Qualifying Exempt Service
What is “exempt service”?

“Exempt service” is non-civil service employment with the State of California that meets certain qualifications. If you worked for the State, but not for a State department, you may have accumulated exempt service.

Okay, my employer  told me I was working for the State, but it wasn’t a State department. Does this service qualify?

It might. DPA Rule 599.841 describes the types of exempt service that count towards your total State service and seniority credit. If you worked for the State in one of the appointment types described in the following list, you probably have exempt service.

Qualifying Exempt Service

If you were . . .

•	An exempt employee working under the Executive Branch of California government.
•	An officer or employee of the Legislature, either house, or a legislative committee. By “officer or employee,” we mean all permanent employees of the California Legislature.
•	An officer or employee of a council, commission, or public corporation in the Judicial Branch of California government.
•	An employee of a court of record or another officer employed directly by the Judicial Branch of California government.
•	An officer or employee of the University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU). By “officer or employee,” we mean anyone employed directly by either UC or CSU, with the following exceptions: UC student employees who work less than one-half time are not included, nor are CSU student employees (regardless of time base). Also, we do not count CSU employees who were “special pay” appointments.
•	A teacher or member of the teaching staff in a school under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education or the Superintendent of Public Instruction (in other words, you were employed by one of California's six State Special Schools).
•	A member of the National Guard engaged in military service while employed by the California Department of the Military.
•	An officer or employee of a District Agricultural Association (DAA), if you were employed less than six months in a calendar year.

. . . then you probably have exempt service.

What if I worked as an exempt employee, but I can’t find verification?

DPA Rule 599.841 says that only exempt service we can fully verify from official records can count towards your total State service or seniority score. In order for us to count your exempt service towards your total State service and seniority score, we must either already have official records of your employment with the State (for instance, if you worked as a Governor’s appointee, or if you worked for CSU), or you must obtain records from wherever it was that you worked.