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Texas Workforce Commission / Agency HR

Texas civil service test guides

Texas does not have a centralized civil service commission; most state agency hiring follows merit principles through individual agency HR offices and the Work in Texas job portal.

Texas state government employment is decentralized—each agency manages its own hiring under merit principles and applicable state law. There is no single statewide civil service exam for most positions. The Work in Texas portal is the primary job board for state agency vacancies.

Law enforcement positions (Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, and others) follow separate selection processes including written exams, physical fitness tests, and comprehensive background investigations.

Official test guides index (all titles)Texas Workforce Commission /…

General

PDFs open in a new tab on the government website.

  • Work in Texas — State Careers Portal

    Texas state government and workforce job board managed by the Texas Workforce Commission.

    Visit portal →
  • Texas State Employment Information

    Overview of Texas state employment, benefits, and agency hiring processes from the official state portal.

    Visit site →

State examination booklets

PDFs open in a new tab on the government website.

  • Texas DPS — Trooper Recruiting

    Texas Department of Public Safety trooper application and selection process including written exam, physical fitness, and background investigation.

    Visit DPS →
  • Texas Department of Criminal Justice — Careers

    Correctional officer and support positions with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, including selection process details.

    Visit TDCJ →

Local government booklets

PDFs open in a new tab on the government website.

  • City of Houston — Human Resources & Risk Management

    Houston city HR department managing competitive hiring for police, fire, and municipal civil service positions under Chapter 143 LGC.

    Visit HHR →

Good to know

  • Texas state agencies each manage their own HR processes. The State Auditor's Office sets classification and compensation guidelines but does not administer centralized exams.
  • Many Texas municipalities and counties operate independent civil service systems for police and fire under Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code. Contact your local civil service commission for exam schedules.
  • The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) sets minimum training and certification standards for Texas peace officers, relevant to all law enforcement hiring.

Supplemental prep on this site

Our title-based guides explain merit-system hiring, what many exams emphasize, and study checklists. They do not replace your announcement or official state booklets.

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