SPECIAL AGENT, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

State of California; California (MO); On-site; USD 7,500 - 13,000; Full time

Job summary

State of California's Department of Justice, Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, is hiring a Special Agent to investigate fraud against Medi-Cal, patient abuse, and drug diversion. The role supports undercover work, evidence gathering, and coordination with prosecutors.

Under supervision, you will conduct investigations, testify in court, and travel within the state as needed. Telework is available but in-office requirement applies; a California POST certificate is required for

Qualifications

• Must possess California POST Basic or Specialized Certificate or equivalent.
• Pass pre-employment drug screening, background, medical, and psychological evaluations.
• Willingness to travel within California for investigations.
• Strong investigative writing and courtroom testimony skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct criminal investigations involving Medi-Cal fraud, elder abuse, and related offenses.
• Perform undercover operations and serve search warrants.
• Collect evidence, interview witnesses, and coordinate with prosecutors.
• Testify in court and make arrests as required.

Education

California POST Basic or Specialized Certificate or equivalent

Job description

Job Posting: SPECIAL AGENT, Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse

Department of Justice

JC-530908 -

JC-530908 - SPECIAL AGENT, Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse SPECIAL AGENT, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

$7,454.00 - $12,834.00 per Month New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 10/2/2026

Application Methods: Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account) By Mail Drop-off

As the state’s federally mandated Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA) works aggressively to investigate and prosecute fraudulent activities and the illegal diversion of health care resources from California’s most vulnerable citizens.

Under the direction of a Special Agent Supervisor, the Special Agent will conduct criminal investigations involving allegations of fraud perpetrated against the California Medical Assistance Program (Medi-Cal) by providers of medical and related services; patient abuse and neglect which occur in Medicaid certified facilities; and the diversion of pharmaceutical drugs by Medi-Cal providers. Specifically, the incumbent will: conduct criminal investigations; conduct undercover operations; prepare written investigative reports; prepare and serve search warrants; gather evidence including computer hardware and data; use and maintain investigative and protective equipment; use and maintain computer hardware and software for data analysis and case preparation; coordinate investigations with other law enforcement agencies; work closely with prosecutors in preparing cases for court; testify in court and make arrests as a result of investigations; and perform other duties as required.

In accordance with Penal Code Section 13651, duties shall be conducted with an emphasis on community interaction and collaborative problem solving.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Telework is available but is contingent on DMFEA’s operational needs. DMFEA’s current telework agreement for the Special Agent classification is Office-Centered. Office-Centered is defined as employees who work more than 50% within a month in the office. Telework requires California residency.

This position may require travel to conduct investigations and attend meetings and training.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SPECIAL AGENT, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Classification:

SPECIAL AGENT, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE $7,454.00 - $10,351.00A $8,592.00 - $12,834.00B New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

Work Location:

Telework: In Office

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Work Shift:

Day

Work Week:

Monday - Friday

Department Information

• This position is located in the Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, Investigations Section, Burbank Office JC-530908.
• Please disregard the SROA/Surplus language below, as the Department of Justice requires applicants to submit their SROA/Surplus Letter if that is the basis of their eligibility.
• For more information about the department, please visit the Attorney General’s website at https://oag.ca.gov/.

Please note that the Special Agent classification contains multiple salary ranges. For current state employees and/or those with reinstatement rights, your salary will be determined in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. New-to-State employees will be given the minimum salary Range A, unless you meet Alternate Range Criteria 175 as follows:

Range A : This range shall apply to incumbents who do not meet the criteria for payment in Range B.

Range B : This range shall apply to individuals who have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of 24 months of experience in Range A of the same class and may apply to persons who have the equivalent of 24 months of satisfactory experience performing *peace officer duties of the class beyond the experience required to meet the minimum qualifications of the class.

Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit.The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR

• The position(s) require(s) a Drug Screening be passed prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) Psychological Evaluation clearance prior to being hired.

Candidates who are interested in the Special Agent position must meet the minimum qualifications in order to be considered. The minimum qualifications for the Special Agent Classification can be found at: Special Agent Series - CalHR .

• List Eligibility : Candidates who are not current state peace officers with lateral transfer eligibility and who do not have reinstatement rights to the Special Agent classification must obtain list eligibility prior to appointment. This will apply to most local and out-of-state peace officers. If you need to take the exam, please see the “Exam Information” section below.
• Reinstatement : Former Department of Justice Special Agents may have permissive or mandatory reinstatement rights to the classification.
• Lateral transfer : Candidates who are currently employed by the State of California may be eligible to laterally transfer to the Special Agent classification. Transfer eligibility depends upon the applicant’s current classification.

Candidates must have a current California POST Basic or Specialized Certificate or equivalent in order to be considered.

Out-of-State Candidates

Out-of-state peace officers who are interested in the Special Agent classification, including federal peace officers, will have to obtain a valid California POST Basic Certificate or a Basic Course Waiver. Information regarding the Basic Course Waiver can be found on the California POST website: https://post.ca.gov/basic-course-waiver-process .

Candidates who have, or will need, a Basic Course Waiver must still take the Special Agent Exam to get on the Special Agent List. Candidates who are in the process of obtaining a Basic Course Waiver may take the Special Agent Exam and apply for vacant positions before the waiver is granted, but no job offers will be extended until a valid California POST Basic Course Waiver or Basic Certificate is obtained.

EXAM INFORMATION LOCATED BELOW

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Experience conducting complex fraud, tax or health/quality of care investigations, violent crimes against persons, investigations of crime scenes, insurance fraud, and drug interdiction. Applicants should have excellent writing skills; experience in preparing and serving search warrants; knowledge of the California Penal Code, Welfare and Institutions Code, Health and Safety Code, and Insurance Code. Must be able to exercise good judgment, be willing to work odd and unusual hours, and travel throughout the State of California. The most competitive applicants will possess a POST Basic Certificate or POST SIBC Certificate.

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Human Resources Contact:
Samantha Campbell
[phone]
[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Officer
[phone]
[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Additional Information on Application Filing

Please note, if using the United States Postal Service for delivery, there is no guarantee that your application will be date stamped and will arrive by the final filing date. If your application does not have a postmark or date stamp and arrives after the final filing date, your application will not be accepted. Therefore, to ensure the timely delivery of your application, it is recommended that you use either electronic delivery, parcel service, or certified mail. Using one of these options will provide proof of delivery prior to the final filing date.

Exam Information

To access the Special Agent Examination and obtain list eligibility, please click HERE .

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.