NJ Civil Service Navigator

N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.9 Make-up examinations

N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.9, Make-up examinations. Make-up examinations for open competitive and general promotional testing, except for professional level engineering promotional examinations and public saf Full text with 9 recorded amendments, 113 citing decisions.

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

Two different lists of acceptable reasons, and which one applies depends on the examination. For open competitive and general promotional testing, a make-up may be authorized for Commission or appointing authority error, serious illness or disability with a doctor's certificate, documented serious illness or death in the immediate family, natural disaster, prior vacation or travel plans outside New Jersey and contiguous states that cannot reasonably be changed, certain returns from military service, and other valid reasons. For professional level engineering and public safety promotional examinations, meaning police, fire, correction officer, correctional police officer, sheriff's officer, juvenile detention officer and similar titles, the list shrinks to five: debilitating injury or illness requiring extended convalescence, a death in the immediate family evidenced by a death certificate, a wedding that cannot reasonably be moved, military service returns, and Commission or appointing authority error. The written request is due within five days of the examination date, or within five days of receiving the examination notice where the reason was already known then. A passing make-up score adds the name to the list without disturbing appointments already made.

Written by the NJ Civil Service Navigator editorial team from the text of N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.9. It is a description of the rule, not the rule itself, and not legal advice.

(a) Make-up examinations for open competitive and general promotional testing, except for professional level engineering promotional examinations and public safety promotional examinations under (b) below, may be authorized for the following reasons: #

1. Error by the Civil Service Commission or appointing authority; #

2. Serious illness or disability of the candidate on the test date, provided the candidate submits a doctor's certificate specifying that the candidate was not able to take the test on that day for medical reasons; #

3. Documented serious illness or death in the candidate's immediate family; #

4. Natural disaster; #

5. Prior vacation or travel plans outside of New Jersey or any contiguous state, which cannot be reasonably changed, as evidenced by a sworn statement and relevant documentation; #

6. When required for certain persons returning from military service (see N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.6A); and #

7. Other valid reasons. #

(b) For professional level engineering, police, fire, correction officer, correctional police officer, sheriff's officer, juvenile detention officer, and other public safety promotional examinations, make-up examinations may be authorized only in cases of: #

1. Debilitating injury or illness requiring an extended convalescent period, provided the candidate submits a doctor's certification containing a diagnosis and a statement clearly showing that the candidate's physical condition precluded his or her participation in the examination; #

2. Death in the candidate's immediate family as evidenced by a copy of the death certificate; #

3. A candidate's wedding which cannot be reasonably changed as evidenced by relevant documentation; #

4. When required for certain persons returning from military service (see N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.6A); or #

5. Error by the Civil Service Commission or appointing authority. #

(c) Subject to applicable provisions in N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.6A, employees returning from military leave shall have an opportunity to take promotional examinations that have not yet been administered, or make-up examinations for active promotional lists for which they were eligible while on military leave. If the eligible passes the examination, his or her name will be placed on the eligible list, for prospective appointment only, based upon the score obtained, as if the examination had been taken when originally held, except that in the case of certain persons returning from military service, applicable provisions of N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.6A shall govern placement on an eligible list. #

(d) Employees who have been removed for disciplinary reasons or indefinitely suspended pending criminal charges, and are thereafter exonerated of all charges, shall have an opportunity to take promotional examinations that have not yet been administered, or make-up examinations for active promotional lists, if the suspension or removal resulted in the employee's non-participation in the promotional examination. #

(e) Except as provided in N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.6A, a candidate must request, in writing, a make-up examination, within five days after the examination date due to one of the valid reasons set forth in (a) or (b) above, as applicable. However, a candidate must submit a written request for a make-up examination within five days of receipt of the examination notice in case of one of the valid reasons set forth in (a) or (b) above, as applicable, of which a candidate is aware upon receipt of the examination notice, except that the candidate shall follow the procedures set forth in N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.6A, where applicable. #

(f) Make-up examinations will be administered to the extent possible under the same conditions as the original examination but, in the case of public safety examinations under (b) above, shall be different in content from the original examination. #

(g) The name of any candidate passing a make-up examination will be added to the eligible list. Except for error by the Civil Service Commission or appointing authority, prior appointments from the eligible list will not be affected by the addition of a name to the list. #

(h) All candidates taking a make-up examination, except a physical performance examination, shall, as a precondition to taking the make-up examination, be required to sign a statement that they have no knowledge of the content of the examination as a result of information gained from or furnished by other candidates who participated in the original examination, or third parties, provided that: #

1. In the case of open competitive and promotional public safety examinations referred to in (b) above, candidates shall sign an additional statement accepting the make-up examination as a substitute for the original examination, provided, however, that signing this statement shall not preclude the candidate from challenging the validity of the make-up examination's items, the scoring of the make-up, or the make-up test conditions. See N.J.A.C. 4A:4-6.3 and 6.4. #

(i) In extraordinary circumstances, such as an examination that requires a multiple assessment of a candidate which results in a group consensus rating by a panel of experts, a make-up examination shall not be held. In such cases, candidates will be so notified at least 45 days prior to the date of the examination. The only exceptions will be documented error on the part of the Civil Service Commission or appointing authority, in which case a make-up may be granted if practicable, or where N.J.A.C. 4A:4-4.6A applies in the case of certain persons returning from military service. #

Amendment history

Rule numbers, effective dates and New Jersey Register citations as published. 9 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.061
    45 N.J.R. 520(a); 46 N.J.R. 619(a)
  4. AmendedR.2006 d.104
    37 N.J.R. 4351(a); 38 N.J.R. 1425(a)
  5. AmendedR.1997 d.72
    28 N.J.R. 4978(a); 29 N.J.R. 549(a)
  6. AmendedR.1994 d.285
    26 N.J.R. 1183(a); 26 N.J.R. 2256(b)
  7. AmendedR.1994 d.114
    25 N.J.R. 4823(a); 26 N.J.R. 1225(a)
  8. AmendedR.1993 d.270
    25 N.J.R. 1085(b); 25 N.J.R. 2509(a)
  9. AmendedR.1989 d.569
    21 N.J.R. 1766(a); 21 N.J.R. 3448(b)

How this rule has been applied

113 decisions have cited N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.9. 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 (110)
  • In re Hendricks, Coordinator, Emp't & Training Programs (PS1105N), Dep't of Labor & Workforce Dev., CSC Docket No. 2024-630Docket 2024-630
  • In re Companick, Envtl. Specialist 3 (PS9148G), Dep't of Envtl. Prot., CSC Docket No. 2024-836Docket 2024-836
  • In re NichollDocket 2023-1637
  • In re Andrews, Family Serv. Specialist 1 (PS8306K), Dep't of Children & Families, CSC Docket Nos. 2023-1274Docket 2023-1274
  • CSC Docket Nos. 2023-158, et al. (Consolidated)Docket 2023-158
  • In re Patel, Supervising Eng'r, Structural Evaluation (PS6746T) et al., CSC Docket Nos. 2022-3193 and 2022-3194 (Consolidated)Docket 2022-3193 and 2022-3194
  • In re L.C., Police Captain (PM3473C), Newark, CSC Docket No. 2022-3020Docket 2022-3020
  • In re Rana, Principal Eng'r, Materials (PS6433T), Dep't of Transp., CSC Docket No. 2022-2572Docket 2022-2572
  • In re Jackson Jr., Police Sergeant (PM4563C), Holmdel, CSC Docket No. 2022-2367Docket 2022-2367
  • In re McCabe, Fire Captain (PM4449C), Atlantic City, CSC Docket No. 2022-2500Docket 2022-2500
  • In re Moore III, Police Sergeant (PM4505C), Atlantic City, CSC Docket No. 2022-2384Docket 2022-2384
  • In re Irvin, Fire Captain (PM2314C), Asbury Park, CSC Docket No. 2022-2496Docket 2022-2496
  • In re Van Woeart, Police Sergeant (PM4528C), Carteret, CSC Docket No. 2022-2024Docket 2022-2024
  • In re Pena, Fire Captain (PM2325C) Elizabeth, CSC Docket No. 2022-1396Docket 2022-1396
  • In re Barbella, Investigator (S0625A), Statewide, CSC Docket No. 2022-1Docket 2022-1
  • In re Human Serv. Specialist 2 (PC2215B), Passaic Cnty., CSC Docket No. 2022-611Docket 2022-611
  • In re Hernandez et al., Human Servs. Specialist 2 (PC2215B), Passaic Cnty., CSC Docket Nos. 2021-1987Docket 2021-1987
  • In re Jerakis, Claims Adjudicator Supervisor, Disability Determinations (PS0927N), Dep't of Labor & Workforce Dev., CSC Docket No. 2021-1476Docket 2021-1476
  • In re Bledsoe, Recreation Program Coordinator (C0227A), Essex Cnty., CSC Docket No. 2020-2255Docket 2020-2255
  • In re Alvarez, Police Lieutenant (PM0927A), Elizabeth, CSC Docket No. 2020-1061Docket 2020-1061
  • In re Bradley, Fire Fighter (M1860W), Ocean City, CSC Docket No. 2020-1067Docket 2020-1067
  • In re Wilcox, Rehab. Counselor Mental Health (S0846V), Statewide, CSC Docket No. 2020-1085Docket 2020-1085
  • In re Loving, Fire Fighter (M1807W), Bordentown Twp. Fire Dist. 2, CSC Docket No. 2020-1079Docket 2020-1079
  • In re Peralta, Cnty. Corr. Sergeant (PC2926W), Hudson Cnty., CSC Docket No. 2019-3649Docket 2019-3649
  • Battalion Fire Chief. In re Fonseca, Battalion Fire Chief (PM2157W), Newark, CSC Docket No. 2019-3607Docket 2019-3607
  • In re C.D-T., Forensic Scientist 2, Law & Pub. Safety (PS7480P), State Police, CSC Docket No. 2019-3172Docket 2019-3172
  • In re Luby, Assistant Dist. Parole Supervisor (PS5490I), State Parole Bd., CSC Docket No. 2019-78Docket 2019-78
  • In re Washington, Human Servs. Specialist 2 (PC0343W), Atlantic Cnty., CSC Docket No. 2019-161Docket 2019-161
  • In re Lowry, Fire Captain (PM1046V), Newark, CSC Docket No. 2018-3210Docket 2018-3210cites (a)
  • In re Jersey City Police Promotional Appointments, CSC Docket Nos. 2018-3409 et al. (Consolidated)Docket 2018-3409
  • In re Salvatoriello, Sheriff's Officer Lieutenant (PC2094U), Essex Cnty., CSC Docket No. 2017-3591Docket 2017-3591
  • In re Pereira, Fire Captain (PM1046V), Newark, CSC Docket No. 2018-3054Docket 2018-3054
  • In re DeLeon, Police Lieutenant (PM0694V), Bergenfield, CSC Docket No. 2018-1020Docket 2018-1020
  • In re Soltani, Principal Eng'r Transp. (PS3747T), Dep't of Transp., CSC Docket No. 2017-3768Docket 2017-3768
  • In re Marra, Cnty. Corr. Sergeant (PC2080U), Middlesex Cnty., CSC Docket No. 2017-3936Docket 2017-3936
  • In re Brink et al., Fire Lieutenant (PM1043V), Lakewood and Fire Lieutenant (PM1084V), Margate, CSC Docket Nos. 2018-2606Docket 2018-2606
  • In re Adloo, Senior Eng'r Transp. (PS4304T), Dep't of Transp., CSC Docket No. 2018-793Docket 2018-793
  • In re Linares, Recreation Assistant (S0016V), CSC Docket No. 2018-447Docket 2018-447
  • In re Scaletti, Fire Captain (PM1046V), Newark, CSC Docket No. 2018-1639Docket 2018-1639
  • In re Danna III, Fire Captain (PM1024V), Bridgeton, CSC Docket No. 2018-1714Docket 2018-1714
  • In re Baum, Lieutenant Campus Police (PS4357J), Rowan Univ., CSC Docket No. 2018-797Docket 2018-797
  • In re Blum, Records Tech. 3 Motor Vehicles (PS4527T), Motor Vehicle Comm'n, CSC Docket No. 2018-792Docket 2018-792
  • In re Ouckama, Fire Fighter (M1557T), North Hudson Fire & Rescue, CSC Docket No. 2017-2455Docket 2017-2455
  • In re Heredia, Admin. Analyst 3 (PS3957F), Dep't of Educ., CSC Docket No. 2018-174Docket 2018-174
  • In re Morales, Entry-level Law Enforcement Examination (S9999U), CSC Docket No. 2017-2116Docket 2017-2116
  • In re Landus, Corr. Officer Recruit (S9988U) & Entry Level Law Enforcement Examination (S9999U), CSC Docket No. 2017-1943Docket 2017-1943
  • In re Hammad, Entry Level Law Enforcement Examination (S9999U), CSC Docket No. 2017-2115Docket 2017-2115
  • In re Minus-Jackson, Supervising Family Serv. Specialist 1 (PS1032K), Dep't of Children & Families, CSC Docket No. 2017-1207Docket 2017-1207
  • In re Morse, Police Lieutenant (PM1405U), Elizabeth, CSC Docket No. 2017-1679Docket 2017-1679
  • In re Zieniuk, Entry Law Enforcement Examination (S9999U), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2017-2126
  • In re Lee, Family Service Specialist 1 (PS2267K), Dep't of Children & Families, CSC Dkt. No. 2017-876
  • In re Dixon, Police Lieutenant (PM1419U), Keyport, CSC Dkt. No. 2017-1462
  • In re Cunningham, Med. Sec. Officer Recruit (S0239T), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2016-1431
  • In re Cressey, Investigator 2 Taxation (PS0256R), Dep't of the Treasury, CSC Dkt. No. 2016-953
  • In re Hamilton, Supervisor 2 Unemployment Benefits (PS2835N), Dep't of Labor, CSC Docket No. 2014-3209Docket 2014-3209
  • In re Farrell, Sheriffs Officer Captain (PC2156R), Middlesex Cnty., CSC Docket No. 2014-3184Docket 2014-3184
  • In re Khosa, Sheriff's Officer Sergeant (PC2152R), Middlesex Cnty., CSC Docket No. 2014-3143Docket 2014-3143
  • In re Nowak, Word Processing Specialist 2 (S0112R), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-2278cites (a)
  • In re Childs, Crew Supervisor Mechanics (PS1453T), Dep't of Transp., CSC Dkt. No. 2015-336
  • In re Bose, Instructor Counselor (S0044R), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-3173
  • In re Lamarca, Tech. Assistant, Contract Admin., Dep't of Labor & Workforce Dev., CSC Dkt. No. 2014-3077
  • In re Blanding-Williams, Human Servs. Specialist 1 (PC0200S), Hudson Cnty. Family Servs., CSC Docket No. 2014-3093Docket 2014-3093
  • In re Rezaeian, Project Manager Transp. (PS6728T), Dep't of Transp., CSC Docket No. 2013-2215Docket 2013-2215
  • In re Lacombe, Human Servs. Tech. (PS1740K), Trenton Psychiatric Hosp., CSC Docket No. 2014-2291Docket 2014-2291
  • In re Jones, Word Processing Specialist 2 (S0112R), Statewide, CSC Docket No. 2014-2314Docket 2014-2314
  • Notifications to Appear for Examination. In re Vache Michael Assadourian, et al., Entry Law Enforcement Examination (S9999R), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-1908cites (c)
  • In re Jessey Karto, Cottage Training Technician (PS8361K), New Lisbon Dev. Ctr., CSC Docket No. 2014-1793Docket 2014-1793
  • In re Randazzo, Admin. Assistant 1 (PS5856P), Dep't of Law & Pub. Safety, CSC Docket No. 2014-1961Docket 2014-1961
  • In re Lopez, Investigator, Bilingual in Spanish/English, CSC Docket No. 2014-2300Docket 2014-2300
  • In re Alexander Ferrer, Entry Law Enforcement Examination (S9999R), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-1917
  • In re Pratheepa Sribavan, Nursing Serv. Clerk (S0266R), Statewide, CSC Docket No. 2014-2021Docket 2014-2021cites (f)
  • In re Nashyrah Day, Corr. Sergeant (PS6436I), Dep't of Corr., CSC Dkt. No. 2013-2369cites (e)
  • Families, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-3198cites (a)
  • In re Mazyck et al., Family Serv. Specialist 1 (PS3420K) and Family Serv. Specialist 1, Bilingual in Spanish and English (PS3421K), Dep't of Children and Families, CSC Docket Nos. 2013-3106Docket 2013-3106
  • Police Sergeant Promotional Examination 2013, CSC Dkt. Nos. 2013-3160 and 2013-3352
  • In re Ahmed Elbelkasi, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-2820
  • In re Gary Albanese, Fire Captain (PM5234N), Newark, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-1095cites (c)
  • In re Alvin Spearman Jr., Deputy Fire Chief (PM1320P), CSC Dkt. No. 2014-1081cites (c)
  • In re Lourdes Reyes, Supervisor Food Service Area Operations (S0848P), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2014-320cites (d)
  • In re Jason Reinert and Jaclyn Sandorse, Cottage Training Supervisor (PS3431K), Dep't. of Human Services, CSC Dkt. Nos. 2014-570cites (a)
  • In re John Votta, Police Captain (PM7528P), Margate, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-1450
  • In re Steven Altimari, Judiciary Clerk 2 Bilingual Spanish/English (S06633P), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-3525cites (a)
  • In re Burneo-Fernandez, Judiciary Clerical Series (S0291P), Statewide, CSC Docket No. 2013-1432Docket 2013-1432cites (a)3
  • In re McRae-Richards, Admin. Sec'y (PM0400N), Trenton, CSC Docket No. 2013-1498Docket 2013-1498
  • In re Besnik Turka, Security Guard (C0065R), Passaic Cnty., CSC Dkt. No. 2014-429
  • In re Paula Kamrad, Secretarial Assistant 2 (Non-Stenographic) (PS3994K), Dep't. of Human Serv., CSC Dkt. No. 2014-430
  • In re Civitella, Ass't Admin. Supervisor of Income Maintenance (PC0935P), Camden Cnty. Bd. of Soc. Servs., CSC Docket No. 2014-119Docket 2014-119cites (a)
  • In re Hickman, Keyboarding Clerk 4 (PC0762P), Camden Cnty. Bd. of Soc. Servs., CSC Docket No. 2013-1801Docket 2013-1801cites (a)
  • In re Barahona, et al., Judiciary Clerical Series (S0291P), Statewide, CSC Docket No. 2013-1469Docket 2013-1469cites (a)
  • In re Garrick Vermeal, Corr. Officer Recruit (S9988R), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-2941cites (c)
  • In re Steven Gaskill, Crew Supervisor, Electrician, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-31302013 N.J. CSC Lexis 667cites (a)5
  • In re Mark Stevens, Correction Officer Recruit (S9988R), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-2710
  • In re Pankajkumar Patel, Project Eng'r. Constr. (PS3722T), Project Eng'r. Materials (PS3723T), Project Eng'r. Structural Transp. (PS3725T), and Project Ing'r. Surface Design (PS3726T), Dep't. of Transp., CSC Dkt. Nos. 2013-2808cites (b)
  • In re Marie Lopez, Family Serv. Specialist 1, Bilingual in Spanish and English (PS3421K), Dep't. of Children and Families, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-3107
  • In re Special Law Enforcement Officers, Newark Sch. Dist., CSC Dkt. No. 2013-790cites (c)
  • In re Donna Kaczor, Clerk 3 (C0753P), Bergen Cnty., CSC Dkt. No. 2013-2592cites (a)
  • In re Tina Toal Wolford, Senior Unemployment Ins. Clerk (PS8071N), Dep't of Labor and Workforce Dev., CSC Dkt. No. 2013-2178cites (a)2
  • In re Dorothy Hrynyk, Substance Abuse Counselor 1 (S0024P), Statewide, CSC Docket No. 2013-1767Docket 2013-1767
  • In re Lauren Laurino, Compliance Officer Apprentice MVC (PS1443T), CSC Dkt. No. 2013-2177
  • In re Isabel Iannuzelli, Telephone Operator, Bilingual in Spanish and English (C0718P), Atlantic Cnty., CSC Dkt. No. 2013-1979cites (a)
  • In re Mark McDermott, Fire Captain (PM5229N), Kearny, CSC Docket No. 2013-1729Docket 2013-1729cites (c)
  • In re Katelyn Dilley, Claims Adjudicator Trainee Disability Determinations (S2033N), CSC Docket No. 2013-511Docket 2013-511
  • In re Stanley Kabrt, Correction Sergeant (PS6436I), Department of Corrections, CSC Docket No. 2013-134Docket 2013-134
  • In re Dorian Herrill, Battalion Fire Chief (PM0146P), Newark, CSC Docket No. 2013-1447Docket 2013-1447cites (c)
  • In re John Niland, Deputy Fire Chief (PM1057M), Hackensack, CSC Docket No. 2013-1143Docket 2013-1143cites (c)
  • In re Janice Carter, Clerk Transcriber (S0108P), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-913cites (a)5
  • In re Griselidys Almonte, Employee Services Trainee (S0347P) and Personnel Trainee (S0349P), Statewide, CSC Dkt. Nos. 2013-516 and 2013-514cites (a)5
  • In re Brendaly Mora-Pires, Child Care Quality Assurance Inspector 1 (S0194P), CSC Dkt. No. 2013-1186cites (e)
  • In re John McKeown, Correction Sergeant (PS6436I), Dep't. of Corrections, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-105cites (c)
  • In re Clarritt, Fire Officer 1 (PM1194S), Jersey City, CSC Dkt. No. 2015-3071
Office of Administrative Law initial decisions (1)
  • In re GialanellaDocket CSV 5772-07
Other decisions (2)
  • Applicant who failed to appear to take a promotional examination for Data Processing Programmer 1 (PS0257J), William Paterson College, which exam was administered February 28cites (a)
  • Candidate was scheduled for a make-up examination under N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.9(a) after submitting a signed sworn statement that he did not receive a Notification to Appear for Examination for the open competitive examination for Correction Officer Recruit. The Civil Service Commission permitted the presumption of receipt to be overcome based on that statement. In re Mahmoud Hasan, Correction Officer Recruit (S9988R), Statewide, CSC Dkt. No. 2013-2434, Final Decision (May 15cites (a)

Commission decisions citing 4A:4-2.9

67 decisions of the Civil Service Commission since January 16, 2019 cite this section (denied 45, granted 20, dismissed as untimely 2, as the minutes record the outcome). The newest:

All 67 decisions

This rule points to