CA Gov't Code Section 18974.5

Any member of the Armed Forces who successfully passes any state civil service examination and whose name as a result is placed on an employment list and who within 12 months after the establishment of the employment list for which the examination was given qualifies for veterans’ preference as provided for in this article shall be allowed the appropriate veterans’ credit to the same effect as though he or she were entitled to that credit at the time of the establishing of the employment list.