Job Details

Assistant Inspector

An Assistant Inspector with the Department of Building and Safety, Housing and Community Investment, Airports or Public Works assists inspectors and receives training in the inspection of buildings and structures, plumbing, heating and refrigeration, electrical installations, grading projects; or as an elevator or pressure vessel safety engineer. Assistant Inspectors may be subject to frequent review, written examinations, and supervision, and may perform regular inspector's duties as indicated by training progress; may perform owner and property records research, data input, report generation and field data collection. Assistant Inspectors in the Housing and Community Investment Department may post notices of inspection at multi-family properties and distribute pertinent information regarding housing related issues to the public; and may independently make inspections of a limited scope. Assistant Inspectors in the Department of Public Works and Airports assist inspectors and receive training in the inspection of streets, sewers, storm drains, bridges and structures, and in the administration of public works contracts and permits; and may independently make inspections of a limited scope.

Requirements/Minimum Qualifications:

1. Successful completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units of coursework from an accredited trade school, college or university; or
2. One year of full-time paid experience in any one of the following: a. Building, civil, or architectural design drafting, surveying or engineering construction; or b. Building or public works inspection; or c. Performing at least helper duties in any of the following: carpentry, electrical, heating and refrigeration, plumbing, iron worker, masonry or operating engineering work, inspected public works construction or any combination of these crafts; or d. Working in property management of multi-family residential properties, coordinating the maintenance and repairs; or e. Performing inspections for a private inspection service relating to construction, building, or housing
3. Two years of full-time paid experience with the City of Los Angeles' Departments of Building and Safety, Housing and Community Investment, Public Works, Bureau of Contract Administration, or Los Angeles World Airports processing compliance orders, plans, permits, appeals, property research, certificates of occupancy, inspection requests, or City contracts.

Process Notes:

1. Applicants who lack six months or less of the required experience at the time of filing or are in their final semester or quarter of the required education at the time of filing may file for this examination. However, they cannot be appointed until the full requirement is met.
2. Candidates filing under Requirement #1 must list the school name, location, dates of attendance, number of units and degree (if any) in the Education section of the application. Applicants who fail to provide this information on their application will not be considered further in this examination.
3. Completion of 12 semester or 18 quarter units from any of the following areas is highly desired: engineering; construction; design; inspection technology; architectural drafting; geology; civil, mechanical, electrical or fire protection engineering technology; math; or physics.
4. A valid Class C driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of filing. Applicants will be disqualified and not be eligible for hire if their DMV record within the last 36 months reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation such as DUI.
5. Appointments to the class of Assistant Inspector, Class Code 4208, will be made to temporary training positions in accordance with Section 5.30 of the Rules of the Board of Civil Service Commissioners for a maximum duration of five years. New appointees who do not successfully complete the temporary training period will be terminated from the class.
6. Qualifying education must be from a college or university accredited by a City of Los Angeles recognized agency. A list of approved accrediting agencies can be found at Institutions 08-21-08.pdf.
7. Candidates completing the exam process may be contacted by the Personnel Department to provide required proof of qualifying coursework. Applicants who wish to expedite this process may attach a copy of their transcripts annotated with the qualifying coursework in the Attachments section of the on-line application at the time of filing.

Applications will only be accepted on-line. When you are viewing the on-line job bulletin of your choice, simply scroll to the top of the page and select the "Apply" icon. On-line job bulletins are also available at

Applications will only be accepted on-line on the dates listed below:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2025 to THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2025

The examination may close without prior notice at any time after a sufficient number of applications have been received. Filing periods may change without prior notice or additional dates may be added, as needed, at a later date. For administrative purposes, filing will close periodically and reopen on the dates noted in the "Application Deadline" section of this bulletin.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles who meet the minimum requirements, or are on a reserve list; 2) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applicants not selected to be tested may re-apply in a subsequent filing period in order to be considered for that period's selection process.

The examination for Assistant Inspector will consist of a qualifying multiple-choice test and a weighted interview. The qualifying multiple-choice test will be administered and proctored on-line, and the following competencies may be evaluated: Reading Comprehension; Written Communication; Job Knowledge including knowledge of: arithmetic and geometry; capabilities of computers and software such as Microsoft Office Suite, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat; building and civil construction terminology such as foundation, columns, beams, and mechanical systems; and other necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities.

The multiple-choice test will be proctored and administered on-line during a single session. Candidates invited to participate in the on-line multiple-choice test will be able to take the test from a remote location (i.e., their home) using a computer with a webcam and a reliable internet connection. Candidates will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the dates and specific steps on how to take the multiple-choice test on-line. Candidates who do not complete and submit the multiple-choice test on-line using a computer by the specified date and time will not be considered further in this examination.

For candidates who apply between FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2025 and THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025, it is anticipated that the on-line multiple-choice test will be held between TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025 to MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2025.

FAQs for on-line testing are available at . Candidates who do not have the required equipment may have the option to take the multiple-choice test onsite at a City facility.

The passing score for the qualifying multiple-choice test will be determined by Personnel Department staff after the qualifying multiple-choice tests are administered. Consideration will be given to the number of candidates taking the test and existing and anticipated number of vacancies, such that there are a sufficient number of eligibles on the list to satisfy current and future vacancies for the next two years. Therefore, the passing score for the qualifying multiple-choice test may be set either at, above, or below 70%.

The examination score will be based entirely on the interview. In the interview, the following competencies may be evaluated: Learning Ability; Self-Management; Interpersonal Skills; Follow Oral Directions; Oral Communication; Job Knowledge including knowledge of: arithmetic and geometry; capabilities of computers and software such as Microsoft Office Suite, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat; building and civil construction terminology such as foundations, columns, beams, and mechanical systems; and other necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities.

Candidates will be notified by e-mail of the date, time, and location of the interview, which may be held in the City of Los Angeles or on-line.

This examination is based on a validation study, and as provided by Civil Service Commission Rule 4.20, the multiple-choice test will not be subject to candidate inspection.

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex,