Exam Code: 9TR02
Department: Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
Exam Type: Departmental, Open 
Bulletin Date: 06/24/2019
Final Filing Date: Continuous (cut-off dates for 2024: January 31, April 30, July 31, October 31)
Monthly Salary: $4,214.00 - $6,046.00

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INTRODUCTION
Caltrans is pleased to announce the posting of the Landscape Technician examination. Employment from this examination may be offered in all Caltrans Districts and Sacramento County.

Any information submitted in your examination effort WILL NOT BE FORWARDED or be included in the determination of your qualifications for a position.

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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Caltrans 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.

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DRUG FREE STATEMENT
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. All applicants will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, as 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.

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WHO SHOULD APPLY
Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications as stated below may apply for this examination.

Once you have list eligibility, you may not reapply for twelve (12) months from your eligibility date. Candidates that are unsuccessful in the examination must wait six (6) months from the testing date before reapplying to take the examination.

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted into the examination. Part-time or full-time jobs, regardless of whether paid or volunteer positions, and inside or outside California state service will count toward experience.

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FILING INSTRUCTIONS
Candidates are required to submit: 1) Standard State Application (STD. 678) and 2) Training and Experience Questionnaire

Examinations must be received or postmarked no later than 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 examination. Faxed or E-mailed examinations will NOT be accepted.

File by Mail

Attention: Caltrans Examination Services (MS 86)
P.O. Box 168036, Sacramento, CA 95816-8036

File in Person

Attention: Caltrans Examination Services (MS 86)
1727 30TH Street, 1st Floor, Sacramento, CA 95816-8036

*Any information submitted in your examination effort WILL NOT BE FORWARDED or be included in the determination of your qualifications for a position.

**Candidates are responsible for obtaining proof of mailing or submission of their examination to Exam Services.

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POSITION STATEMENT
Under general supervision, to refine and develop sketch drawings into working drawings for major landscape architectural projects in connection with transportation facilities and buildings; as a journey-working level, under the general direction of a landscape architect, may be given leadworker responsibility on specific projects or may act as a leadperson for skilled assistants involved in drafting, refining designs, and developing of complex landscape architectural details; assist in the inspection of landscape construction projects; and do other related work.

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REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMITTANCE TO THE EXAMINATION
All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements for this examination by the cut-off date. By submitting your qualifications in this examination, you indicate that you read, understand, and possess the minimum qualifications required, and that the information provided is true and complete to the best of your knowledge.
 
NOTE: Qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as “Either I,” “or II,” “or III,” etc. For example, candidates possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern I, and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern II, may be admitted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirements.

Click on the link below to review the California State Personnel Board class specification which contain the requirements for admittance to the exam:
Landscape Technician Classification Specification

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Either I

Two years of experience in the California state service working in a landscape architecture unit performing duties comparable to those of a Junior Engineering Technician, Drafting Services Aid, Range B, or Delineator.

Or II

Three years of increasingly responsible landscape architectural experience in a landscape architectural office. [Full-time study (30 semester units or the equivalent number of quarter units) in Agricultural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Architecture, Irrigation Management, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Management, Ornamental Horticulture, or another closely related field from an accredited college or university or a college or university approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education under the provisions of California Education Code Division 10, Part 59, Chapter 3, may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of two years of experience.]

Or III

A certificate of completion of a Landscape Architecture Program from the University of California, Irvine Extension, or Los Angeles Extension.

Or IV

A Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Architecture, Irrigation Management, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Management, Ornamental Horticulture, or another closely related field. (Registration as a senior in an accredited college or university or a college or university approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education under the provisions of California Education Code Division 10, Part 59, Chapter 3, will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

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KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:

1. State-of-the-art technology (e.g., Computer-Aided Drafting (CADD) and related computer programs) to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance

2. Scope problems and methods of landscape architectural design, procedures, practices, and landscape construction

3. Adaptability, horticultural requirements, and use of plants, shrubs, and trees (both native and cultivated) in different landscaping situations to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance

4. Engineer as applied to landscaping features to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance 

5. Soil conditions, preparation, irrigation, and planting techniques to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance

6. Safety and health policies and procedures contained in the Department’s Injury and Illness Prevention Programs to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance

7. Plant design, irrigation design, plant selection to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance

8. Specification writing and construction methods to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance

9. State policies and procedures as related to landscape architectural projects including project reports, minor contracts, and familiarity with problems involved in contract administration to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance

10. Irrigation methods to adjust the amount of water consumption and to prevent waste

11. Irrigation system techniques to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance

Ability To:

1. Communicate effectively at a level required, both orally and in writing, for successful job performance

2. Understand landscape architectural design work, and refine and develop design sketches for landscape architectural projects in connection with transportation facilities and buildings to assist in the refinement and development of landscape maintenance

3. Read, interpret, and prepare plans to ensure efficient work flow

4. Use state-of-the-art technology, i.e., Computer-Aided Drafting/Design (CADD) and related computer programs to make advances on technical projects

5. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action to stay compliant with legal and professional job analysis standards

6. Coordinate with other Caltrans District and Headquarters personnel, and occasionally externally with community groups, utility companies, consultants and contractors, and local and regional agencies to ensure efficient work flow

7. Maintain flexibility in managing time, priorities, and assignments while maintaining mental activities associated with analyses, problem-solving, and reasoning to ensure efficient work flow

8. Use proper safety precautions and procedure at all times to stay compliant with legal and professional job analysis standards

9. Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, prunes, or chain saws to ensure environmental and professional job analysis standards

10. Mix and spray or spread fertilizer, herbicides, or insecticides onto the grass shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders to ensure environmental and professional job analysis standards

11. Follow planned landscaping designs to ensure environmental and professional job 
12. Observe, receive, and obtain information from all relevant sources to stay compliant with legal and professional job analysis standards

13. Quickly move your hand, you hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects
 
14. Maintain notes, performance calculations and reports of projects done to ensure efficient work flow

15. Meet deadlines to ensure efficient work flow

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EXAMINATION INFORMATION
This examination will consist of an online Training & Experience Evaluation weighted 100%. In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, a minimum score of 70% must be attained.

Examinations will be accepted on a continuous basis and will be processed quarterly.  Testing is considered continuous, as new test dates can be set at any time as the department needs warrant.

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VETERANS' PREFERENCE
Veterans’ Preference will be applied to those competitors who are successful in this examination and who qualify for, and have requested, Veterans’ Preference through the California Department of Human Resources. Veterans who have achieved permanent civil service status are not eligible to receive Veterans’ Preference.

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CAREER CREDITS
Career Credits will not be added to the final score of this examination.

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CONTACT INFORMATION
General questions on how to apply?  Click HERE for video tutorials.

For more information regarding this examination, please contact the Office of Examinations at (916) 227-7858 or email the AskExams@dot.ca.gov. 

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GENERAL INFORMATION
For an examination without a written feature, it is the candidate's responsibility to contact the testing department three weeks after the cut-off date if he/she has not received his/her notice.

If you meet the requirements stated on this bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirement does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination will be compared with the performance of the others who take this test, and all candidates who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Caltrans 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 competitors will be notified.

Candidates needing special testing arrangements due to a disability must complete an STD679 and submit with the requested examination materials.

General Qualifications: Candidates must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and 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.  Eligibility lists may be abolished at anytime after one year, per Departmental needs.  It is the candidates responsibility to maintain eligibility throughout the hiring process.

If High School Equivalence is Required: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Educational Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the candidate is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.
If Veterans’ Preference is Warranted: Pursuant to Assembly Bill 372, Veterans’ Preference will be awarded as follows, starting January 1, 2014:

1. Any veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran, who achieves a passing score in an open examination, shall be ranked in the top rank of the resulting eligibility list.
2. Any veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released is not eligible for Veterans’ Preference.
3. Veterans’ Preference is not granted once a person achieves permanent civil service status (Permanent State civil service status means the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This includes permanent intermittent, part-time, and full-time appointments. In addition, individuals who at any time achieved permanent State civil service status and subsequently resigned or were dismissed from State civil service are not eligible to receive Veterans’ Preference).

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans’ Preference are on the Veterans’ Preference Application (CalHR Form 1093).

If Career Credits is Warranted: In Open, Non-promotional examinations, Career Credits are granted to: 1) State employees with permanent civil service status, 2) full-time employees of the state who are exempt from State civil service pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 of Article VII of the California Constitution, and who meet all qualification requirement specified by the Board and have 12 consecutive months of service in an exempt position, and 3) individuals who have served one full year in, or are graduates of, the California Conservation Corps (eligibility shall expire 24 months after graduation from the California Conservation Corps). Three points are added to the final test score of those candidates who meet the above criteria, and who are successful in the examination. Such examinations cannot be for managerial positions described in Government Code Section 3513. Competitors not currently employed in State civil service who have mandatory reinstatement rights may also be eligible for career credits, but they must explain their service status in the appropriate section of the application Form 100-678. (Section 4 of Article VII of the California Constitution is posted at the State Personnel Board, 801 Capitol Mall and Sacramento).
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