Important Exam Access Instructions

Applicants are responsible for reviewing the entire examination bulletin prior to applying and testing. The bulletin contains important information regarding the examination process, including, but not limited to:

• Examination Access (SurveyMonkey Platform): The examination link is provided below. Detailed instructions for accessing and completing the examination are available upon entering the examination platform.
• Examination Contact Unit: A dedicated email address is provided for requesting examination passwords and obtaining assistance with technical issues related to examination access or completion.

Important: The examination cannot be accessed or completed without using the examination link provided below.

After selecting the examination link, applicants will be directed to the SurveyMonkey platform and prompted to enter a password. To obtain a password for examination access, applicants must follow the instructions provided and contact the Examination Contact Unit at PUCexams@cpuc.ca.gov.

Please allow up to 24 hours for a response to password requests or technical assistance inquiries. Requests submitted on weekends, state holidays, or other non-business days will be processed beginning on the next business day.  

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 6/30/2026
• 7/31/2026
• 8/31/2026
• 9/30/2026
• 10/30/2026
• 11/30/2026
• 12/31/2026
• 1/29/2027

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):

• RAIL SAFETY INSPECTOR, SENIOR - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

4130

For RAIL SAFETY INSPECTOR, SENIOR, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-04130

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:

• Human Resources Division
  Public Utilities Commission
  Exams and Selection Unit
  505 Van Ness Ave, Room 3008
  San Francisco, CA 94102
  

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:

• Public Utilities Commission
  Exams and Selection Unit
  505 Van Ness Ave, Room 3008
  San Francisco, CA 94102
  8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Email contact: Pucexams@cpuc.ca.gov

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.

Rail Safety Inspector, Senior

Possession of a valid driver’s license. Applicants who do not possess the license will be admitted to the examination but must secure the license prior to appointment. 

Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade; and

Six years of work experience including testing, inspection and/or maintenance of signal systems, equipment, track, hazardous materials and/or rail operations, in one of the five rail technical disciplines or closely related emerging rail disciplines: Track, Signal, Operations, Equipment and/or Hazmat, which shall include at least one year of experience performing duties at a level of responsibility equivalent to the Rail Safety Inspector. 

Equivalent to graduation from college with a major in engineering, transportation, or a related field may be substituted for two years of experience. A Master’s Degree in engineering, transportation, or a related field may be substituted for three years of experience.

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:

Rail transportation functions, the organization of railroad or rail transit, shipper, and manufacturer companies, and standard industry rules for personal safety; railroad or rail transit rules, practices, record systems, and terminology common to operating and maintenance functions; and the scope and major requirements of all the federal railroad or rail transit safety laws and regulations. Possession of a technical knowledge and background that applies to the testing and inspection or maintenance of rail signal systems, and equipment, track, hazmat and operations. Current technologies and their application to the rail industry; broad knowledge of all disciplines in rail industry; and enforcement processes and interaction with relevant agencies.

Ability to:

Read and comprehend written materials such as training and enforcement manuals, regulations, operating and safety rules of the railroad or rail transit systems, and similar materials; compose narrative reports of investigative findings that are clear, complete, and grammatically acceptable; analyze information and evaluate results to choose the best solution to solve problems; record data on standard report forms with a high degree of accuracy; apply federal, state, departmental and organizational policies and procedures; and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work. Establish and maintain project priorities; mediate between parties; review work; analyze data and make recommendations; lead, train or oversee inspectors in the field; and prepare, review and edit reports.

A Departmental Open eligible list for the RAIL SAFETY INSPECTOR, SENIOR Classification will be established for:

• Public Utilities Commission

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.

• Rate their experience performing specific job-related tasks.

• Respond to a series of statements by indicating the extent to which each statement applies to their education, training, and experience.

• Provide relevant examples to support their responses.

• Identify references who can verify the information provided.

• Reference paid employment, volunteer experience, and/or formal education and training when responding to examination questions.

• Inspecting railroad operations, track infrastructure, and equipment.

• Conducting periodic inspections of signal systems and highway-rail grade crossing warning systems.

• Monitoring compliance with regulations governing the transportation of hazardous materials by rail.

• Collecting investigative information and maintaining records related to rail accidents, incidents, and derailments.

• Investigating and documenting noncompliant conditions involving State laws and California Public Utilities Commission General Orders governing the safe operation of common rail carriers.

• Preparing technical correspondence, reports, findings, and exhibits related to rail common carrier operations.

Examination Link

Take the Rail Safety Inspector, Senior Training and Experience (T&E) Examination

Examination Link: RAIL SAFETY INSPECTOR, SENIOR  

• Public Utilities Commission

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.

Public Utilities Commission 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.