Exam Bulletin - Automotive Technician III

California Highway Patrol

Exam Code: EX-3930

Examination Plans Included:

  • AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN III - Promotional

Final Filing Date: 1/22/2025

Classification Details

AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN III: $4,885.00 - $6,068.00 per Month

View the AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN III classification specification.

Application Instructions

Final Filing Date: 1/22/2025.

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 not be accepted.

NOTE: Dates printed on mobile bar codes, such as Quick Response 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.

Promotional Examination(s):

  • AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN III - Promotional

In addition to meeting the Minimum Qualifications, competition is limited to individuals who meet at least one of the following filing criteria:

  • 1. Have a permanent civil service appointment with a promotional testing department (see Testing Departments), or
  • 2. Are current or former employees of the legislature for 2 or more years as defined in Government Code 18990, or
  • 3. Are current or former non-elected exempt employees of the executive branch for 2 or more consecutive years as defined in Govt. Code 18992, or
  • 4. Are persons retired from the United States military honorably discharged from active duty with a service disability or honorably discharged from active duty as defined in Government Code 18991. Applicants must provide a copy of discharge papers (DD 214) for verification purposes at the time of application.

Under certain circumstances other employees may be allowed to compete under provisions of Rules 234, 235 and 235.2. California Code of Regulations Rules 233, 234, 235.2 and 237 contain provisions regarding civil service status and eligibility for promotional examinations.

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
    052/Selection Standards and Examinations Section
    Examination Services
    P.O. Box 942898
    Sacramento, CA 94298-0001

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
    052/Selection Standards and Examinations Section
    Examination Services
    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 application (STD 678) forms must include: employment history "from" and "to" dates (month/day/year), hours per week, title/job classification, and duties performed. Application (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.

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 applicants must meet the experience and/or education requirements for this examination by the final filing date. 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.

00106829 - AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN III

Either I

In the California state service, one year of experience performing the duties of an Automotive Technician II.

Or II

Four years of experience in automotive equipment repair, at least two years of which shall have included supervisory responsibility for the installation, adjustment, or repair of specialized automotive electrical accessories or equipment. (College or trade school education in automotive mechanics or automotive engineering may be substituted for the required general experience on a year-for-year basis.)

Special Requirements

Possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles; and evidence of satisfactory arrest and driving records.

Position Description

00106829 - AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN III

This is the first and highest level supervisor. Incumbents work under general direction in charge of various shop operations connected with the installation, removal, and renovation of enforcement and emergency equipment on motor vehicles. Incumbents exercise supervision through Automotive Technicians II.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Education/ExperienceN/A100%

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

This examination utilizes an evaluation of each candidate's experience and education as stated on the STD 678. For this reason, it is especially important each candidate take special care in accurately completing the application. List all experience relevant to the "Minimum Qualifications" shown on this bulletin. Ratings will be determined based on the depth and breadth of professional education and experience beyond what is minimally required.

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.
  • The 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.
  • The proper size and type of wiring terminal or connector when making electrical connections.
  • The proper hardware needed to mount various pieces and specialty equipment.
  • Tools, equipment, and methods used in testing and repairing automotive equipment and automotive accessories.
  • Vehicle component warranties, their limitations, and requirements.
  • Safety equipment and procedures for hazardous materials.
  • Principles of supervision.
  • The Department’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy.
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.
  • Diagnose automotive equipment malfunctions and make or order necessary repairs.
  • Read automotive repair manuals, charts, invoices, and other related materials.
  • Analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
  • Project and evaluate cost effectiveness of maintenance and repair work.
  • Work independently.
  • Follow directions.
  • Effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
  • Operate tools and equipment used to diagnose and properly maintain a fleet of vehicles.
  • Locate and secure repair-maintenance services of outside agencies that can perform the work which exceed the capabilities of your shop or are more efficient.
  • Supervise and evaluate the work of others.
  • Effectively contribute to the Department’s Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Promotional eligible list for the AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN III Classification will be established for:

  • California Highway Patrol

The list(s) will be abolished 24 months after being established, unless the needs of the State and conditions of the list(s) warrant a change in this period.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Competitors may retest after 6 months.

Veterans' Preference is not granted for promotional examinations.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Testing Departments

  • California Highway Patrol

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Highway Patrol
052/Selection Standards and Examinations Section
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)