Exam Bulletin

Department of Transportation

Multiple Testing Departments. Please see list of Departments.

Exam Code: EX-3424

Examination Plans Included:

  • ASSISTANT CHEMICAL TESTING ENGINEER - Open

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

Bulletin Updates

  • Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.
  • Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.

Classification Details

ASSISTANT CHEMICAL TESTING ENGINEER: $7,212.00 - $9,025.00 per Month

View the ASSISTANT CHEMICAL TESTING ENGINEER classification specification.

Application Instructions

Please Note: Examinations and Applications must both be submitted via ECOS and Surveymonkey for your attempt to be considered.  Your cut-off window for processing is determined only after both items have been received.  Results may take between 4-6 weeks to process after each cut-off date indicated above.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 2/28/2025
  • 3/31/2025
  • 4/30/2025
  • 5/31/2025
  • 6/30/2025
  • 7/31/2025
  • 8/31/2025
  • 9/30/2025
  • 10/31/2025
  • 11/30/2025
  • 12/31/2025

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.

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):

  • ASSISTANT CHEMICAL TESTING ENGINEER - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

    3424

For ASSISTANT CHEMICAL TESTING ENGINEER, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-03424

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.

You may apply by mail to:

  • Caltrans Examination Services (MS 86)
    Caltrans
    Examination Services
    P.O. Box 168036
    Sacramento, CA 95816-8036

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.

00103406 - ASSISTANT CHEMICAL TESTING ENGINEER

Either I

 

One year of experience performing the duties of a Junior Chemical Testing Engineer in the California state service.

Or II

 

Experience: Two years of responsible chemical testing engineering experience, one year of which must have been in the chemical testing of construction materials. (A Master's Degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering may be substituted for the required experience.) (Applicants who are pursuing graduate work toward a master's degree will be admitted to the examination, but must receive the degree before they will be considered eligible for appointment.) and

 

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in chemistry or chemical engineering. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Position Description

00103406 - ASSISTANT CHEMICAL TESTING ENGINEER

Performs the more responsible chemical analyses of raw material and finished products, such as: ferrous and nonferrous metals, protective coatings, traffic line paints, and other paints, fuel and weed oils, asphaltic materials, cement and concrete aggregates, soils, foundation materials, water, water for concrete, concrete curing materials, and other engineering or miscellaneous materials; assists in developing specifications for various construction and other materials; prepares and standardizes solutions used in analytical work; assists in conducting research and investigational work and developing methods and tests to determine the chemical composition and related qualities of road building, construction, and other materials purchased by the State; makes shop and field inspections for compliance with specifications and suitability and durability of the product; develops sampling and testing plans; may assist with the supervision of the work of assistants performing less responsible laboratory testing work; witnesses manufacturer's tests on products as a basis for acceptance or rejection; as required, makes the necessary physical analysis in connection with any particular project; prepares reports on materials tested.

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
1Supplemental ReportWith 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: General chemical laboratory testing procedure and equipment, and organic and inorganic chemistry as applied to the testing of highway, building construction, consumer products, and a wide variety of other materials; chemical characteristics and properties of various engineering construction and other materials, and methods and equipment used in sampling and making chemical tests of construction, maintenance, and other materials; uses of materials of engineering construction; standard specifications and tests of the American Association of State Highway Officials; Federal specifications, and standard specifications of the California Division of Highways; chemical factors affecting material substitutions.

Ability to: Perform chemical testing work; make recommendations on material substitutions; conduct independent chemical research and investigational work, and make recommendations relating to the development of specifications; prepare reports; analyze situations accurately and take effective action.

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the ASSISTANT CHEMICAL TESTING ENGINEER 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 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.

Exam Processing Window

Candidates will be notified of their scores approximately 4-6 weeks after final monthly submission date.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Transportation
  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Transportation
California Department of Transportation
Examination & Recruitment Services MS-86
P O Box 168036
Sacramento, CA 95816-8036
Phone: (916) 227-7858
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)
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)