Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 2, § 250.1 - Skills-Based Certification

(a) Notwithstanding Section 250(a) and (b) as they pertain to eligible lists, appointments to positions in the State civil service for information technology classifications may utilize skills-based certification, as defined by Government Code section 18900.6(a). All such appointments shall be made on the basis of merit and fitness pursuant to all other provisions of Section 250.

(b) Examinations may be administered on an open basis, promotional basis, or open non-promotional basis.

(c) Selection procedures shall be competitive in nature, and designed and administered to fairly and objectively identify those candidates who meet the selection need for the position, and result in the certified ranking of candidates based on their job-related qualifications.

(d) Individuals who are successful in examinations for these classes shall be assigned a score relative to their job-related qualifications and placed in a pool for the respective class and skills set(s) tested for. For purposes of scoring, raw scores will be assigned.

(e) Whenever a vacancy is to be filled, the appointing power shall prepare a detailed statement of the duties and requirements of the position, which shall be maintained by the appointing power for audit purposes by the SPB. Such statement of duties and requirements of the position shall constitute the justification for creating a skills-based certification list for the position.

(f) Traditional eligible lists will not be created as a result of testing. Skills-based certification lists shall be created on a position-by-position basis, and shall replace the traditional eligible lists. A skills-based certification list shall be created by weighting the final score(s) of eligible competitors attained in the core examination, if applicable, and functional skills set(s). No more than four (4) skills sets, equaling a combined total of 100%, may be used when creating a certification list. A core examination component, if utilized in the testing process, may be used for purposes of creating a skills-based certification list. Its weighting shall be determined by a job analysis. Eligibles will be ranked on the certification list according to their test scores and the percentage weightings utilized to create the certification list.

For example, a skills-based certification list created utilizing two functional skills-sets, each weighted 50%, would yield a list of only those eligibles who successfully passed the test for each of the skills-sets and ranked in descending order based on their respective weight and functional skill set test scores.

(g) If it is found that the statement of duties and requirements of the position is inconsistent with the skills-sets utilized to create the certification list, the appointment shall be deemed illegal and voided.

(h) Hiring departments shall utilize a job-related hiring process that includes one or more of the selection instruments identified in section 250, subdivision (b), and shall verify minimum qualifications for all prospective hires. The hiring process shall conform to the following minimum standards:

(1) relevant criteria shall be developed for determining which candidates shall be selected for the hiring process;

(2) job-related criteria shall be developed to assess the fitness and qualifications of each candidate to perform the duties of the position to be filled;

(3) valid criteria shall be developed for evaluating each candidate's performance during the hiring process; and

(4) the same selection method shall be applied consistently and equitably to each candidate. As a best practice, the appointing authority should conduct reference checks and, if the candidate is a current state employee, review the official personnel file of the candidate prior to appointing the selected candidate. The appointing authority shall also develop a summary of the hiring process which shall include a discussion of the job-relatedness and structure of the hiring process.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 2, § 250.1

1. New section filed 6-1-2009; operative 7-1-2009. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to Government Code sections 18211 and 18213 (Register 2009, No. 23).
2. Amendment of subsection (h) filed 11-30-2021; operative 1-1-2022. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to Government Code section 18211 (Register 2021, No. 49).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 18211, 18701 and 18900.6, Government Code. Reference: Section 18900.6, Government Code.

1. New section filed 6-1-2009; operative 7-1-2009. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to Government Code sections 18211 and 18213(Register 2009, No. 23).
2. Amendment of subsection (h) filed 11-30-2021; operative 1/1/2022. Submitted to OAL for filing and printing only pursuant to Government Code section 18211 (Register 2021, No. 49).