Employees of Other Public Agencies

Lateral Transfer Process Overview

This process applies to qualified applicants currently employed or previously employed by a qualifying public agency within the last year. The agency must operate under a personnel civil service or merit system.

Qualified applicants placed on a Public Agency Eligible List (PAEL) may be certified as eligible for appointment to a substantially similar job classification. This allows for appointment without undergoing a full examination process with Placer County as vacancies arise (per Placer County Code Section 3.08.720).

Those hired through this process are typically considered new employees for the purpose of determining seniority, benefits, and leave accruals. Visit our Benefit Summaries by Group page for more information.

To determine which Placer County classifications are substantially similar to a position held in another public agency, click the Job Descriptions & Alerts link at the top of this page.

PAEL Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for placement on a Placer County Public Agency Eligible List, an applicant must meet all the following requirements per Placer County Code Chapter 3, section 3.08.720:

1. Current or Prior Agency Employment
   • Applicant must be employed by a public agency (other than Placer County) that operates under a personnel civil service or merit system, or
   • Applicants who are not employed by a qualifying public agency must have held a position with such an agency in the past. Previous employment must have ended within one year of the date Placer County Human Resources receives the completed application.
2. Comparable Job Classification
   • Must have the same or lower minimum qualifications, and
   • Must be substantially similar in job duties and responsibilities to the position the applicant holds or held with the qualifying public agency.
3. Employment Status
   • Classified Employees: Must currently hold or have previously held permanent status in a comparable job assignment at the qualifying agency.
   • Unclassified Employees: Must be or have been employed in the position for a minimum of 6 months at the qualifying agency.
4. Self-Certification Form

   All applicants must submit a self-certification form to verify their eligibility. Please select the correct version based on the position you are applying for.

   For all positions except Deputy Sheriff I or II: Use the Placer Agency Eligible List Self-Certification (PDF) form.

   This form certifies the following:

   • Their employment record has been entirely satisfactory.
   • They have not been separated for cause from their previous qualifying agency.
   • Their appointment to the class was the result of a qualifying or competitive examination.
   • If not currently employed by the qualifying public agency, they are eligible for reinstatement to that agency.

   For Deputy Sheriff I or II: Use the Public Agency Eligible List Self-Certification Deputy Sheriff I or II (PDF) form.

   This form certifies the above plus your peace officer status.

Lateral Transfer From Other Agencies Public Agency Eligible List (PAEL) Process

An application is required for you to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List. Human Resources will review PAEL application materials for eligibility, and you will be notified of your status.

In addition to an application, applicants must complete and submit the following documents:

1. Public Agency Eligible List Self-Certification
   • Required at time of application submission and filled out by applicant if number 2 is not attached to application.
2. Public Agency Eligible List Interagency Information Request (PDF)
   • Required upon conditional offer of employment and filled out by applicant and applicant’s current or former agency.
   • Can be accepted at time of application submission in lieu of the Self-Certification form (number 1 above).

Note: These forms may be uploaded, emailed, faxed, or mailed. Refer to the 'Other' tab in the online application for submittal instructions.

Offers of employment are contingent upon the receipt, verification, and acceptance of these documents.

Post-Placement and Hiring Process

If you qualify, your application will be placed on a PAEL for one year. You will not be notified when the one-year eligibility period ends and must reapply to be considered for future vacancies.

Public Agency Eligible Lists are shared with hiring departments as job openings become available. Each hiring department will:

• Review the job requirements for the open position, and
• Evaluate the application materials of eligible applicants on the list.

Based on this review, the department will decide which applicants to invite for an interview.

Pre-Hire Requirements

Candidates must complete the following requirements before their start date if an offer is extended:

• DOJ Criminal Background Clearance: Successfully complete a fingerprint-based background check through the California Department of Justice.
• Medical Evaluation: Pass a pre-employment physical, which may include drug screening and a psychological evaluation.
• Oath of Office: Subscribe to the constitutional oath or affirmation as required for all public employees by the California Constitution.
• Employment Eligibility Verification: Provide original documents that establish both identity and the legal right to work in the United States, as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Position-Specific Requirements

In addition to the above, some positions may require one or more of the following:

• Age Verification: Provide documentation verifying that you meet the minimum legal age requirements for this position.
• Background Check: Some positions require a background investigation. This may include one or more of the following: voice stress analysis, polygraph, and bonding.
• Law Enforcement: Applicants for law enforcement functions must complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process.
• Medi-Cal Access/Licensing: Applicants with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification.

Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

To continue the application process, click the 'Lateral Transfer from Other Agencies/Public Agency Eligible List PAEL' button and carefully read the instructions for each phase.