Exam Bulletin

CA Housing Finance Agency

Exam Code: EX-5092

Examination Plans Included:

  • HOUSING FINANCE TRAINEE (GENERAL) - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Bulletin Updates

  • Continuous filing dates have been added.

Classification Details

HOUSING FINANCE TRAINEE (GENERAL): $3,861.00 - $4,839.00 (A) per Month
HOUSING FINANCE TRAINEE (GENERAL): $4,181.00 - $5,233.00 (B) per Month

View the HOUSING FINANCE TRAINEE (GENERAL) classification specification.

Application Instructions

To apply online, click the "Apply Now" button at the top of this bulletin—this method is preferred; however, you may instead apply by way of U.S. mail or parcel delivery or courier service or in person, as set forth in this announcement.

Testing is considered continuous, as applications will be accepted on a continuous basis. Please see the cut-off dates below for this administration. Additional cut-off dates may be set at any time as departmental needs warrant.

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

  • 6/30/2026
  • 7/30/2026

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.

Please note: All candidates MUST submit a thoroughly completed Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to be considered. Employment History on the STD 678 must be complete and include accurate dates, hours per week, total time worked, duties performed, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Resumes or other documents will not substitute the required STD 678. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD 678 will be disqualified.

Who Should Apply:

Individuals who meet the minimum qualifications (requirements for admittance to the exam) listed below and who have not tested for this classification within the last 6 months.

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):

  • HOUSING FINANCE TRAINEE (GENERAL) - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

    5092

For HOUSING FINANCE TRAINEE (GENERAL), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-05092

How To Apply:

***The preferred application method is electronically through your CalCareers account, by clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this bulletin. However, you also have the option to print and mail or drop off your application—details for those methods are below.***

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:

  • Aina Macapagal
    CA Housing Finance Agency
    Human Resources
    500 Capitol Mall
    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:

  • CA Housing Finance Agency
    Human Resources
    500 Capitol Mall
    Sacramento, CA 95814
    8:00 AM - 4:30 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.

Note: To take this examination, you must provide an email address on your application. If you do not have an email address to provide, contact the exam analyst at (916) 326-8018.

The Training & Experience (T&E) exam will be sent to the email address you provide. All examination notifications (including the T&E exam) will be sent via email.

Candidates will receive notification through CalCareers regarding whether or not they meet the minimum qualifications for the examination. It is anticipated that candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be sent an email containing instructions and the Training & Experience (T&E) examination roughly two weeks after the cut-off date that they submitted their application.

Special Testing Arrangements:

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.

Minimum Qualifications

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.

00105225 - HOUSING FINANCE TRAINEE (GENERAL)

Either I

Six months of experience within the California Housing Finance Agency performing housing finance-related duties at a level of responsibility not less than that of a Management Services Technician (Range B).

Or II

Experience: One year of experience within the California Housing Finance Agency performing the duties of a class comparable to that of Office Technician. and

Education: Twelve semester or 18 quarter units of college courses, preferably in planning, economics, business, government, finance, or a related field.

Or III

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a degree in planning, economics, business, government, finance or a related field.

Or IV

Experience: Two years of experience in housing or real estate economics, such as real estate transactions, mortgage finance or construction finance transactions; housing construction, development or rehabilitation; property management; or residential planning. and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from high school.

Position Description

00105225 - HOUSING FINANCE TRAINEE (GENERAL)

This is the training and developmental class for persons qualified to perform technical, analytical work in one or more broad program areas within the California Housing Finance Agency. Under close supervision and in accordance with established procedure, incumbents learn and perform increasingly difficult duties in housing finance.

Positions allocated to the Housing Finance (General) classes are assigned to technical, analytical work in one or more broad program areas within the California Housing Finance Agency. Incumbents perform duties involving the following: analyze and present ideas on a broad range of housing finance programs; develop and present clear, complete and concise proposals with regard to housing finance-related activities; evaluate current Agency programs and make recommendations for improvement, carry out research studies leading to the design of new Agency programs; prepare reports and make recommendations to CHFA executive staff.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1WrittenAfter Acceptance100%

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

This examination will consist of Training & Experience only. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, a minimum rating of 70% must be attained. Candidates who do not complete or submit the T&E by the due date will be disqualified.

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: The basic functions and organization of the California Housing Finance Agency.

Ability to: Learn and perform the technical aspects of housing finance activities, reason logically and creatively to perform a variety of analytical tasks; analyze and present ideas and information effectively both orally and in writing; consult with others on a wide variety of housing finance matters; gain and maintain the confidence and cooperation of those contacted during the course of the work; and perform various calculations with regard to mortgage financing.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the HOUSING FINANCE TRAINEE (GENERAL) Classification will be established for:

  • CA Housing Finance Agency

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.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies in

  • Sacramento County

In order to reestablish list eligibility, competitors must participate in the current exam administration.

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.

Testing Departments

  • CA Housing Finance Agency

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

CA Housing Finance Agency
Aina Macapagal
Human Resources
500 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 326-8015
Aina.Macapagal@calhfa.ca.gov

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

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 Housing Finance Agency 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.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
In Person (see bulletin for details)
Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)