric multidisciplinary team is defined as a group of mental health care providers that may consist of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, psychiatric social workers, marriage and family therapists, medical doctors, community workers, and clinical case managers that work together to assess the mental health care needs of the client and develop a treatment plan tailored to the client's identified needs.

WITHHOLD INFORMATION:

Withholds will not be accepted.

Additional Information

OUR ASSESSMENT PROCESS
This examination will consist of an evaluation of training, experience and desirable qualifications, supplemental questionnaire, based on application information, weighted 100%.
Applicants must receive a passing score of 70% or higher on the assessment to be added to the eligible register.
ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION
Applicants who passed the assessment(s) are placed on a list in the order of their score group for a period of six (6) months. Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the list accordingly. We will use this list to fill vacancies in the Department of Mental Health as they occur.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

Past and present mental health clients and family members are encouraged to apply.

AVAILABLE SHIFT
The qualified candidate must be willing to work a 12 hour shift schedule. The shift will consist of either an 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. work schedule.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION
Applicants are required to complete and submit an online Los Angeles County Employment Application and Supplemental Questionnaire in order to be considered for this examination. Paper applications, resumes, or any unsolicited documents will not be accepted in lieu of completing the online application. This examination will remain open until the need of the services are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.

• info@governmentjobs.com
• cyeung@dmh.lacounty.gov
• exams@dmh.lacounty.gov
• selections@dmh.lacounty.gov
• recruitment@dmh.lacounty.gov

New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to govermentjobs.com and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
All applicants must enter a valid social security number at the time of filing. Entering anything other than a valid social security number (i.e. 000-00-0000, 111-11-1111, etc.) will result in an automatic rejection of your application.

NO SHARING USER ID AND PASSWORD
All applicants must file their applications online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT
Department Contact Name: Celia Yeung, Exam Analyst
Department Contact Phone: 213-972-7034 or 323-705-4249
Department Contact Email: exams@dmh.lacounty.gov

ADA Coordinator Phone: 323-705-4249
Teletype Phone: 800-735-2922
California Relay Services Phone: 800-735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

• 

• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

Show more