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N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.5 Promotional title scope: State service

N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.5, Promotional title scope: State service. For the purpose of announcing promotional examinations, all titles will be divided into one of the following categories: 1. Professional, which requires a B Full text with 4 recorded amendments, 22 citing decisions, cited by 1 other rule.

Selection and Appointment · Competitive Examinations

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

State service, and the rule starts by sorting every title into one of three categories by the education it requires. Professional means a bachelor's or higher degree. Para-professional means at least 60 general college credits or 12 or more specific credits, short of a full degree. Non-professional is below both thresholds. Any of the three may carry a clause substituting experience for education. Whether a promotion stays inside a category or crosses between them decides who competes. Within a category, the examination opens to permanent competitive division employees in the next lower or next two lower in-series titles, or in titles within a specified range of class code levels, or to all permanent competitive division employees meeting the complete open competitive requirements, or to related titles under a plan approved by the Chairperson or designee. Crossing between categories narrows to employees serving in the announced unit scope who meet the complete open competitive requirements or hold an approved bridge title, meaning one the Commission recognises as related to the higher category title in work performed and in knowledge, skills and abilities.

Written by the NJ Civil Service Navigator editorial team from the text of N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.5. It is a description of the rule, not the rule itself, and not legal advice.

(a) For the purpose of announcing promotional examinations, all titles will be divided into one of the following categories: #

1. Professional, which requires a Bachelor's or higher level degree, with or without a clause to substitute experience for education; #

2. Para-professional, which requires at least 60 general college credits or 12 or more specific college credits (but less than a full degree), with or without a clause to substitute experience for education; or #

3. Non-professional, which requires less than 60 general college credits or less than 12 specific college credits. #

(b) When a promotion is within the same category as listed in (a) above, the examination, with or without all or part of the open competitive requirements, as appropriate, shall be open to permanent competitive division employees serving in one of the following: #

1. The next lower or next two lower in-series titles. See N.J.A.C. 4A:1-1.3 for definition of title series. #

2. The next lower in-series title, if one exists, and other competitive division titles within a range of specified class code levels as specified by the appointing authority below the promotional title. See N.J.A.C. 4A:1-1.3 for definition of class code. #

3. The next lower in-series title, if one exists, and all other permanent competitive division employees who meet the complete open competitive requirements. In appropriate circumstances, serving in specified unrelated noncompetitive titles as determined by the Chairperson or designee and possessing the complete open competitive requirements. #

4. To related titles, pursuant to an established plan approved by the Chairperson or designee. #

5. In extraordinary circumstances, the Chairperson or designee may set another appropriate title scope. #

(c) When a promotion is between categories as listed in (a) above, the examination shall be open to permanent competitive division employees currently serving in the announced unit scope and who meet one of the following criteria: #

1. All applicants who meet the complete open competitive requirements; #

2. All applicants who are permanent in a bridge title or titles approved by the Chairperson or designee and who meet the complete open competitive requirements. A bridge title is one which is recognized by the Civil Service Commission as related to a higher category title in terms of work performed and knowledge, skills, and abilities required; #

3. All titles that are in the same category as the announced title and that are in specified class codes below the announced title, including the next lower in-series title, if one exists, with or without all or part of the open competitive requirements, as appropriate, and all applicants as described in (c)2 above; or #

4. In extraordinary circumstances, the Chairperson or designee may set another appropriate title scope. #

(d) When a promotion is to be made from the noncompetitive division to a related title in the competitive division, or in appropriate circumstances as determined by the Chairperson or designee to an unrelated entry level or above entry level title in the competitive division, the examination shall be open to all permanent employees who meet one of the following: #

1. Serving in the next lower or next two lower in-series noncompetitive titles and possessing the complete open competitive requirements; #

2. Serving in all related noncompetitive titles and possessing the complete open competitive requirements; #

3. All competitive division titles at specified class code levels below the announced title, with or without all or part of the open competitive requirements, and all titles as described in (d)1 or 2 above; #

4. Competitive division employees who meet complete open competitive requirements and all titles as described in (d)1 or 2 above; or #

5. In extraordinary circumstances, the Chairperson or designee may set another appropriate title scope. #

(e) The movement of a permanent employee in the noncompetitive division to a related title in the same category and with the same class code in the competitive division shall be considered a promotion for purposes of this subchapter. The title scope of the examination shall be established as set forth in (d) above. #

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.142
    49 N.J.R. 492(a); 49 N.J.R. 2239(a)
  3. AmendedR.2014 d.099
    45 N.J.R. 500(a); 46 N.J.R. 1331(c)
  4. AmendedR.1993 d.270
    25 N.J.R. 1085(b); 25 N.J.R. 2509(a)

How this rule has been applied

22 decisions have cited N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.5. 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.

Civil Service Commission final determinations (21)
  • In re Palazzone, et al., Records Tech. 3, Motor Vehicles (PS6554T), Motor Vehicle Comm'n, CSC Docket Nos. 2022-2036, et al. (Consolidated)2022 N.J. CSC LEXIS 242Docket 2022-2036
  • In re Gifford, Mgmt. Specialist (M0561B), Newark, CSC Docket No. 2021-8252021 N.J. CSC LEXIS 118Docket 2021-825
  • In re Holden, et al., Assistant Food Serv. Supervisor 1 (PS5038I), South Woods State Prison, CSC Docket Nos. 2018-3742 and 2018-3682 (Consolidated)2018 N.J. CSC LEXIS 572Docket 2018-3742 and 2018-3682
  • In re Cucchiaro, Realty Specialist 3 Transp. (PS5185T), Dep't of Transp., CSC Docket No. 2017-38542018 N.J. CSC LEXIS 277Docket 2017-3854
  • In re Cucciaro, Realty Specialist 3 Transp. (PS5185T), Dep't of Transp., CSC Docket No. 2018-8972018 N.J. CSC LEXIS 30Docket 2018-897
  • In re Carr, Network Admin. 1 (PS4384N), Dep't of Labor & Workforce Dev., CSC Docket No. 2017-38042017 N.J. CSC LEXIS 650Docket 2017-3804
  • In re Rodriguez et al., Supervising Program Support Specialist, Assistance Programs (PS1332K), Dep't of Children & Families, CSC Dkt. Nos. 2017-1878 and 2017-1888 (Consolidated)2017 N.J. CSC LEXIS 191
  • In re Crew Leader, Highway Operations, Dep't of Transp., CSC Docket No. 2016-17062015 N.J. CSC LEXIS 98Docket 2016-1706
  • In re Rowell, Dep't of Health, CSC Docket No. 2015-22172015 N.J. CSC LEXIS 201Docket 2015-2217
  • In re Miladinov, Dep't of Law and Public Safety, CSC Dkt. No. 2015-16182015 N.J. CSC LEXIS 397
  • In re Santos, Dep't of the Treasury, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-32282014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 828
  • In re Burrell, Coordinator MVC (PS3709T), Motor Vehicle Comm'n2014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 392
  • In re Booktor, Dep't of Law & Pub. Safety, CSC Docket No. 2014-18072014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 246Docket 2014-1807
  • In re Igor Milewski, Dep't of Law and Public Safety, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-22432014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 363
  • In re Traci Williams, Dep't of Banking and Ins., CSC Dkt. No. 2014-10012014 N.J. CSC LEXIS 6
  • Dep't. of Children and Families, CSC Dkt. Nos. 2013-17052013 N.J. CSC LEXIS 1168
  • In re Sonia Neira, Pers. Officer, Perth Amboy, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-4332013 N.J. CSC LEXIS 1036
  • In re Denise Farfalla, Dep't. of Law and Public Safety, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-6562013 N.J. CSC LEXIS 909
  • In re Gosley, et al., Dep't of Law & Pub. Safety, CSC Docket Nos. 2014-2042013 N.J. CSC LEXIS 937Docket 2014-204
  • In re Tracy Tarantino, Standards & Procedures Technician 1 (PS4837P), Dep't of Law & Pub. Safety, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-26152013 N.J. CSC LEXIS 453
  • In re Lisa Asare, Dep't. of Health, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-21192013 N.J. CSC LEXIS 660
Other decisions (1)
  • For equitable considerations, it was appropriate to relax the provisions of N.J.A.C. 4A:4-1.1(c) and N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.5(d) and to authorize the

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