• Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.
• Any editable section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.

Final Filing Date: 12/18/2025.

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.

Dates printed on mobile bar codes, such as Quick Response (QR) 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.

Those who wish to apply shall submit a completed original STD. 678, Examination/Employment Application (Rev. 06/2024 or later), to Selection Standards and Examinations Section (SSES), Examination Services (ES), no later than the final filing date. Application packages postmarked, personally delivered, or received via interoffice mail after the final filing date will not be accepted. It is the applicant's responsibility to submit their application on time and to ensure the envelope is postmarked.

PER GOVERNMENT CODES 18990, 18991, AND 18992 as it pertains to applicants interested in a uniform promotional examination, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications of two years of experience performing the duties of a Sergeant, California Highway Patrol, in the Department of the California Highway Patrol. 

CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE, SECTION 2251: "All promotions to the classes of deputy chief, assistant chief, captain, lieutenant, and sergeant shall be made from promotional eligible lists resulting from promotional examination of persons in the next lower class."

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):

• LIEUTENANT, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY - 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.

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 N. 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.

SUBMISSION OF THE CRIMINAL RECORD SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE IS NOT REQUIRED WITH THE APPLICATIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES (CALHR) OR TO A LOCAL CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICE.

APPLICATIONS FAXED/E-MAILED WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. APPLICATIONS POSTMARKED, RECEIVED VIA INTEROFFICE MAIL, OR PERSONALLY DELIVERED AFTER THE FINAL FILING DATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

ALL APPLICATION STD 678 (REV. 06/2024 OR LATER) 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. RESUMES OR OTHER DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF A COMPLETED APPLICATION (STD 678) FORM.

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.

Two years of experience performing the duties of a Sergeant, California Highway Patrol, in the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

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

This examination will consist of a written test weighted at 40% and a Qualification Appraisal Panel (QAP) Interview weighted at 60%. Competitors who do not appear for any phase of the examination will be disqualified. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, an overall minimum score of 70% must be attained. In addition, a minimum score of 70% must be attained in each component of the examination for weighted examinations.

Written Test Date: February 14, 2026

Written Test Location(s): The written test will be administered in such places in California as the number of competitors and conditions warrant.

QAP Interview Date(s): It is anticipated that interviews will be held in March/April of 2026.

QAP Inteview Location(s): It is anticipated that interviews will be scheduled in such places in California as the number of competitors and conditions warrant.

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:

Scope:

Knowledge of:

• Laws of arrest, rules of evidence, civil liability, legal rights of citizens, pertinent court procedures, and applicable State Codes and laws affecting general law enforcement and the operation of vehicles.
• Current legislation, case law, trends, and issues that may affect the Department's operation.
• Effective management techniques and the Department's management philosophy.
• Mission, goals, purpose, and organizational structure of the California Highway Patrol.
• Policies, procedures, regulations, and programs of the California Highway Patrol.
• Personnel practices and pertinent provisions of labor contracts related to the selection, evaluation, management, and discipline of employees.
• Employee counseling and motivation techniques.
• Basic spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Proper format, style, and standards for written material.
• Basic techniques of effective oral communications.
• Strategies to promote positive public relations.
• The National Response Plan, the SEMS, and area emergency plans.
• California Highway Patrol's Statement of Professional Values.
• Effective supervisory, training, and team-building principles and techniques.
• Effective time management practices.
• The Department's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) program, a manager's role in the program, and processes available to meet EEO objectives.

A Departmental Promotional eligible list for the LIEUTENANT, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 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.

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.

• California Highway Patrol

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.

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.