Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 8/1/2025
• 9/1/2025
• 10/1/2025
• 11/1/2025
• 12/1/2025

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.

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):

• ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

4339

For ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-04339

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:

• Examinations Unit
  Department of Veterans Affairs
  Human Resources Branch
  1227 O Street. Room 404
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  

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 Veterans Affairs
  Human Resources Branch
  1227 O Street, Room 404
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  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.

Minimum Qualifications

Architectural Assistant

Either I

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a degree in architecture or architectural engineering in an accredited four-year curriculum from a school of architecture. (Registration as a senior in an accredited school of architecture or equivalent degree program approved by the California Superintendent of Public Instruction under the provisions of California Education Code Section 94310 will admit applicants to the examination but they must present evidence of graduation or its equivalent before he/she can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Two years of architectural drawing experience (experience must be in building architecture). and

Education: 60 semester or the equivalent number of quarter units from an accredited college or university, 30 semester or the equivalent number of quarter units of which must have been in building architecture, architectural engineering or closely related subjects approved by the California Superintendent of Public Instruction under the provisions of California Education Code Section 94310.

Architectural Associate

Either I

Experience: Two years of experience in the California state service as an Architectural Assistant, Range B.

Or II

Experience: Four years of architectural drafting experience, two years of which shall have involved making complete drawings of a wide variety of buildings. Experience must have been equivalent in level of responsibility to an Architectural Assistant, Range B, in the California state service. (Note: Experience must have been in building architecture.) and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a degree in architecture or architectural engineering in an accredited four-year curriculum from a school of architecture. (Registration as a senior in an accredited school of architecture or equivalent degree program approved by the California Superintendent of Public Instruction under the provisions of California Education Code Section 94310 will admit applicants to the examination but they must present evidence of graduation or its equivalent before he/she can be considered eligible for appointment.) (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to two years of the general educational requirement on the basis that one year of experience is equivalent to 30 semester or the equivalent number of quarter units of education.)

Architectural Senior

Either I

Experience: Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Architectural Associate.

Or II

Experience: Three years of architectural drafting experience which shall have involved the making of complete drawings of major buildings, and shall have included at least one year experience as a job captain/project leader and one year in detailed final checking experience equivalent in level of responsibility to an Architectural Associate in the California state service. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a degree in architecture or architectural engineering in an accredited four-year curriculum from a school of architecture approved by the California Superintendent of Public Instruction under the provisions of California Education Code Section 94310. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to two years of the general education requirement on the basis that one year of experience is equivalent to 30 semester or the equivalent number of quarter units of education.)

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: Various materials and systems used in building construction and their commercial units; architectural and construction details and architectural practices in making designs and working drawings for building construction purposes; detailing and building components; applicable building codes and ordinances; architectural drafting procedures and equipment; state-of-the-art technology, i.e., CADD and personal computers, used in the preparation of architectural drawings; architectural history and design encompassing environmental, energy and user needs; basic safe work practices to protect safety and health.

Ability to: Communicate effectively at a level required for successful job performance; read and interpret plans and specifications; make neat and accurate architectural drawings and tracings; prepare lists of materials from architectural plans; detect errors and discrepancies in plans and specifications; organize data and prepare reports and specifications in clear and concise form; use state-of-the-art technology, i.e., CADD and personal computers; do architectural design and drafting; select appropriate finish materials and colors.

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT 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 Veterans Affairs
• State of California

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.

Department of Veterans Affairs 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.