Exam Bulletin - Automotive Technician I

California Highway Patrol

Multiple Testing Departments. Please see list of Departments.

Exam Code: EX-3541

Examination Plans Included:

  • AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I - Open

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

Bulletin Updates

  • Continuous filing dates have been changed.
  • Continuous filing dates have been changed.
  • Continuous filing dates have been changed.

Classification Details

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I: $3,884.00 - $5,053.00 per Month

View the AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I classification specification.

Application Instructions

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 10/3/2024
  • 11/7/2024
  • 12/5/2024

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.

NOTE: Dates printed on mobile bar codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the United States Postal Service, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application. It is the applicant's responsibility to submit their application on time and to ensure the envelope is postmarked.

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):

  • AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

    3541

For AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-03541

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:

  • California Highway Patrol
    Selection Standards and Examinations Section
    P.O. Box 942898
    Sacramento, CA 94298

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:

  • California Highway Patrol
    Selection Standards and Examinations Section
    601 North 7th Street
    Sacramento, CA 95811
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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.

All applications (STD 678) forms must include: employment history "from" and "to" dates (month/day/year), hours per week, title/job classification, and duties performed. Applications (STD 678) forms received without this information will be rejected. Résumés or other documents will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application (STD 678) form.

NOTE: DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES (CALHR) OR TO A LOCAL CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICE. FAXED OR E-MAILED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

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

  • Other - Automotive Technician I - Training & Experience Examination

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

NOTE: All applications must meet the education and/or experience requirements by the cutoff date to be accepted into the examination. Part-time or full-time jobs, regardless of whether paid or volunteer positions, and inside or outside California state service will count towards experience.

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.

00106832 - AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I

Either I

In the California state service, one year of experience performing duties in automotive service or repair at a level not less than an Automotive Technician Trainee.  (Applicants who have completed six months of the required experience will be admitted to the examination but must satisfactorily complete the required experience before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Two years of experience in servicing and repairing motor vehicles in a garage, motor vehicle agency, or other major vehicle repair facility. (College or trade school education in automotive mechanics or automotive engineering may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.)  (Applicants who are substituting education for experience and are within 15 semester units or 22 1/2 quarter units of completing the education requirement will be admitted to the examination but must satisfactorily complete the required education before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)


Special Requirements

Possession of a valid California driver license of the appropriate classification issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles; and evidence of satisfactory arrest and driving records. Applicants who do not possess the license will be admitted to the examination but must secure the license prior to appointment.

Position Description

00106832 - AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I

This is the journeyperson level. Automotive Technician Is assemble, install, repair, or remove special enforcement and emergency equipment; and do other related work. Successfull performance of many of the duties performed by this class require incumbents to crawl underneath a vehicle/down under the dashboard/into the trunk; lift and carry tires up to 60 pounds in weight; and work in varying, and sometimes extreme, temperatures. Automotive Technician Is may also be required to act as leadpersons to review and/or oversee work performed by other automotive maintenance and repair personnel.


Additional Desirable Qualifications


Possession of headlamp and brake adjustment certificates.  

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:
  • Automotive equipment terminology and parts used in automotive maintenance and repair, how they interact, and where they are located.
  • Preventative maintenance and repair procedures.
  • Service requirements of motor vehicles.
  • Record-keeping procedures.
  • Components of a vehicle, how they work and their interrelationships, and where they are located.
  • Safe use of a large variety of electric and air-powered tools and their accessories, such as electric drill motors, air-powered impact wrenches, and various small hand tools.
  • Proper size and type of wiring terminal or connector when making electrical connections.
  • Proper hardware needed to mount various pieces and specialty equipment.
Ability to:
  • Maintain both manual and computer records.
  • Make accurate arithmetical computations.
  • Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the work.
  • Demonstrate skill in the operation and maintenance of motor vehicles.
  • Work under stress in an assembly line environment.

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I 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.

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.

Drug Testing Requirement

Applicants for Automotive Technician I positions are required to pass a drug screening test.  (The drug screening test will be waived for employees who are currently in a designated “sensitive” classification for which drug testing is required under California Code of Regulations, Section 213.)

Testing Departments

  • California Highway Patrol
  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Highway Patrol
Selection Standards and Examinations Section
097/Examination Services
P.O. Box 942898
Sacramento, CA 94298-0001
Phone: (916) 843-3820

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.

California Highway Patrol 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)