Final Filing Date: 9/28/2026.

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.

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.

If using the United States Postal Service (USPS) for delivery, there is no guarantee that your application will be postmarked and arrive by the final filing date. If your application does not have a postmark and arrives after the final filing date, your application may not be accepted into the examination. Therefore, to ensure timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use either parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof the application was sent prior to the final filing date.

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):

• FORESTRY ASSISTANT I - Open

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements by the final filing date September 28, 2026, unless otherwise noted.

• Once you have participated in this examination, you may not test again for six (6) months.
• Applicants who have not passed probation in this classification are encouraged to apply.

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:

• Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
  Examination Unit
  710 Riverpoint Ct.
  West Sacramento, CA 95605
  

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 Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
  Examination Unit
  710 Riverpoint Ct.
  West Sacramento, CA 95605
  8:30 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.

Please note the following:

1.) A State Application (STD 678) is REQUIRED and must be submitted.

2.) All applicants must include "from" and "to" employment dates (month/day/year), time base, and applicable civil service class titles on their STD 678. Applications received without this information may be rejected.

3.) If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications under pattern III, please attach a copy of your diploma and/or transcripts showing proof of coursework/completion/graduation, to your application packet.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

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 - Training and Experience Narrative

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.

EITHER I

EXPERIENCE: Two years of experience in California state service performing the duties of a Forestry Technician. (Candidates who are within six months of meeting experience requirements may take the examination but cannot be appointed until they have obtained the required experience.)

OR II

EXPERIENCE: Three years of experience in practical resource management or conservation work. (Qualifying experience includes reforestation, timber harvest operation, urban forestry, or other related forestry work; environmental protection work; fire control experience in the California Department of Forestry, of which a minimum of one year must have been performing duties at a level of responsibility equivalent to the class of Fire Fighter II.)

OR III

EDUCATION: Equivalent to graduation from technical school in forestry or an AA or AS degree in forestry, natural resources, conservation, or a closely related subject. (Applicants who are within six months of graduation will be admitted to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

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.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (T&E) NARRATIVE - WEIGHTED 100%

In this type of examination, the T&E Narrative document IS THE EXAMINATION.

The T&E Narrative is a written document that responds to the questions listed below. 

An evaluation of the Narrative documents will be conducted by a rating panel consisting of CAL FIRE subject matter experts (SMEs) in October/November 2026. The rating panel will compare each candidates' Narrative responses against standardized, pre-determined rating criteria. The examination questions below were derived from the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) listed in this bulletin and the classification specification:

When preparing your T&E Narrative document please respond to the following four (4) examination questions:

1. You have been tasked with flagging a proposed fuels reduction project. List at least five steps you would take to complete this task.
2. You are tasked with verifying work completion on a grants project. Identify at least three steps you would take to ensure compliance with the grant agreement.
3. Your supervisor advises that you will be assisting with a timber cruise. List at least seven task-related items you would bring with you to complete this assignment.
4. As a CAL FIRE Forestry Assistant I, you may work as a team lead. Thoroughly describe at least two experiences in which you acted in a leadership role to successfully accomplish a task.

In addition to responding to the questions above, your T&E Narrative document MUST follow the instructions listed below. Failure to follow these instructions may result in disqualification from the testing process: 

• Please use Arial font, size no smaller than 12.
• Limit your responses to no more than a total of four (4) pages (Only the first four pages will be scored).
• Your document MUST be typewritten (NO handwritten narratives).
• Please clearly label the number that corresponds to the question to which you are responding.
• You may include multiple responses on a single page.
• Please place your name on each page of your narrative.

APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT A NARRATIVE DOCUMENT 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:

1. General resource management principles, practices, and conservation techniques to meet the Department’s mission.
2. Communication devices (e.g., cell phones, two-way radios, laptops/tablets, desktop computers) to effectively communicate with staff, stakeholders, agencies, and the public.
3. Mathematics (e.g., arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics) and their applications in forestry to accurately complete assigned daily duties.
4. Map reading and dendrology to complete forestry tasks.

Skill to:

1. Utilize computer and mobile equipment technologies (e.g., laptop, tablet, cell phone, desktop) and related software to effectively communicate with staff, stakeholders, agencies, and public or private entities.
2. Operate appropriate Department vehicles (e.g., pick-up, stake-side, fire engine) in all weather conditions and terrain in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and Department policies and procedures to ensure safe and effective operations.
3. Observe the environment and exercise situational awareness (e.g., marijuana plantations, animals, hazardous trees) to ensure personal/personnel safety.
4. Operate computer programs efficiently (e.g., Microsoft Suite, mapping) to perform daily job functions.
5. Safely operate and maintain forestry tools and equipment (e.g., compass, hand tools, GPS) accurately and efficiently to perform job duties effectively.

Ability to:

1. Understand instructions to carry out assignments as directed by supervisor.
2. Work independently or in a group setting to effectively perform collaborative tasks.
3. Communicate (e.g., oral, writing, electronically) with co-workers, supervisors, other agencies, and the public to effectively share information.
4. Utilize good judgment and take appropriate action in emergency situations to ensure personal/personnel and public safety.
5. Adapt to changing work demands, priorities, and environments to meet program needs. 
6. Organize, prioritize, and complete work assignments in a timely and efficient manner to meet program objectives.
7. Perform work with attention to detail in an accurate and thorough manner to meet program objectives.
8. Understand and employ good safety practices (e.g., tailgate session, training, work practices) and exercise situational awareness (e.g., marijuana plantations, animals, hazardous trees) to ensure personal/personnel safety. 
9. Accept increasing responsibility in the level of difficulty of tasks performed to improve performance and enhance career development opportunities.
10. Read and interpret maps (e.g., topographical, road maps, watershed maps) for navigation and project planning purposes. 
11. Perform arduous and physically demanding work in all weather conditions and terrain to meet the demands of the Department’s mission.
12. Remain calm and perform effectively in high-stress situations to perform job duties.
13. Lead others in daily assignments through example to successfully accomplish work assignments.
14. Read and interpret reference manuals, training materials, data, and correspondence to acquire knowledge essential to the performance of the job.

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

• Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

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.

• Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

CAL FIRE Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator
710 Riverpoint Ct.
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Phone: (916) 767-8359
ReasonableAccommodations@fire.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.

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 Forestry & Fire Protection 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.