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Behavioral Health Nurse I/II/III

Kern County
Bakersfield, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 6/26/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/25/2026
Position Information

Salary Information

Level I: $8,017.12 - $9,581.20, paid monthly

Level II: $8,858.07 - $10,586.20, paid monthly

Level III: $10,287.75 - $12,294.82, paid monthly

EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

Examinations:
Appraisal (Weight 100%): Will be conducted for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's training, education, experience, interest and personal fitness for the position. Appraisal can be based on any combination of the following: Investigation, oral exam and/or rating of the application.

Applicants must attain at least a 70% score on each phase of the examination process.

Minimum Qualifications/Employment Standards

Level I:

Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of California.

Level II

Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse (RN) by the State of California AND two years full-time nursing experience in a psychiatric setting or a mental health program.

OR

Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse (RN) by the State of California AND Possession of a valid American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification in psychiatric or mental health nursing.

Level III

Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse (RN) by the State of California AND three years full-time nursing experience in a psychiatric setting or mental health program.

OR

Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse (RN) by the State of California AND two years full-time nursing experience in a psychiatric setting or a mental health program, AND possession of a valid American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification on Psychiatric or Mental Health Nursing.

Additional Requirements Levels I/II/III

  • Failure to maintain a current and valid license may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
  • Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license.
  • Dependent upon assignment, applicants may be required to pass an extensive background investigation and be fingerprinted. Disqualification for felony, misdemeanor, and traffic offenses will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Full Job Descriptions For

Behavioral Health NurseI

Behavioral Health Nurse II

Behavioral Health Nurse III

Please ensure applicable materials are attached to your application. If you are unable to attach application materials to your application, you may deliver a copy to the Human Resources Division at 1115 Truxtun Ave. First Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301 or email to HR@kerncounty.com.

This position works within the Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department. For more information about the department, please view their website here.

About Kern County

Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.

To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:

Growth Mindset

We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.

Additional Information

Admittance to the examination will require a valid government issued photograph identification. Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division prior to the test date.

A background check may be conducted for this classification.

A background investigation is required of candidates who wish to be considered for correctional medicine assignments. Felony convictions are disqualifying, and some misdemeanor convictions may be disqualifying.

Following an offer of employment, you may be required to submit to post offer medical and drug screening tests at County expense.

Note: Incumbents may be required to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends

This examination will establish an eligible list from which immediate appointment(s) will be made. Other permanent and temporary appointments will be made as needed. Successful candidates will remain on the eligible list for a period of twelve-months, unless specified otherwise by the Civil Service Commission.

For more information regarding Kern County's recruitment process, please see our FAQ page.

Kern County is an ADA compliant and an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Salary : $8,017 - $9,581

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