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

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:

• 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.

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 RIGHT OF WAY AGENT - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

3460

For SENIOR RIGHT OF WAY AGENT, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-03460

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.

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.

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.

Either I

Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Associate Right of Way Agent.

Or II

Experience: Four years of experience in the acquisition of rights of way for governmental or public utility use where consideration must be given to socioeconomic and environmental factors, coordinated planning for the relocation of utilities, displaced persons and businesses and the development of replacement housing units and including two years of experience in the independent appraisal and negotiation for acquisition of major and complex real properties involving large sums, condemnation, damages, restriction of access, and similar complicating factors. (Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must include at least two years performing the duties of a class with a level of responsibility not less than Associate Right of Way Agent.) and

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

This examination consists of the following component(s):

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: Analytical methods and information sources which will be used to perform tasks such as appraisal report formulation and preparation; basic arithmetic; basic algebra; and basic geometry; the development of replacement housing; organization and procedures of the Department of Transportation and transportation facilities construction and maintenance as related to rights of way; land development and investment practices; Federal Highway Administration policies and procedures relative to right of way activities; laws, policies and procedures involving the concepts of transportation facilities and their impact on the community and the environment; property values and the effect of economic trends upon value and price and on the cost of construction of the improvements with particular reference to metropolitan areas; principles of public administration, including personnel management, budgeting, and supervision; goals, objectives, policies, organization and procedures of the Department of Transportation as related to right of way in transportation facility construction and maintenance; the social and economic impact of public improvements; the Department's safety, health, affirmative action and labor relations program objectives; a supervisor's role in safety, health, affirmative action and labor relations and the processes available to meet these program objectives.

Ability to: Speak and write English clearly and effectively; read and understand English including engineering terminology and the quasi-legal terminology found, for example, in statutes relating to the California Department of Transportation and in the laws, policies, rules and regulations relating to the appraisal and acquisition of property for public purposes; common methods of describing real property; State and Federal relocation assistance requirements; assemble and analyze data and be able to understand, for example, the factors involved in appraising property and the principles underlying the appraisal process; the effect on property values of deed and tract restrictions, zoning ordinances, setbacks, tax and improvement assessments, easements, and encroachments; make accurate mathematical computations and calculations; reason quickly, logically, and creatively in unique and stressful situations; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with individuals contacted in the course of their work, an example of which is the ability to conduct successful right of way negotiations with the public and with representatives of other governmental organizations; follow directions; and organize workload; lead and direct the work of others; make accurate real property appraisals, including the appraisal of complex parcels involving severance damages and benefits; manage, operate, maintain and coordinate clearance of rental properties acquired by the State; effectively coordinate and apply community and environmental concepts and guidelines to the Right of Way Program; conduct private and public sales, conduct complex negotiations, confer with attorneys; develop and prepare capital and support budgets; monitor project scheduling; coordinate right of way certification; prepare route estimates; develop and implement EDP systems; coordinate staff training and development activities; analyze complex situations accurately and adopt or recommend an effective course of action; plan, organize, direct and make decisions involving the work of a right of way staff; effectively contribute to the Department's safety, health, affirmative action and labor relations program objectives. 

A Departmental Open eligible list for the SENIOR RIGHT OF WAY AGENT 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.

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.

• Department of Transportation
• State of California

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

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.

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.