• Address on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.

All applicants must meet the minimum qualifications for this examination by the cut-off date.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 9/2/2025
• 10/1/2025
• 11/3/2025
• 12/1/2025
• 1/2/2026
• 2/2/2026
• 3/2/2026
• 4/1/2026
• 5/1/2026
• 6/1/2026
• 7/1/2026

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will be processed in the next group.

Note: Check back periodically as cut-off dates may be added in the future. Additionally, cut-off dates are subject to change or be cancelled at any time. Such changes or cancellations will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules.

Results notices will be sent in 6-7 weeks following each cut-off date. Please contact Talent Acquisition at (279) 223-2700 if you have not received your notice after 7 weeks.

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):

• ASSOCIATE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPECIALIST - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

2673

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

Exam Code(s):

• EX-02673

All applicants must complete and submit an Examination Application (STD. 678) and Qualifications Assessment.

NOTE: Applications submitted by mail or in person must be signed.

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.

You may apply by mail to:

• Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  Talent Acquisition - Examination Services Unit
  P.O. Box 942883
  Sacramento, CA 94283-0001
  

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

• Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  Talent Acquisition - Examination Services Unit
  9825 Goethe Road, Suite 200
  Sacramento, CA 95827-3565
  8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  (Drop off not available on weekends and holidays)

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

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.

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.

Either 1

Two years of experience in the California state service performing hazardous materials management duties at a level of responsibility not less than a Hazardous Materials Specialist, Range B.

Or 2

Education: Equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university or equivalent degree approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education under the provisions of California Education Code Chapter 3, Part 59, Division 10, with major work in biological, chemical, physical, environmental, or soil science; environmental health; environmental or sanitary engineering; toxicology; industrial hygiene or a related field.  (Additional qualifying experience in hazardous materials management, regulation, analysis, or research; environmental research, monitoring, surveillance, or enforcement; or resource recovery may be substituted for the required education on the basis of one year of qualifying experience for each year of college work for up to a maximum of two years.  When substituting experience for education, qualifying education must include a minimum of 30 semester units in natural science from an accredited college or equivalent units from an institution approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and 3, Part 59, Division 10.) and

Experience:  Three years of progressively responsible professional experience in hazardous materials management, regulation, analysis, or research; environmental research, monitoring, surveillance, or enforcement; or resource recovery.  Two years of this experience must have included responsibility for a major segment of a broad and complex chemical, environmental, or hazardous material control program.  This experience must be at a level equivalent to that of a Hazardous Materials Specialist, Range B, in the California state service.

NOTE: Equivalent to graduation from college refers to a Bachelor’s degree. Applicants must have the number of semester or quarter credits, as well as the required coursework necessary to be awarded a four year Bachelor’s degree. Applicants must include a copy of their unofficial college transcripts or degree with their Examination Application (STD. 678) for verification.

OUT-OF-CLASS EXPERIENCE: A “completion of an out-of-class assignment” memorandum, dated within one year of assignment completion, is required to use as out-of-class experience to meet the minimum qualifications for examination purposes. Employees may obtain this documentation from his/her Institutional Personnel Officer/Personnel Liaison. Out-of-class experience without required documentation will not be considered for examination purposes.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

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

Qualifications Assessment for Associate Hazardous Materials Specialist is available from the CDCR website at: Associate Hazardous Materials Specialist.

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:

Scope:  Emphasis in the examination will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each candidate’s:

Knowledge of:

1. Basic principles of scientific research.
2. Chemical, biological, physical, environmental science.
3. Chemical and physical characteristics of hazardous materials and their general effect on human health and the environment.
4. Chemical reactions.
5. Effect of hazardous materials and their interactions on the environment and statistical methods of analysis.
6. Principles and procedures of hazardous materials management and resource recovery, including basic toxicology, hydrology, and geology.
7. Water, soil, and air quality management, and environmental planning.
8. Investigatory methods.
9. Hazardous materials management activities and programs in both the public and private sectors.
10. Research and literature on the health effects of hazardous substances used in California industry.
11. California’s hazardous waste stream characteristics and mitigation measures.
12. Federal, State, and local statutes, regulations, legislative, and regulatory processes, programs, and responsibilities related to hazardous materials.
13. Methods of transport, storage, recovery, treatment, destruction, disposal, and use of hazardous materials.
14. Hazardous facility permitting process including State and Federal requirements for environmental review.
15. Concepts employed in a variety of disciplines including economics, public health, and resource management as specifically related to hazardous materials management programs.
16. Principles involved in siting hazardous waste facilities and for controlling hazardous substances.

Ability to:

1. Collect environmental data.
2. Analyze and evaluate data and reach sound conclusions.
3. Apply scientific methods and principles
4. Analyze situations and take appropriate action.
5. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with local governments and all persons contacted in the work.
6. Prepare clear, complete, and technically accurate reports.
7. Communicate effectively.
8. Plan, organize, and carry out hazardous materials studies or projects.
9. Coordinate the work of others.
10. Make oral presentations, evaluate scientific data, and develop and prepare recommendations based on findings.
11. Be objective and flexible.
12. Meet critical deadlines.
13. Apply or modify complex scientific methods and principles.
14. Understand principles of risk assessments and risk management.
15. Work with professionals from a variety of disciplines within and outside of State Government on complex and changing hazardous substance issues related to the achievement of departmental goals.
16. Read and understand technical research reports on emerging public health issues related to the use of hazardous substances.
17. Assess the impact of proposed legislation and new statutes.
18. Organize materials for public presentation and dissemination.
19. Anticipate and respond to public concerns with tact and sensitivity.

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the ASSOCIATE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPECIALIST Classification will be established for:

• Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation

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.

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.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) are committed to building an inclusive and culturally diverse workplace. We are determined to attract and hire more candidates from diverse communities and empower all employees from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts to increase representation at all levels of the Department.

• Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation
• Department of State Hospitals

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

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.

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 Corrections & Rehabilitation 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.