Service Prior to Membership

Service prior to membership is time spent working for a CalPERS-covered employer before becoming a CalPERS member. This may include time spent working for a federal or State employer under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA).

Who's Eligible?
If you are now an active or inactive CalPERS member, you may purchase service time if you meet one of the following criteria.

• You worked for a CalPERS-covered employer as a seasonal, temporary, part-time, or intermittent employee, but were not a CalPERS member
• You worked under CETA for a federal- or State-sponsored program such as the Public Employee Program, Public Service Employment, Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program, Public Service Employment Program, or Cal Esteem.

You cannot purchase CalPERS service time if:

• The agency where the service was earned does not currently have a contract with CalPERS
  
• Your service is excluded by law or by the employer's contract with CalPERS
  
• You worked at a school in a certificated position (You may want to contact the State Teachers' Retirement System to find out if you can purchase the service with that system.)
  
• You worked at the University of California after October 1, 1963. (You may want to contact the University of California Retirement Plan to find out if you can purchase service with that system.)
  
• You are retired.

What's Required?
You must be an active or inactive CalPERS member and be able to provide CalPERS with documentation certifying your dates of service.

What's the Cost?
The cost is based on your pay rate and the contribution rate on the date you became a member (after the service was rendered), and interest will be compounded annually to the date you make the purchase.

You can use the online Service Credit Cost Estimator to get an idea of the cost of purchasing this service.

What's Next?
Gather your employment history information for the time that you worked for a CalPERS-covered employer before becoming a CalPERS member. Review the following instructions for completing the request form, and use the link below to download the form.

Step 1
Complete Sections 1 through 3 on the first page of the request form. If we have provided cost information to you in the past for this type of service credit purchase, check the "Yes" box and indicate the date your request was submitted. If you have submitted a retirement application, check the "Yes" box and indicate your planned retirement date.

• Section 1 Complete your current mailing information.

• Section 2 Indicate the employer name and dates when the service was earned and list all periods of employment for which you are requesting credit for service prior to membership.

• Section 3 Sign and date the request form.

If your service prior to membership was with the State or with a California State University, go directly to Step 3 below, unless your service was with the Senate, Assembly, or Joint Rules Committees or an agricultural association that does not use the Uniform State Payroll System. If your service prior to membership was with the University of California (prior to October 1, 1963), a CalPERS-covered public agency, or a school, go to Step 2 below.

Step 2
Give the form to the employer you worked for when the service was earned to complete page two of the request form (Sections 4 through 7, as they apply). When you receive it back, continue to Step 3 below.

Step 3
Submit the completed request form. Make a copy for your records and mail the original to the CalPERS address listed on the form.

Additional Resources
Request for Service Prior to Membership Service Credit Cost Information Form 
Service Credit Cost Estimator 
Service Credit Purchase Payment Methods 

Dated: 02-01-2008