Final Filing Date: 9/18/2026.

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 not be accepted.

Do not submit applications to California Department of Human Resources through fax or interagency mail.

If using delivery methods that do not have certified delivery confirmation, there is no guarantee that your application will be postmarked and arrive by the cut-off date. If your application is electronically submitted or received in hardcopy without a postmark and arrives after the cut-off date, your application will be considered late and not be accepted into the examination unless you are able to provide clear evidence that it was submitted timely. Therefore, to ensure timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use either electronic delivery, parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof the application was sent prior to the cut-off date. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Please note: This examination requires responses to the Training & Experience Narrative portion of the examination at the time you submit your application materials. Any applications that do not provide their Training & Experience Narrative responses will be treated as incomplete and not accepted.

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):

• SENIOR SPECIAL AGENT-IN-CHARGE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE - Open

Applications received without the required documents will be considered incomplete and may be rejected. To apply for this examination, please complete and return the following required documents:

• Standard State Application (Form STD 678): All applications must include "to" and "from" employment dates (month/day/year), time-base, and applicable classification titles
• Official school transcripts (if applicable to meeting minimum qualifications): Candidates unable to obtain official transcripts before the final filing date may submit unofficial transcripts for the examination process. However, candidates will be required to submit official transcripts upon appointment to a position.
• Signed Affirmation Page Training and Experience Narrative Affirmation
• Criminal Record Supplemental Questionnaire
• Copy of POST Basic Certification (if applicable to meeting minimum qualifications)

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:

• ATTN: Senior Special Agent In-Charge Examination
  Department of justice
  Testing & Selection Unit
  P.O Box 944255
  Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
  

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 justice
  Testing & Selection Unit
  1300 I Street, 1st Floor Lobby
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  ATTN: Senior Special Agent In-Charge

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.

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

• Criminal Background Supplemental Questionnaire
• Transcript (Official or Unofficial)
• Certificate - POST Basic Certification
• Other - Training and Experience Narrative Affirmation Page - Please refer to the link in the "How to Apply" Section
• Other - Training and Experience Narrative Responses

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.

All Levels Minimum Qualifications

Applicants may be admitted into the examination without meeting the requirements within the “All Levels" section, but the applicant must meet those requirements prior to appointment.

Possession of a valid Class C California driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Applicants who do not possess this license will be admitted to the examination but must secure the license prior to appointment; and

Must meet the peace officer selection standards developed by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training  per Penal Code section 13510(a) and in accordance with existing law; and

Drug Testing Requirement:  Applicants for positions in this class are required to pass a drug screening test. Testing of current employees who are applicants in an examination or who are transferring is permitted only if the person does not have a current appointment to a class for which drug testing is a requirement; and

Firearm Conviction Disqualification:  Anyone who is restricted for employment-related purposes from accessing, possessing, carrying, receiving, or having under their control a firearm or ammunition under all applicable State or Federal laws is ineligible for appointment to any position in these classifications; and

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to Special Agent In-Charge, Department of Justice. Applicants who are within six months of meeting the minimum qualifications may compete in the examination but may not be appointed until they meet the minimum qualifications; and

Possession of a POST Basic Certification; or

II

Experience: Seven years of increasingly responsible experience as a peace officer (as defined in Sections 830.1, 830.2, or 830.3 of the California Penal Code or equivalent Federal and out-of- State law enforcement) in an investigative or patrol assignment performing civil or criminal law enforcement work, at least two years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; and

Education: Equivalent to completion of four years of college (120 semester units or 180 quarter units) from an accredited college or university. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required college education on a year-for-year basis.

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:

1. Office management procedures sufficient to fulfill duties as a manager of a regional office
   
2. Sources of information required for investigative operations and the efficient performance of administrative duties
   
3. Principles and processes involved in business and organizational planning, coordination, and execution in order to accurately and thoroughly complete administrative work assignments
   
4. Leadership techniques influencing performance, learning and motivation
   
5. The budget change proposal process
   
6. The structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
   

SKILL TO:

1. Plan and organize the work of subordinate staff
   
2. Assign and delegate work to subordinate staff, ensuring that such assignments are equitable and reasonable based upon the relative qualifications and work load demands of individual staff member

A Departmental Open eligible list for the SENIOR SPECIAL AGENT-IN-CHARGE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Classification will be established for:

• Department of Justice

The list(s) will be abolished 12 months after being established, unless the needs of the State and conditions of the list(s) warrant a change in this period.

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.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

This Training and Experience Narrative is the first component of the Special Agent-In-Charge examination. The Narrative will be rated by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) using predetermined rating criteria. Read the instructions carefully before completing this examination; failure to do so may result in an inability to process your Training and Experience Narrative and disqualification from this examination.

• This Training and Experience Narrative consists of 3 questions.
• You must type your responses to these questions.
• Your response to each question may only consist of 1 page, single spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font, with a 1-inch margin on all sides of the page. The maximum number of pages you should complete for this Training and Experience Narrative is 3 pages. Responses that do not meet this criteria may not be rated and may result in disqualification from this exam.
• You must write the question number you are responding to in the top left corner of each page. You may hand write this number, however it must be clearly legible.
• Please keep your answers concise, but be sure to answer all questions completely and accurately. Providing specific information will allow the SMEs to properly evaluate your qualifications. Omitted information cannot be considered and will not be assumed.
• The exam submitted should solely be your work. Candidates are not to receive any coaching or assistance and supervisors should not review, edit, or make suggestions to the Training and Experience Narrative responses.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031, persons successful in peace officer examinations shall be required to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to appointment. Persons who have previously undergone a Department of Justice background investigation may be required to undergo an additional background investigation. Information collected for the background investigation after the examination will require you to divulge arrest and/or conviction information on the background investigation documents at the time of employment, but is not required of you at this time. The information you furnish will be used to help determine your suitability for employment with the Department of Justice. Under Section 432.7(e) of the Labor Code, persons seeking employment with the Department of Justice may be asked to disclose arrest or detention information regardless of whether or not the arrest or detention resulted in conviction, referral, or participation in diversion programs. Department of Justice Regulations require, as a minimum, pre-employment investigations consisting of fingerprinting, inquiry to local, State, and national files to disclose criminal records, verification of minimum qualifications (i.e., college transcripts), financial status, previous employment background, and personal interviews to determine applicant's suitability for employment.

Any applicant for a State civil service examination for a peace officer class who discloses, or whose background investigation reveals, use of a drug for which possession would constitute a felony offense under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Health and Safety Code, division 10, beginning at 11000) subsequent to his or her eighteenth birthday and prior to his or her twenty third birthday, shall be disqualified from the examination in which he or she is competing until 5 years have elapsed from the date of the disclosed or revealed use of the drug; and shall not be eligible to take any State civil service examination for a peace officer class until 5 years have elapsed from the date of the disclosed or revealed use.

If any such disclosed or revealed use occurred on or after the applicant’s twenty-third birthday, he or she shall be disqualified from the examination in which he or she is competing until 10 years have elapsed from the date of the disclosed or revealed use of the drug; and shall not be eligible to take any State civil service examination for a peace officer class until 10 years have elapsed from the date of the disclosed or revealed use. The disqualification period shall begin on the date that the drug was used, and not on the date that the drug use was disclosed or revealed.

POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION:

The candidate may be required to take a polygraph examination.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING EXAMINATION:

Pass/Fail -This test will consist of a written examination and an interview by a psychologist.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION:

Pass/Fail -Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031, persons appointed to a peace officer class shall undergo a medical examination to determine that he or she can perform the essential functions of the job safely and effectively. The medical examination also includes a back x-ray, visual acuity and color vision tests.

• Department of Justice

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 Justice 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.