Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

• 3/27/2026

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):

• CONSERVATIONIST I - Open, Non-Promotional

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 18 months:

Exam Code(s):

5018

For CONSERVATIONIST I, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 18 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-05018

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:

• Donna Tritt
  CA Conservation Corps
  Exam Analyst
  1719 24th Street
  Sacramento, CA 95816
  

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:

• CA Conservation Corps
  Exam Analyst
  1719 24th Street
  Sacramento, CA 95816
  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.

Please note: Submitting your application electronically is preferred.

The link to the exam can be found under the Exam Information section. 

The following items must be submitted with your Examination/Employment Application form. Failure to submit these items may result in rejection of your application.

• Other - Proof of completion of the 12th grade.

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.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the specific information under duties performed that illustrates the qualifying experience needed to meet the minimum qualifications. Those qualifying using education must submit a copy of your college transcripts with your application. An unofficial copy is acceptable for exam purposes and only those candidates who receive a job offer will be required to submit an official copy of college transcripts.

All applicant's must provide proof of completion of the 12th grade. You can submit a copy of your high school diploma, GED certificate or other supporting documentation. 

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.

Possession of a valid Commercial Class C driver license with a Passenger Transport Vehicle special endorsement or equivalent. (Applicants who do not possess the license will be admitted to the examination, but must secure and provide evidence of their license prior to appointment.); and

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade; and

Either I

One year of experience as a Corpsmember in the California Conservation Corps, including at least six months as a Crew Leader; or

II

One year of experience in organizing, instructing, leading, and evaluating six or more people, in an organization requiring specific accomplishments or completion of specific tasks. Such experience must include direct responsibility for the direction and welfare of the persons involved. Qualifying experience can be gained through work in the following types of businesses/activities: labor crews in the private or public sector; organized outdoor adventure programs; service-oriented organizations (fast food chains park, and recreation facilities, summer camps, group homes, and daycare programs); seasonal labor; educational programs; coaching; or scout leadership; or 

III

Two years of experience as a Special Corpsmember in the California Conservation Corps performing one or more of the following duties: mentoring or counseling Corpsmembers during evening hours; engaging Corpsmembers in activities designed to transfer skills; or overseeing Corpsmembers in recreational or educational activities; or

IV

One year of experience as a skilled craftsperson organizing, instructing, leading, and evaluating six or more people on a crew involved in crafts/trades work (carpentry, masonry, electrical, general building, landscape installation and maintenance, or comparable skilled work; or

V

Completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university; or

VI

One year of experience as a licensed general or specialized contractor.

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.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and must submit an Examination/Employment application (STD. 678) at the time they take the exam. Exams will be processed shortly after each published cut-off date. 

Conservationist I Exam Link

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:

1. Building trades which may include basic carpentry, painting, plumbing, masonry, roofing, landscape gardening, and fence construction;
2. Tool use and maintenance of power equipment and hand tools;
3. Natural resource work including principles and techniques of conservation, basic principles of energy conservation, trail building, tree falling, fish habitat restoration, fire and flood fighting, and camp support;
4. Energy and water conservation methods and techniques;
5. Construction-related codes and requirements;
6. Basic principles of safety including wilderness safety issues, first aid and CPR, personnel supervision, organization of work activity, methods of group instruction and training, techniques used in teaching and counseling youth, and problem solving;
7. Recreational and social activities appropriate for youth from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds;
8. Effective communication skills;
9. Leadership development;
10. Principles of equal employment opportunity.

 Ability to:

1. Work independently;
2. Explain and demonstrate safe work methods and practices;
3. Demonstrate skill in teaching young adults, including coaching them in communications skills and in motivation inspiring them to establish and achieve personal goals;
4. Effectively organize and direct a work crew;
5. Hike difficult terrain in remote locations;
6. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with governmental agencies, private sector organizations, and with crew members;
7. Resolve conflicts;
8. Evaluate crew members;
9. Keep records and prepare written reports;
10. Analyze situations and take appropriate effective action;
11. Deal effectively with constructive criticism;
12. Conduct inspections of department projects;
13. Communicate effectively;
14. Recognize alcohol and drug issues and counsel young adults at risk including substance abuse prevention;
15. Accurately report crew member hours worked and leave usage;
16. Coordinate and lead volunteers, internship programs, and/or satellite operations;
17. Effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment;
18. Effectively balance the goals of crew member training and development with project development and completion.

A Departmental Open eligible list for the CONSERVATIONIST I Classification will be established for:

• CA Conservation Corps

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 will only be added to the final score of those applicants who are successful in examination(s) administered on an Open, Non-Promotional basis in accordance with Government Codes 18951 and 18951.5.

• CA Conservation Corps

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.

CA Conservation Corps 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.