A multi-pass type color image forming apparatus. The multi-pass type color image forming apparatus includes an indicating member which is provided at a camshaft and has a plurality of indicating portions, a sensing part which detects the plurality of indicating portions, and a control unit which receives a signal from the sensing part when the indicating member passes by the sensing part by the rotation of the camshaft, and determines a home position by a rotational position of the camshaft when a signal pattern from a sequence of signals from the sensing part corresponds with a preset reference pattern. Accordingly, the home position of the camshaft can be determined in a short amount of time regardless of the slip between the cams and the push caps, so that the warm up time can be shortened and the generation time of noise caused by the contact between the cams and the push caps can be minimized. Also, the reliability about the home position of the camshaft can be increased, thereby transmitting the power timely to the correct developing device.