Exam Bulletin - Environmental Scientist (LEAP)

State of California

Exam Code: EX-3093

Examination Plans Included:

  • ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST - Open

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

Classification Details

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST: $4,145.00 - $7,926.00 per Month

View the ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST 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.

Introduction to the Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP)

The Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP) is an alternative examination and appointment process for the recruitment and hiring of persons with disabilities into the California state civil service. The LEAP is a two-part process that consists of: (1) a Minimum Qualifications Assessment/Readiness Evaluation and (2) a Job Examination Period that is administered and evaluated in the work setting.

To qualify to take this Minimum Qualifications Assessment/Readiness Evaluation, you must first have LEAP certification issued by the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). For information on how to obtain LEAP certification, visit the DOR website at https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/LEAP. To find a DOR office near you, contact the DOR at (916) 558-5300, TTY (916) 558-5302, or online at www.dor.ca.gov.

The legal authority for the LEAP is Government Code Sections 19240-19244.

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):

  • ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST - Open

Individuals who meet all of the following criteria:
  • Individuals with a disability, a record of a disability, or who are regarded as having a disability that limits one or more major life activities.
  • Individuals who have Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP) certification from the California Department of Rehabilitation.
  • Individuals who satisfy the minimum qualifications as stated in the minimum qualifications section below.

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 24 months:

Exam Code(s):

    3093

For ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 24 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-03093

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.

00100762 - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

Education: Possession of a bachelor's or advanced degree with a major in a biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, soil science, water science, hydrology, agronomy, natural resource science, environmental or public health, physical geography, or a closely related scientific discipline. (Admission to a masters or doctoral degree program in a biological, chemical, physical, or environmental science, soil science, water science, hydrology, agronomy, natural resource science, environmental or public health, physical geography, or a closely related scientific discipline shall be considered to meet these education qualifications.)

(Registration as a senior in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of a degree before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Position Description

00100762 - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

This class is the entry, intermediate working, and journey level of the series. Range A is the entry and first working level of the class. Under close supervision, incumbents perform a variety of the less difficult and responsible professional scientific office and field work. In accordance with detailed instructions and specific standards, incumbents gather data on public health, environmental, agricultural productivity, and natural resource management issues; perform preliminary environmental analysis, research, surveys, investigations, and studies of less difficulty; prepare preliminary drafts of reports; prepare drafts of routine correspondence; answer questions of a routine and minor nature from the public; prepare regulatory and compliance documents; and do other related work. Work at this level is characterized by a reliance on detailed instructions and assistance from lead persons and supervisors in the application of proven techniques and methodologies to assigned work.

Range B is the intermediate working level of the class. Under general supervision, incumbents perform a variety of responsible scientific professional office and field work. Incumbents gather data on public health, environmental, agricultural productivity, and natural resources management issues; perform environmental analysis, research, surveys, investigations, and studies of average difficulty; write preliminary reports; prepare routine correspondence and answer questions of a routine nature from the public and other governmental entities and agencies; prepare regulatory and compliance documents; enforce environmental laws and regulations; and do other related work. Work at this level is characterized by a reliance on proven techniques and methodologies.

Range C is the journey level. Under direction, incumbents perform a variety of responsible professional scientific office and field work. Incumbents independently perform assigned public health, environmental, agricultural productivity, and natural resource management analysis, research, surveys, investigations, and studies; write final reports; prepare regulatory and compliance documents; enforce environmental law and regulations; prepare non-routine correspondence and answer non-routine questions from the public; and do other related work. Incumbents allocated to this level perform a variety of tasks including the more responsible, varied, and complex assignments; incumbents may provide consultative advice to various governmental entities and agencies. Work at this level is often characterized by independent development and use of techniques and methodologies. Incumbents may be assigned lead responsibility for a specific project.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

In appraising the relative qualifications of candidates, consideration will be given to the extent and type of pertinent experience and education over and above that required under "Minimum Qualifications. Experience in management, research, planning, or consultation in environmental programs, demonstrated environmental management skills, and knowledge of broad principles of economics , social science, and political science will be given preference.

Some positions within the Department of Health Services may require possession of a valid certificate of registration as an Environmental Health Specialist in the State of California pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Sections 514-534.

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
1LEAP AssessmentN/A100%

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

LEAP Process Information

PART 1: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ASSESSMENT/READINESS EVALUATION – Weighted 100%

This Minimum Qualifications Assessment/Readiness Evaluation consists solely of minimum qualification questions that assess the training, experience, and education that you have previously obtained. Your responses to the questions will determine if the training, experience, and education you have meet the minimum qualifications for the Environmental Scientist classification. If you pass the Minimum Qualifications Assessment/Readiness Evaluation, your name will be placed on the Environmental Scientist LEAP Referral List, and you will have referral list eligibility to apply for Environmental Scientist vacancies.

Applicants who obtain Environmental Scientist LEAP Referral List eligibility must compete for job vacancies in order to begin PART 2 of this process, which is called the Job Examination Period.

PART 2: JOB EXAMINATION PERIOD (JEP)

The JEP begins after you are hired and obtain an examination appointment. When you perform the duties of your state job, you will be evaluated on your job performance at least every four weeks, or more often, if needed. Your evaluation will be based on the classification specification and the duty statement of the position.

The JEP will be the same length as the length of the probationary period for the same non-LEAP classification.

After successful completion of the JEP, the result will be a transition from an examination appointment to a standard appointment as a Environmental Scientist. If appointed to a permanent position through the LEAP process, you will not be required to serve a probationary period.

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. Basic principles of land, water, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources research
  2. Principles of ecology
  3. Soil and irrigation sciences, resource management, hydrology, geology, and waste prevention
  4. Statistical methods
  5. Land-use practices with reference to their general effect on human health, natural resources, agricultural productivity, and the environment
  6. Effects of hazardous and non-hazardous waste material and their interactions on the environment
  7. Chemical reactions
  8. California and Federal environmental laws, rules, regulations, and requirements
  9. Basic toxicology, hydrology, geology, and principles of risk assessment and risk management
  10. Concepts employed in a variety of disciplines including environmental planning, economics, and resource management
  11. Geolocation and geo-referencing software applications, resource conservation program impacts and implementation strategies
  12. Recycling issues
Ability to:
  1. Apply or modify scientific methods and principles
  2. Collect environmental data
  3. Analyze and evaluate data and reach sound conclusions
  4. Review, check, and interpret scientific and environmental reports
  5. Analyze situations and take appropriate actions
  6. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with all persons contacted
  7. Communicate effectively
  8. Prepare clear, complete, and technically accurate reports
  9. Apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, and requirements of California and Federal environmental protection and resource management programs
  10. Assess the impact of proposed State and Federal environmental legislation and regulations
  11. Understand principles of risk assessment and risk management
  12. Work with professionals from a variety of disciplines within and outside of State government
  13. Review and understand technical research reports on emerging public health and environmental issues

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 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

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

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

State of California 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)