Exam Bulletin - Tree Maintenance Worker, Caltrans

Department of Transportation

Exam Code: EX-2918

Examination Plans Included:

  • TREE MAINTENANCE WORKER, CALTRANS - Open

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

Classification Details

TREE MAINTENANCE WORKER, CALTRANS: $4,728.00 - $5,695.00 per Month

View the TREE MAINTENANCE WORKER, 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):

  • TREE MAINTENANCE WORKER, 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):

    2918

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

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02918

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.

00109381 - TREE MAINTENANCE WORKER, CALTRANS

Possession of a valid Class C driver license. Applicants who do not possess this license will be admitted to the examination but must secure the license prior to appointment. And

Either 1

Nine months of experience in the California state service assigned to a tree maintenance crew, performing duties comparable in level to those of a Service Assistant (Maintenance). These duties include tree trimming and climbing work on trees of more than 40 feet in height.

Or 2

One year of tree trimming experience. This experience must have included trimming of trees of more than 40 feet in height and climbing work.

Drug Testing Requirement

Applicants for positions in these classes are required to pass a drug screening test. Testing of current employees who are applicants in an examination or who are transferring is permitted only if the person does not have a current appointment to a class for which drug testing is a requirement.

Position Description

00109381 - TREE MAINTENANCE WORKER, CALTRANS

May be required to operate a variety of equipment, including trucks, personnel hoists, brush chippers, buses, tank vehicles containing water or hazardous materials (including pesticides) and other maintenance equipment as required.

Climbs trees by means of ropes or spurs; uses safety belt and other required rigging; trims and removes limbs and branches; uses both power and hand saws and similar equipment; lowers cut limbs and branches by lines; occasionally fells and removes entire trees; plants, cultivates and irrigates trees; cuts brush and weeds along the transportation facility rights of way, and at State facilities; maintains and cares for tree climbing and trimming equipment; acts as a flagger for traffic control; uses aerial equipment and pneumatic and hydraulic tools; under close supervision, applies chemicals for insect, disease and weed control.

Special Personal Characteristics

Sufficient physical strength and agility to perform the essential functions of the job, including aerial rescue.

Additional Desirable Qualification

Possession of a valid and unrestricted Class B or Class A driver license with endorsements for P (Passenger/Bus), H (Hazardous Materials) and N (Tank Vehicle).

Possession of a Qualified Applicator Certificate with Landscape Maintenance, Right-of-Way or Forest Pest Control Category issued by the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal-EPA).

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. Various ropes, knots and splices used in tree trimming work
  2. Different cuts used for felling and limb removal
  3. Climbing, power tool and pesticide safety regulations and safety practices
  4. Appropriate rigging procedures
  5. Different types of climbing methods
  6. Pruning techniques
  7. Rope strengths in conjunction with wood weights
  8. Basic mathematics including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
  9. Operation and service requirements of various types of specialized equipment
  10. Different types of wood in terms of ease or resistance to cuts
  11. Safe pesticide application techniques
Ability to:
  1. Climb trees in excess of 40 feet in height by means of belts, spurs and ropes
  2. Perform tree trimming tasks at considerable heights above the ground
  3. Coordinate body movements with tasks to be performed
  4. Select and apply knowledge appropriate to job tasks
  5. Follow basic safety procedures for pesticide use
  6. Do the necessary rigging and tying of the various knots used in tree trimming work
  7. Follow instructions and location directions
  8. Learn new methods and techniques
  9. Make independent decisions
  10. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships
  11. Communicate at a level required to perform the essential functions of the job

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the TREE MAINTENANCE WORKER, 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.

Tree Maintenance Worker, Caltrans 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. Climbing trees using climbing harnesses, properly rigged ropes or spurs in accordance with California Occupational Safety Health Administration (CAL OSHA) regulations.
  2. Pruning and removing tree limbs and branches to maintain safety, visibility and/or aesthetics.
  3. Operating aerial equipment (e.g., personnel hoists) to perform tree maintenance or inspections.
  4. Operating power and hand saws to prune trees and clear roadside vegetation.
  5. Rigging and lowering tree limbs safely to the ground.
  6. Falling and removing trees using proper felling techniques.
  7. Maintaining tree climbing and trimming equipment to ensure personal safety and equipment readiness.
  8. Operating brush chippers in an effective and safe manner.

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)