Clerical jobs at Contra Costa County, the cities, the State of California and the school districts ask for a typing speed, and most ask for a certificate with the application. The certificate comes from a test you take at a job center or an adult school, and the free ones are listed below.
Before you take a test
- Take it in person. Richmond, Concord and the Mt. Diablo and Pittsburg school districts say in writing that they refuse certificates from typing websites, and Contra Costa County has said both over the years, so an in person certificate works for all of them.
- Ask for a five minute test. It meets every rule we found, and some employers refuse anything shorter.
- Check the certificate shows your full name, the date, the length of the test, and your net words per minute, or your gross words per minute with the number of errors. Ask for it on the tester's letterhead with a signature.
- Read the job posting. When it names a speed or a rule, that is the one that counts.
Free and low cost tests
Contra Costa County
- Concord job center (AJCC), 4071 Port Chicago Hwy, Suite 250, Concord. 925-671-4500. Free, walk in Tuesdays 9 to noon with a photo ID.
- RichmondWORKS, 330 25th St, Richmond. 510-307-8014. Free, on scheduled dates.
- Martinez Adult Education, Martinez. 925-335-5890 x3927. Free, call for an appointment.
- Pittsburg Adult Education Center, 1151 Stoneman Ave, Pittsburg. 925-473-2400. $20, call for an appointment.
- Liberty Adult Education, 929 Second St, Brentwood. 925-634-2565. $25, by appointment.
What each employer asks for
| Employer | Speed | What they accept |
|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa County | 40 net words per minute for Clerk jobs | A certificate from the last two years with your first and last name, uploaded with the application. Secretary jobs use the county's own timed test instead |
| The City of Concord | 45 net words per minute for Administrative Clerk | A five minute test showing gross and net speed, from a tester, not online, from the last 12 months |
| The City of Walnut Creek | 35 corrected words per minute for Office Assistant | A five minute test from a reputable tester, or the test in person with the city |
| The City of Richmond | 40 net words per minute, no more than 15 errors | A signed certificate from a public agency, school or employment agency, from the last six months, not online |
| The City of Pittsburg | 40 net words per minute for Office Assistant | The speed named in the posting |
| The State of California | 40 words per minute for Office Assistant and Office Technician (Typing), 45 for Legal Secretary | A proctored five minute test, in person or by video, issued in the last four years |
| Mt. Diablo Unified | 35 net words per minute, 45 for some jobs | A certificate from the last six months on the tester's letterhead, not online, or the district's own timed test |
| Pittsburg Unified | 45 net words per minute for secretaries | A certificate from the last 12 months, from a job center or adult school, not online |
| Antioch Unified | 40 to 45 words per minute by job | The speed named in the posting |
| Liberty Union High School District | 40 net corrected words per minute for Clerk Typist | The speed named in the posting |
| Contra Costa Community College District | No speed stated on current postings | Check the posting. |
Read from each employer's own pages on September 21, 2026. Rules change, so the posting you apply to is the final word. ContraCostaJobs does not give typing tests or certificates.