-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FUYCSdpeFO45/6vm812xxAPTHQGVTEBN7/BTVx5yM/rxO3FZwt5PvZcxqRa9mzq+
 BfZ87LEX/wtR+DNRIFfOeA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-009363.txt : 20040430
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-009363.hdr.sgml : 20040430
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040430200301
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-009363
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040429
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040430

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST COMMUNITY BANCORP /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001102112
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				330885320
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6110 EL TORDO
		CITY:			RANCHO SANTA FE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8587563023

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LESTER SUSAN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240433

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30747
		FILM NUMBER:		04771335

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6110 EL TORDO
		CITY:			RANCHO SANTA FE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3104581521
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001102112</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST COMMUNITY BANCORP /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FCBP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240433</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LESTER SUSAN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6110 EL TORDO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 2388</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.03</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Susan E. Lester</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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