Here you'll find answers to some of the most common questions we receive in State of California hiring units. There isn't a theme here, just a random collection of the frequent questions we receive. 1) Do I have to take an exam to get a State of California Job? In almost all cases, you'll need to take an exam to get a state government job in California. An exam is generally considered to be the first step in the hiring process. By passing an exam, a candidate becomes eligible for that classification. After passing an exam you are able to apply for vacant positions. There are, however, a few exceptions. The State has a number of non-testing classifications. One of the most common among these is Student Assistant . Student Assistant positions do not require candidates to have eligibility which means they don't have to take an exam. There are still minimum qualifications for the classification, however. Other non-testing classifications in the State of California