Final answer:
No, you do not necessarily need to be a U.S. citizen to work for the state of California, as job requirements vary. Some state jobs may be available to lawful permanent residents or other authorized workers. Citizenship is required for some positions but not all.
Step-by-step explanation:
To work for the state of California, it is not always necessary to be a U.S. citizen; this can vary depending on the specific job requirements and policies. While many federal jobs do require U.S. citizenship, state jobs may have different policies.
Some state positions may require citizenship due to the nature of the job, especially if it involves matters of security or policy. However, other positions may be available to lawful permanent residents (green card holders), provided they are legally authorized to work in the United States. The critical requirement for any candidate, regardless of citizenship, is the ability to fulfill the job responsibilities by state laws and regulations.
Criteria for noncitizens seeking naturalization include being 18 years of age, having lawfully resided in the U.S. as a permanent resident for at least five years, and demonstrating good moral character. These are steps towards becoming eligible for the larger set of jobs requiring U.S. citizenship, such as federal roles and elected offices. In California, you may find a variety of state jobs where the criteria for eligibility focus more on work authorization and less on citizenship status.