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, SUPERVISOR - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

4131

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

Exam Code(s):

• EX-04131

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

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.

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

Eight 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 two years performing duties at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Rail Safety Inspector, Senior.

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.

The California civil service selection system is merit-based and eligibility for appointment is established through a formal examination process. This examination consists of a Training and Experience (T&E) supplemental report used to evaluate training, education, and experience relevant to the classification.  The T&E evaluation supplemental report is a scored component accounting for 100% rating in the examination process. It is important to complete the exam carefully and accurately.  Responses are subject to verification before appointment to a position.

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:

A Departmental Open eligible list for the RAIL SAFETY INSPECTOR, SUPERVISOR 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 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.

What to Expect When Taking the Examination

• Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.
• Respond to each statement by indicating how it applies to your experience and qualifications.
• You are required to answer every question and provide relevant examples.
• Identify references who can verify the information you provide.
• In responding to each statement, you may draw upon your:
  • Work experience (paid or volunteer), and/or
  • Formal training courses you have completed.

Purpose of the Examination

The Training and Experience (T&E) examination evaluates your qualifications based on your education, training, certifications, and professional experience as they relate to rail safety inspection duties and responsibilities.

Examination Focus Areas

• Rail operations, track, and equipment inspections
• Signal systems and highway-rail grade crossing warning systems
• Hazardous materials transportation compliance
• Accident and derailment investigations
• Regulatory compliance and enforcement
• Technical report writing and documentation
• Rail safety laws, regulations, and industry standards

This examination is designed to assess your training and experience as they relate directly to the duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position. All components of the examination have been carefully validated by linking them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Access the Examination: Rail Safety Inspector Examination Link: 

RAIL SAFETY INSPECTOR, SUPERVISOR

• 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.