• Continuous filing dates have been added.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 10/14/2025

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.

This examination is administered on a continuous basis with cutoff dates every one (1) year.  Please see the cutoff dates below for FY 24-25:

If your application is received after the cutoff date, it will be retained and considered for the next examination administration.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

10/14/2024

10/14/2025

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.

Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

If using the United States Postal Service (USPS) for delivery, there is no guarantee that your application will be postmarked and arrive by the final filing date. If your application does not have a postmark and arrives after the final filing date, your application may not be accepted into the examination. Therefore, to ensure timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use either parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof the application was sent prior to the final filing date.

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):

• HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC - Open

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements by the start of the examination, unless otherwise noted.

• Once you have participated in this examination, you may not test again for six (6) months.
• Applicants who have not passed probation in this classification are encouraged to apply.

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

Exam Code(s):

3660

For HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-03660

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:

• Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
  Examination Unit
  710 Riverpoint Ct.
  West Sacramento, CA 95605
  

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:

• Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
  Examination Unit
  710 Riverpoint Ct.
  West Sacramento, CA 95605
  8:30 AM - 4:30 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.

To apply for the Heavy Equipment Mechanic examination, please complete and return the following:

1. Examination/Employment Application (STD 678)

AND

2. Proof of degree or certificate (if applicable)

DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATIONS VIA EMAIL

All applications must include “from” and “to” employment dates (month/day/year), time base, and applicable civil service class titles. Applications received without this information will be rejected.

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.

Possession of a valid California Class 3 driver license. (Applicants who do not possess the license will be allowed to compete in the examination, but the license must be obtained prior to appointment.) and

Either I

Completion of a recognized apprenticeship as a gas and diesel-powered truck mechanic, or a heavy construction equipment mechanic. (Apprentices who are within six months of completing their apprenticeship program may be admitted to the examination, but they must present evidence of completion of a recognized apprenticeship before they may be appointed.)

Or II

Four years of varied mechanical experience on gas and diesel powered trucks or heavy construction equipment. An Associate of Arts Degree in Heavy Equipment Maintenance, Diesel Mechanics, or Heavy Equipment Mechanics or a certificate of completion from an accredited community college or equivalent degree or certificate approved by the California Superintendent of Public Instruction under the provisions of California Education Code Section 94310(b) may be substituted for two years of the required experience. (Students who are within six months of completing their degree will be admitted to the examination but must present evidence of completion prior to appointment.)

Or III

Three years performing the duties of a Heavy Equipment Mechanic Apprentice in the California state service, at least two years of which shall have included experience on gasoline and diesel-powered heavy construction or highway maintenance equipment.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

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

Accepted applicants will be emailed a link to take and submit the exam online.

It is anticipated that the examination will be administered using the online format from November 12, 2024 - November 18, 2024.

A TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE NARRATIVE WHICH RESPONDS TO THE FOLLOWING FOUR (4) QUESTIONS:

1. You are working on a 2017 Dodge 2500 pickup that has an electrical draw and the battery goes dead overnight. Explain at least five steps you would take to troubleshoot this problem.
2. You have been tasked to do a 90-day California Highway Patrol (CHP) Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) for a 2017 International Class 8 3-axle truck. Describe at least 10 items you would inspect.
3. You arrive to the shop and you realize that a co-worker has left the shop is disarray. Describe at least 4 steps you would take to handle this situation.
4. List at least 10 components of an air brake system.

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: Methods, materials, tools and equipment used in construction, assembly, overhaul, repair and adjustment of gas and diesel powered trucks, heavy construction and maintenance equipment; operating characteristics of heavy construction and maintenance equipment and gas and diesel powered trucks; safety, regulations and practices.

Ability to: Read and write English at a level required for successful job performance; fabricate, repair and make adjustments to various equipment and systems (i.e., heavy construction and maintenance equipment, gas and diesel powered trucks, etc.); install and test pumps, motors and similar equipment; perform welding; communicate effectively; estimate repair costs; work from drawings and sketches and make sketches of broken parts for replacement; and make repairs in the field without supervision.

Skill in: Mechanical repair, adjustment, and fabrication of special equipment.

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC 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.

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 Forestry & Fire Protection
• State of California

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

CAL FIRE Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator
710 Riverpoint Ct.
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Phone: (916) 894-9570 ext. Option 3
ReasonableAccommodations@fire.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.

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 Forestry & Fire Protection 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.