Cal. Gov. Code § 18951
The board, department, and each state agency and employee shall encourage economy and efficiency in and devotion to state service by encouraging promotional advancement of employees showing willingness and ability to perform efficiently services assigned them, and every person in state service shall be permitted to advance according to merit and ability.
In an examination held on an open, nonpromotional basis under the provisions of Section 18950, a competitor, who has permanent civil service status, or who has a mandatory right of reinstatement to a position with permanent civil service status, and who attains the passing mark established for an examination which is not for a managerial position as defined in Section 3513, shall have three credits added to his or her earned score. Such credits shall be known as career credits.
Ca. Gov. Code § 18951