Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) Vacancies shall be filled by promotional examination, unless the Chairperson or designee determines that it is in the best interest of the career service to hold an open competitive examination. The determination to announce an open competitive examination shall be based on at least one of the following conditions:
1. The vacancy is in an entrance level title;
2. There are fewer than three qualified permanent employees in appropriate lower titles in the unit scope (See 4A:1-1.3 for definition of unit scope);
3. If more than one vacancy, the total number of qualified permanent employees in appropriate lower titles in the unit scope exceed by fewer than three the total number of vacancies;
4. A list resulting from a promotional examination will be exhausted before all present or anticipated vacancies are filled; or
5. The title requires special, technical or professional training or qualifications which are not required in lower titles.
(b) Unless otherwise specified, an applicant shall meet the following criteria by the announced closing date:
1. Be a resident of the State or specified local jurisdiction (see N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.11) , except when:
i. A different residency requirement is specified by law or provided by the Chairperson or designee; or
ii. It appears that there is an inadequate number of qualified residents available for the title.
2. Meet all requirements specified in the examination announcement:
i. Applicants for the titles of Municipal Firefighter and Municipal Police Officer must be under the age of 35 on the announced closing date for an open competitive examination to be eligible to take the examination. Former State troopers, sheriff's officers, sheriff's deputies, County or Municipal Police Officers, New Jersey Transit police officers, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) police officers, Amtrak police officers, or any persons who were previously employed by any State or Federal law enforcement agency or other public entity, and who performed duties comparable to the law enforcement duties performed in the positions specifically listed in 40A:14-127.1, 45 years of age or under who resigned in good standing may adjust their age by subtracting previous years of service from their actual age on the closing date. Former law enforcement officers as defined above who were involuntarily separated from service due to layoff, regardless of age, may adjust their age by subtracting previous years of service from their actual age on the closing date.
ii. For good cause, the Chairperson or designee may deem an individual a former law enforcement officer as defined in (b)2i above, even though the individual's separation from service shall not occur except upon a new appointment.
iii. Veterans who are above a maximum age requirement, may recalculate their age for recording purposes pursuant to 38:23A-2; and
3. File an application with all supporting documents or proofs by the announced filing date and time. If an announcement for an open-competitive examination is amended, all requirements must be met by the announced closing date, whether or not the application filing date is changed.
(c) In announcing open competitive examinations, the Chairperson or designee may provide a single application for several announcements and/or title areas (such as police, sheriff, corrections, and bilingual). The applicant's eligibility for particular announcements and/or title areas may depend upon the applicant's residency as indicated on the application.
(d) When a promotional examination is announced, an open competitive examination may also be announced.
