Pennsylvania Code
Title 4 - ADMINISTRATION
Part XV - OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Subpart A - CIVIL SERVICE REFORM-TEMPORARY REGULATIONS
Chapter 602a - APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS IN THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE
Subchapter D - EXAMINATIONS
Section 602a.9 - Development of examinations

(a) Tests and assessments in examinations. The Office of Administration may develop and administer written, oral and performance tests, as well as assessments of education, training and experience. The Office of Administration may further authorize medical tests, physical strength and agility tests, personality or interest inventories, biographical inventories, and other types of tests or assessments, singly or in combination, as the circumstances warrant. Additionally, for promotional examinations, the Office of Administration may authorize performance criteria, such as seniority and performance evaluations.

(b) Basis for examinations. Position descriptions shall be the primary basis and source of authority for the content and level of difficulty of examinations. Supplemental job information, obtained through job analysis and job specifications, may be used as a further basis for examination standards.

(c) Limitations on examinations. No examination will require an applicant to provide information concerning their age, race, color, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political opinions or affiliations, union membership or affiliations, AIDS or HIV status, or disability; nor will the information be required in another manner by an official or employee of the Office of Administration or of an appointing authority in connection with the appointment or promotion to a position within the classified service, except as otherwise permitted by the act or this subpart.

(d) Collaboration in examination content. The Office of Administration may collaborate with representatives of appointing authorities, qualified testing organizations and other qualified individuals regarding the content of examinations. The interchange of information shall be made under circumstances and conditions designed to prevent premature disclosure of examination content to prospective applicants.

(e) Cooperative testing. The Office of Administration may authorize collaboration with another public testing or placement agency in a program of cooperative testing of applicants, provided competitive principles are observed.

(f) Weighting of tests and evaluations. If multiple tests or assessments constitute the entirety of an examination, the Office of Administration, after considering the relative value of the tests or assessments in measuring the relative capacity and fitness of applicants to perform the duties of the job classification or position(s) to which they applied, and after consultation with the appointing authority, will fix the relative weights of the tests or assessments. Modifications to the relative weights will be announced to all applicants.