Exam Bulletin - Right of Way Agent

Department of Transportation

Exam Code: EX-2371

Examination Plans Included:

  • RIGHT OF WAY AGENT - Open

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

Classification Details

RIGHT OF WAY AGENT: $4,645.00 - $7,195.00 per Month

View the RIGHT OF WAY AGENT 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):

  • RIGHT OF WAY AGENT - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

    2371

For RIGHT OF WAY AGENT, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02371

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.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00104959 - RIGHT OF WAY AGENT

Either 1

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Caltrans Administrative Technician, Range B, in an assignment involving completion of a formal training plan with emphasis on real estate related topics and rotation to at least three of the following four major Right of Way functional areas: Appraisals, Acquisition, Relocation Assistance and Property Management.

Or 2

Experience: Two years of experience performing appraisal or acquisition work involving fair market value as applied to transfer and sale of real property. (Experience in real estate sales or transfers will not be considered equivalent to the appraisal or acquisition work referred to in this requirement.) and

Education: Equivalent to completion of an Associate of Arts Degree. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.)

Or 3

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Registration as a senior in an accredited college or university or a college or university approved by the California Superintendent of Public Instruction under the provisions of California Education Code Section 94310(b), will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Position Description

00104959 - RIGHT OF WAY AGENT

This is typically the entry level and training class of the series. Incumbents, under the close supervision of a higher level Right of Way Agent, assist in the various programs and duties of the Right of Way Department while receiving formal and rotational on-the-job training in the major functional areas of appraisals, acquisitions, relocation assistance, utility relocation and property management. They participate in the appraisal process as trainees, perform routine office and field duties involved in the acquisition program, become familiar with the activities involved in management, rental, and disposal of property and participate in the gathering of data pertinent to relocation and moving problems of highway displaces. Decision-making actions are generally restricted and public and interdepartmental contacts are closely supervised.

Typically, Right of Way Agents are capable of some independent action under general supervision. They receive close supervision on projects and activities requiring greater responsibility and technical competence. Decision-making actions are supervised and reviewed. They participate in the appraisal process and in making analytical decisions and evaluating problems, negotiating with property owners on routine acquisitions, offering routine relocation assistance and assisting in studies of housing availability.

Incumbents will assist in the various activities of the Right of Way Program while receiving formal and on-the-job training in one or more of the major functional areas of appraisals, acquisition, relocation assistance, property management, airspace development, excess land sales, utility relocation and planning and management. Incumbents are assigned progressively more complex right of way work as their competence increases.

Special Personal Characteristics

Require an interest in and aptitude for real property negotiations and appraisal work, sales ability and the ability to make effective oral presentations before the public, willingness to work at odd hours, and to travel throughout the State.

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. Analytical methods and information sources which will be used to perform tasks such as appraisal report formulation and preparation
  2. Basic arithmetic
  3. Basic algebra
  4. Basic geometry
Ability to:
  1. Speak and write English clearly and effectively
  2. Read and understand English including engineering terminology and the quasi-legal terminology found, for example, in statutes relating to the California Department of Transportation and in the laws, policies, rules and regulations relating to the appraisal and acquisition of property for public purposes
  3. Common methods of describing real property
  4. State and Federal relocation assistance requirements
  5. Assemble and analyze data and be able to understand, for example, the factors involved in appraising property and the principles underlying the appraisal process
  6. The effect on property values of deed and tract restrictions, zoning ordinances, setbacks, tax and improvement assessments, easements, and encroachments
  7. Make accurate mathematical computations and calculations
  8. Reason quickly, logically, and creatively in unique and stressful situations
  9. Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with individuals contacted in the course of their work, an example of which is the ability to conduct successful right of way negotiations with the public and with representatives of other governmental organizations
  10. Follow directions
  11. Organize workload

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the RIGHT OF WAY AGENT 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.

Right of Way Agent Training and Experience Examination Preview

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks
  1. Gathering information and/or collecting data from various sources in order to complete work assignments.
  2. Using spreadsheet software to compile, compute, organize, and present data in tables, graphs, and charts for use in reports and/or project tracking activities.
  3. Writing correspondence, reports, or other complex documents using proper grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure to share information, explain data results to non-technical audiences, support conclusions, and/or summarize information gathered from multiple sources.
  4. Analyzing data collected in projects to draw logical conclusions and make decisions.
  5. Collaborating, communicating, and/or interacting verbally with customers, clients, stakeholders, the public or colleagues to complete work assignments.
  6. Planning, organizing, prioritizing, and monitoring workload to ensure timely completion of all assignments.
  7. Interacting with the public, clients, stakeholders, or colleagues in difficult or stressful situations while maintaining composure.
  8. Performing basic math (e.g., calculating percentages, addition, subtraction, fractions, basic geometry, basic algebra) to analyze data and complete work assignments.

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)