Overview
Education, learning and development careers in California state government support students, educators, workers and communities across the state. Professionals in this field help develop educational programs, improve access to learning opportunities, support workforce training and strengthen public services through education and professional development initiatives.
These careers can include curriculum and program development, training delivery, policy implementation, technical assistance, workforce development and educational research. Opportunities exist for classroom educators, instructional designers, trainers, administrators, counselors and other professionals interested in supporting learning and growth across California communities.
What You Might Work On
In California state government, professionals in this field often:
- Develop and evaluate educational or workforce training programs
- Provide technical assistance and guidance to schools, educators or state agency staff
- Research education policy, standards and program effectiveness
- Design and deliver training, workshops or professional development initiatives
- Support statewide initiatives related to literacy, career education, public health or workforce readiness
- Collaborate with educators, community organizations, state agencies and local partners
Is This a Good Fit?
While roles and responsibilities vary, you might enjoy this field if you:
- Enjoy teaching, mentoring or helping others learn new skills
- Like developing programs or improving systems and processes
- Are interested in education policy or workforce development
- Enjoy communication, facilitation and collaboration
- Want to support students, educators or communities through public service
Job Classifications
What are job classifications?
Job classifications map to specific job titles found across California state government. A corresponding code maps to the required exam for that classification. For example, 00102513 is the code for Agricultural Education Consultant.
How to use them:
You can use the job classifications to search for positions on CalCareers in the classification section within the advanced search filter. You can also use key words to find roles in the search bar on the home page. Below is a list of common examples, but additional roles and classifications can be found on CalCareers.
| Exam Code | Classification Name | Common Keywords | What You’ll Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00102773 | School Health Education Assistant | School health, public health education, wellness programs | Assist with implementation and assessment of school health education programs, support trainings and workshops, review program materials and provide consultation to local education agencies |
| 00102742 | Private Postsecondary Education Specialist | Higher education, vocational education, program evaluation | Review and evaluate postsecondary education programs, conduct site evaluations and provide guidance to educational institutions on program compliance and standards |
| 00102641 | Education Research and Evaluation Administrator I | Education research, program evaluation, data analysis | Plan and direct educational research and evaluation projects, supervise research staff and support statewide assessment and accountability programs |
| 00102734 | Resource Specialist, Special Education | Special education, individualized education plans, youth rehabilitation | Provide instructional services and educational support to students with special education needs, develop individualized education plans and collaborate with teachers and institutional staff |
| 00102763 | Deputy Director, California State Summer School for the Arts | Arts education, arts administration, student programs | Oversee student programs, curricular offerings and school operations for a statewide arts education program, including student recruitment, budgeting and program coordination |
Where You Could Work
State government is broad — so where do you start?
One approach is to focus on a type of role. Another is to focus on a mission area or the kind of impact you want to have (i.e., in public health, education, transportation or elsewhere).
Keep in mind: mission areas often span multiple agencies, so you may find relevant roles in places you wouldn’t expect!
Professionals in this field work across many state agencies depending on mission area, including:
- Corrections Education and Rehabilitation: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- K-12 Education: California Department of Education
- Public Health Education: California Department of Public Health
- Rehabilitation and Disability Services: California Department of Rehabilitation
- Teacher Preparation and Credentialing: California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
- Workforce Development: California Employment Development Department
Examples of California Agencies with Education, Learning and Development
Did you know you could have an education, learning and development career at one of these agencies? Note: This is not an exhaustive list of all the options in California state government, but a helpful starting place as you begin exploring your future education career!
| Agency Name |
|---|
| California Commission on Teacher Credentialing |
| California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation |
| California Department of Developmental Services |
| California Department of Education |
| California Department of Public Health |
| California Department of Rehabilitation |
| California Department of Social Services |
| California Department of State Hospitals |
| California Department of Veterans Affairs |
| California Employment Development Department |
Sample Positions
Education Programs Consultant [00102656]
| Employer / agency | California Department of Education |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Sacramento County |
| Mission context | The California Department of Education supports California’s public school system and helps improve educational outcomes for students across the state. |
In this role, you may:
- Develop guidance materials, training and instructional resources for statewide education programs
- Provide technical assistance and support to schools, educators and local educational agencies
Teacher, State Hospitals (Learning Handicapped, Mentally Disabled) [00102273]
| Employer / agency | California Department of State Hospitals |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Napa County |
| Mission context | The California Department of State Hospitals provides treatment and rehabilitative services to individuals with severe mental illness in a secure hospital setting. |
In this role, you may:
- Teach life skills, literacy, vocational preparation and adult education classes to patients with special education needs
- Develop lesson plans and collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment teams to support patient educational goals
Nutrition Education Consultant [00102261]
| Employer / agency | California Department of Education |
|---|---|
| Location(s) | Sacramento County |
| Mission context | The California Department of Education supports nutrition, wellness and student health initiatives in schools across California. |
In this role, you may:
- Develop nutrition education resources and support statewide wellness initiatives
- Provide guidance and training to schools and community partners
