Exam Bulletin

Department of Transportation

Exam Code: EX-3459

Examination Plans Included:

  • SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, CALTRANS - Open, Non-Promotional

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

Bulletin Updates

  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.
  • Continuous filing dates have been added.

Classification Details

SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, CALTRANS: $11,104.00 - $13,898.00 per Month

View the SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, CALTRANS 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:

  • 12/31/2024
  • 1/31/2025
  • 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):

  • SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, 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):

    3459

For SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, CALTRANS, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-03459

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
    1727 30th Street
    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.

The following items must be submitted with your Examination/Employment Application form. Failure to submit these items may result in rejection of your application.

  • Certificate - Regist as Land Arch, CA Board of Land Architect

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.

00102972 - SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, CALTRANS

Possession of a valid Certificate of Registration as a Landscape Architect issued by the California Board of Landscape Architects. and Either I Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Associate Landscape Architect (Specialist), Associate Landscape Architect (Supervisor), or Landscape Associate, Caltrans, Range D.

Or II

Experience: Five years of experience in landscape architectural design or construction work, three years of which shall have been in responsible charge of the planning, design and programming of major landscape projects. and

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

Position Description

00102972 - SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, CALTRANS

Classes in the Landscape Architect, Caltrans, series perform work concerned with the planning, design and development of landscape architectural elements and projects in connection with State transportation facilities.

Landscape architecture is a profession of environmental planning and design concerned with the location and arrangement of natural and man-made elements and features on the earth's surface with the objective of providing a pleasing, harmonious, and aesthetic environment for use and enjoyment by people. This requires professional services such as consultation, investigation, reconnaissance, research, land use planning, visual impact assessments and design necessary to prepare the master plans and detailed plans in order to control land uses and to preserve and enhance the natural and historic resources. It also requires managerial and administrative activities for the planning, budgeting, and program control necessary to meet the objective.

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: Principles of landscape architecture, including design and civil engineering as applied to landscape architecture; land use planning, drafting procedures and practices including computer-aided design and drafting, and use of personal computers; site analysis and planning; erosion control; proper use of plant materials; principles of ecology; soil preparation, planting and irrigation techniques; landscape maintenance procedures; native and exotic plant materials best adapted to specific uses in various parts of California; landscape architectural problems encountered in transportation facility or building locations and engineering work and their solutions; basic knowledge of visual analysis and how such issues relate to the environmental impact process; principles of program and project management; principles of budgeting and program control; various phases of engineering (relating specifically to landscape architecture), including planning processes and methods/systems planning, evaluation of alternatives and facility locations and design, construction, operation and maintenance; principles of personnel management and supervision; the Department's safety, health, affirmative action/equal opportunity and labor relations program objectives; planning, directing and evaluating the work of a professional staff including other professional disciplines that may include a staff of landscape architects; factors which influence the impact of landscape architecture facilities on the environment, the community and the economy.

Ability to: Do professional design work including site analysis, site planning, master planning and planting design; select proper plant materials to achieve desired effects and prevent soil erosion; prepare sketches and plans for landscape architectural projects and coordinate the construction of such projects; calculate quantities; prepare land use plans, devise programs for public participation in the planning process, plan working and construction details, prepare landscape architectural plans; estimate the cost of landscaping and related ground improvements and prepare construction specifications; lay out and design surface drainage, irrigation and sprinkling systems in connection with landscape projects; use California native plant materials under a variety of conditions; serve on project development teams as an authority on visual analysis issues; create and select proper design to reduce unsafe conditions; demonstrate artistic and creative aptitude; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; prepare reports, plan and make public presentations; work effectively with others as a member of interdisciplinary planning or design teams; prepare technical directives and administrative orders; correlate engineering or architectural features to proposed landscape projects; direct a large-scale landscape program; communicate effectively as demonstrated by the ability to organize ideas and present departmental policies to community groups, Federal, State and local agencies; effectively contribute to the Department's safety, health affirmative action/equal opportunity and labor relations program objectives. 

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the SENIOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, 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
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)