NJ Civil Service Navigator

N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.5 Reclassification of positions

N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.5, Reclassification of positions. When the duties and responsibilities of a position change to the extent that they are no longer similar to the duties and responsibilities set forth in the Full text with 4 recorded amendments, 17 citing decisions.

Classification, Services, and Compensation · Classification

Current through New Jersey Register, Vol. 58 No. 14, July 20, 2026. Reviewed as of July 26, 2026.

This is an annotated mirror, not the official publication. Verify against the Civil Service Commission before relying on it.

In plain language

The trigger is drift. When a position duties change so much that they no longer resemble the specification and the title no longer fits, the Chairperson or designee reclassifies the position to a more appropriate title, establishes a new title for it, or takes other action based on how the appointing authority is organised. Read subsection (c)1 before assuming a reclassification determination means a new title. Within 30 days of receiving the determination the appointing authority picks one of three responses: make the classification change, assign duties commensurate with the title the employee already holds, or reassign the employee to duties they have permanent rights to. Two of those three take the higher work away rather than granting the higher title. Nothing takes effect until affected permanent employees are notified and an appropriate Commission representative approves. An employee in the career or unclassified service, in State or local service, may appeal a reclassification determination, as may a local appointing authority.

Written by the NJ Civil Service Navigator editorial team from the text of N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.5. It is a description of the rule, not the rule itself, and not legal advice.

(a) When the duties and responsibilities of a position change to the extent that they are no longer similar to the duties and responsibilities set forth in the specification and the title is no longer appropriate, the Chairperson or designee, shall after review: #

1. Reclassify the position to a more appropriate title if there is one; #

2. Establish a new title to which the position shall be reclassified; or #

3. Take other appropriate action based on the organizational structure of the appointing authority. #

(b) An appointing authority may request a classification review by the Chairperson or designee in a manner and form as determined by the Chairperson or designee. Such review may be initiated by the Chairperson or designee. An employee or union representative may request a classification review in accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.9. #

(c) No reclassification of any position shall become effective until notice is given to affected permanent employees and approval is given by an appropriate Commission representative. #

1. Within 30 days of receipt of the reclassification determination, unless extended by the Chairperson or designee in a particular case for good cause, the appointing authority shall either effect the required change in the classification of an employee's position; assign duties and responsibilities commensurate with the employee's current title; or reassign the employee to the duties and responsibilities to which the employee has permanent rights. Any change in the classification of a permanent employee's position, whether promotional, demotional, or lateral, shall be effected in accordance with all applicable rules. #

2. Should an employee in the career or unclassified service in State or local service, or an appointing authority in local service, disagree with a reclassification determination, an appeal to the Civil Service Commission may be filed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.9. #

Amendment history

Rule numbers, effective dates and New Jersey Register citations as published. 4 recorded changes.

  1. AmendedR.2019 d.072
    51 N.J.R. 191(b); 51 N.J.R. 1115(a)
  2. AmendedR.2017 d.100
    48 N.J.R. 2653(a); 49 N.J.R. 1182(a)
  3. AmendedR.2014 d.099
    45 N.J.R. 500(a); 46 N.J.R. 260(a); 46 N.J.R. 1331(c)
  4. AmendedR.1993 d.424
    25 N.J.R. 1916(a); 25 N.J.R. 4064(a)

How this rule has been applied

17 decisions have cited N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.5. The list below is citations to those decisions, not the decisions. We have not written summaries for this section. A citation with no summary is deliberate: we do not paraphrase a decision we have not read. Nothing here is legal advice.

Superior Court (1)
  • In re Changes in the State Classification Plan2019 N.J. Super. LEXIS 1132019
Federal courts (1)
  • Brennan v. Bd. of Educ., Jersey City, New Jersey374 F.Supp. 817
Civil Service Commission final determinations (13)
  • In re McGee, Dep't of Env'tl. Prot., CSC Docket No. 2023-2542022 N.J. CSC LEXIS 745Docket 2023-254
  • In re Collins, Office of Information Tech., CSC Docket No. 2022-5382021 N.J. CSC LEXIS 490Docket 2022-538
  • In re Esochaghi, Assistant Planner, Atlantic Cnty., CSC Docket No. 2019-36202019 N.J. CSC LEXIS 1147Docket 2019-3620
  • In re Itri, Rowan Univ., CSC Docket No. 2018-11542018 N.J. CSC LEXIS 444Docket 2018-1154
  • Agency Services. In re Kelso, et al., Asbury Pk. Police Dep't., CSC Docket Nos. 2018-2634, et al. (Consolidated)2018 N.J. CSC LEXIS 342Docket 2018-2634
  • In re Doyle, Motor Vehicle Comm'n, CSC Docket No. 2016-35002017 N.J. CSC LEXIS 136Docket 2016-3500
  • In re Finn, Dep't of Health, CSC Dkt. No. 2016-16422017 N.J. CSC LEXIS 46
  • In re Graeme, Dep't of Military & Veterans Affairs, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-26412014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 798
  • In re Vogt, et al., Jersey City, CSC Docket Nos. 2011-4505 to 2011-4512 (Consolidated) (On Remand)2014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 488Docket 2011-4505
  • In re Semmon, Dep't of Health, CSC Docket No. 2014-1322014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 685Docket 2014-132
  • In re Bernadette Pasqua, Dep't of Transp., CSC Docket No. 2014-18082014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 469Docket 2014-1808
  • In re Alfonso Renna, Dep't of Children & Families, CSC Docket No. 2014-24922014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 607Docket 2014-2492
  • Valluzzi v. Bergen County10 N.J.A.R. 89
Office of Administrative Law initial decisions (2)
  • In re Hatcher2007 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 352Docket CSV 2123-06
  • In re Zafain2006 N.J. AGEN LEXIS 794Docket CSV 442-06

This rule points to

Elsewhere in Classification