Exam Bulletin

Department of Transportation

Exam Code: EX-2977

Examination Plans Included:

  • TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR PARTY CHIEF (CALTRANS) - Open, Non-Promotional

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

Classification Details

TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR PARTY CHIEF (CALTRANS): $9,707.00 - $12,146.00 per Month

View the TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR PARTY CHIEF (CALTRANS) classification specification.

Application Instructions

Continuous (cut-off dates for 2024: January 31st, February 29th, March 30th, April 30th, May 31st, June 30th, July 31st, August 31st, September 30th, October 30th, November 30th, December 31st)

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):

  • TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR PARTY CHIEF (CALTRANS) - Open, Non-Promotional

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

Exam Code(s):

    2977

For TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR PARTY CHIEF (CALTRANS), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02977

How To Apply:

Candidates are required to submit 1)STD678 State Application  and 2) Training and Experience Evaluation
If you wish to submit in person or by mail, please follow the instructions below:

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

You may apply by mail to:

  • Caltrans Examination Services (MS 86)
    Caltrans
    Examination Services
    1727 30th Street
    Sacramento, CA 95816

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:

  • Caltrans
    Examination Services
    1727 30th Street
    Sacramento, CA 95816
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    **Candidates are responsible for obtaining proof of mailing or submission of their exam.

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.

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.

00103030 - TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR PARTY CHIEF (CALTRANS)

Possession of a valid California Land Surveyors' License. (A Certificate of Registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors prior to January 1, 1982 satisfies this requirement.) and Either I One year of experience in the California state service performing duties comparable to a Transportation Surveyor (Caltrans), Range D.

Or II

 

Two years of experience in the California state service performing duties equivalent to a Transportation Surveyor (Caltrans), Range C.

Or III

 

Two years of field or office experience performing duties equivalent to a Transportation Surveyor (Caltrans), Range D.

Or IV

 

Three years of field or office experience performing duties equivalent to a Transportation Surveyor (Caltrans), Range A, B, or C.

Position Description

00103030 - TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR PARTY CHIEF (CALTRANS)

This series is available for use within Caltrans. Incumbents determine and establish boundaries of State-owned lands; establish high-order vertical and horizontal control; provide photogrammetric mapping and topography; prepare and record maps; plan and direct the work of a staff in field surveys or office assignments; make technical studies and investigations pertaining to land or engineering surveying, property titles, descriptions, and deeds; write memoranda and prepare reports; and do other related work.

This is the first professional qualified supervisory level requiring licensing as a land surveyor. As a survey party chief over field crews, incumbents are assigned administrative supervision of professional and technical staff. Incumbents also perform a wide variety of difficult and complex professional surveying work and exercise independent professional judgment in responsible charge assignments.


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

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Online ExamWith Application100%

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.

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: Fundamental surveying, mathematics, and basic science as applied to surveying; methods of precise survey measuring; use and adjustment of precision surveying instruments; procedures, equipment, and materials used in surveying, including conventional and state of the art; mapping and drafting techniques; mathematics and procedures used in plane and geodetic surveying; computer applications and usage; the California Coordinate System; Code of Safe Surveying Practices; photogrammetric mapping procedures; principles and practices of boundary determination, land title research, and surveying; legal descriptions of real property; methods and terminology used in searching for land titles and factors involved in determining ownership of property; real property acquisition and mapping laws pertaining to public and private ownership of real property; monumentation of facilities; the Land Surveyors' Act; the Subdivision Map Act; factors which influence the impact of departmental projects on property and basic net; right of way engineering projects; planning, design, construction, and right of way procedures and policies as they relate to surveys; departmental plans, standards, policies, and procedures for planning, design, right of way, and construction as they relate to surveys; methods, equipment, and materials used in surveying and mapping of State facilities; computers and state-of-the-art surveying and related equipment; principles of effective communication; principles of effective personnel management and supervision; a manager's/supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. 

Ability to: Perform the less complex field and office surveying work; make precise survey measurements; interpret legal descriptions of real property; make and interpret the less difficult survey calculations; apply and utilize the principles of the California Coordinate System; research, analyze, check, and adjust survey data; research and compile evidence and documentation for boundary determination; assist in planning, directing, and coordinating the work of a group of survey or right of way engineering personnel; do mapping and drafting; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence; write property descriptions and prepare legal land documents and descriptions; operate precise surveying instruments (conventional and state of the art); establish and maintain friendly, business-like relations with those contacted in the course of the work; communicate effectively;

supervise the work of surveyors; plan and direct the work of a survey party; make necessary corrections and/or revisions to construction plans, under direction of the Resident Engineer, when required to meet field conditions and/or comply with policies and standards; plan and direct the work of a staff engaged in field survey work; plan and direct the work of a staff engaged in resolution of legal property descriptions; prepare clear and comprehensive reports and technical correspondence; review the work of others for compliance with legal requirements, policies, and specifications; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; effectively promote equal employment opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.



Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the TRANSPORTATION SURVEYOR PARTY CHIEF (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 will only be added to the final score of those applicants who are successful in examination(s) administered on an Open, Non-Promotional basis in accordance with Government Codes 18951 and 18951.5.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Transportation

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Transportation
California Department of Transportation
1727 30th Street
P O Box 168036
Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: (916) 227-7858
julie.gillaspy@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:
By Mail
In Person (see bulletin for details)
Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)