Exam Bulletin - Landscape Associate, Caltrans

Department of Transportation

Exam Code: EX-1824

Examination Plans Included:

  • LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATE, CALTRANS - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATE, CALTRANS: $6,175.00 - $11,567.00 per Month

View the LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATE, CALTRANS classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATE, CALTRANS - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1824

For LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATE, CALTRANS, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01824

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

00102971 - LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATE, CALTRANS

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a curriculum in Landscape Architecture from a college or university accredited by the American Society of Landscape Architects. (Registration as a senior in such a curriculum will admit an applicant to the examination, but applicant must produce evidence of having fulfilled the requirements for graduation before being considered eligible for appointment.) (Possession of a certificate of registration as a Landscape Architect as issued by the California Board of Landscape Architects may be substituted for the required education.)

Position Description

00102971 - LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATE, CALTRANS

This is the entry through fully qualified professional level of landscape architectural work in the Department of Transportation. As incumbents progress in experience they will be assigned more difficult work.

At the entry through first working level, under the direction of a registered Landscape Architect, incumbents assist in and perform work of average difficulty in the planning, design and programming for landscape architectural and land use planning projects in connection with transportation facilities; and do other related work.

At the fully qualified professional level, under direction, incumbents develop master plans, design and prepare contract documents for major landscape architectural and land used planning projects; develop visual impact assessment for transportation projects; plan major landscape architectural projects; advise in the construction and maintenance of such projects; may lead other landscape architectural and technical personnel; and do other related work.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Principles of landscape architecture, including design and civil engineering as applied to landscape architecture
  2. Land use planning, drafting procedures and practices including computer-aided design and drafting, and use of personal computers
  3. Site analysis and planning
  4. Erosion control
  5. Proper use of plant materials
  6. Principles of ecology
  7. Soil preparation, planting and irrigation techniques
  8. Landscape maintenance procedures
  9. Native and exotic plant materials best adapted to specific uses in various parts of California
  10. Landscape architectural problems encountered in transportation facility or building locations and engineering work and their solutions
  11. Basic knowledge of visual analysis and how such issues relate to the environmental impact process
Ability to:
  1. Do professional design work including site analysis, site planning, master planning and planting design
  2. Select proper plant materials to achieve desired effects and prevent soil erosion
  3. Prepare sketches and plans for landscape architectural projects and coordinate the construction of such projects
  4. Calculate quantities
  5. Prepare land use plans, devise programs for public participation in the planning process, plan working and construction details, prepare landscape architectural plans
  6. Estimate the cost of landscaping and related ground improvements and prepare construction specifications
  7. Lay out and design surface drainage, irrigation and sprinkling systems in connection with landscape projects
  8. Use California native plant materials under a variety of conditions
  9. Serve on project development teams as an authority on visual analysis issues
  10. Create and select proper design to reduce unsafe conditions
  11. Demonstrate artistic and creative aptitude
  12. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action
  13. Prepare reports, plan and make public presentations
  14. Work effectively with others as a member of interdisciplinary planning or design teams

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATE, CALTRANS Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Transportation

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Transportation

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Transportation
Examination & Recruitment Services MS-86
P O Box 168036
Sacramento, CA 95816-8036
Phone:
askexams@dot.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Transportation reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)