SACRAMENTO, CA –
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order (EO) on Aug. 31, 2023 that aims to reduce barriers for state jobs related to college degrees and improve access to high-paying and fulfilling careers. The order directs CalHR to evaluate whether a college degree is needed for a particular position whenever its classification is reviewed.
As part of the EO, our outreach and education efforts that position the State of California as the employer of choice will increase through a campaign to educate and enhance awareness about the different paths toward state employment. The campaign will walk prospective applicants at all levels and abilities through the state application and hiring process, as well as highlight hiring events such as our Oct. 3 No Degree Required Job Fair.
CalHR has removed employment barriers from 169 job classifications where a degree or other education requirements are not necessary. This effort will expand opportunities and access to well-paying jobs in public service. The latest change was on March 9, 2023 when CalHR proposed to revise and update the minimum qualifications of the Staff Services Analyst classification not to require a college degree. The State Personnel Board adopted the change, and the minimum qualifications now require the “equivalent to completion of the 12th grade” for its education requirement.
In addition, CalHR will continue to evaluate classifications for potentially unnecessary education requirements as we work on additional classification consolidations. CalHR recently published a policy clarifying that formal education requirements, including degrees, certificates and licenses, may create unnecessary barriers for applicants and should not be required unless supporting data demonstrates a direct nexus between successful performance of the essential job functions and the proposed job-related educational requirements.
Additional efforts to assist state human resource offices are ongoing. CalHR offers a Selection Analyst Training Cohort that instructs on how to complete Job Analysis in parallel with classification studies. The cohort has been updated to convey any consideration for a degree in determining entrance requirements is explicitly analyzed and, if determined to be a required component for success in the position, that a justification is included with the job analysis that demonstrates the necessity.
About CalHR
CalHR is responsible for all issues related to employee salaries and benefits, job classifications, civil rights, training, exams, recruitment and retention. For most employees, many of these matters are determined through the collective bargaining process managed by CalHR.
CalHR was created on July 1, 2012, by Governor Brown’s Reorganization Plan Number 1 of 2011. The reorganization plan consolidated the State of California’s two personnel departments, combining the Department of Personnel Administration with certain programs of the State Personnel Board. For more information about CalHR, please visit
our website.
