TEST DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST 3
Career Family: TEST DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
To land Test Development Specialist 3 in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
It is a middle Test Development Specialist grade, between Test Development Specialist 2 below and the better-paid Test Development Specialist 4 above. A master's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY2027 range lands between $79,844 and $117,228, and state payroll currently lists 2 people in the title, most of them at Civil Service Commission.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Civil Service Commission's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Pay ladder: Test Development Specialist series
- Test Development Specialist 1 — $60,876 – $88,743
- Test Development Specialist 2 — $69,668 – $101,951
- Test Development Specialist 3 — $79,844 – $117,228 (this title)
- Test Development Specialist 4 — $95,955 – $141,386
Promoting to Test Development Specialist 4 raises the top of the band by about $24,158. Its top salary lands around the 65th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 2 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $113,264. The agencies employing the most are:
- Civil Service Commission (2)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under the general supervision of a Test Development Specialist 4 or other supervisory official in the Division of Test Development and Analytics in the Civil Service Commission, functions as a lead worker, providing guidance to Test Development Specialists of lower levels and taking the lead on employee selection-related matters; performs test development tasks including designing and developing open competitive and promotional Civil Service examinations, analyzing and interpreting complex statistical data, and establishing cut-off points; applies judgment to daily problems and complex situations; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
Maintains a large or complex workload of state and/or local job titles that requires Civil Service testing. Independently conducts job analyses on assigned titles to determine critical tasks performed and underlying knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to successfully perform those tasks. Methods used to perform job analyses are typically large-scale or complex in nature. Analyzes the data/information obtained through job analyses to develop test plans that involve calculating various weights and percentages, determining which KSAs are testable, and calculating the number of items needed to appropriately measure each subject area or KSA; determines the most appropriate test mode and time factor. Selects, writes, and edits test items. Plans and conducts meetings with subject matter experts to develop, review, and/or validate oral, essay, or multiple-choice test items. Conducts assessor training for subject matter experts and Test Development staff who participate in scoring various types of examinations. Communicates with staff in other units (e.g., Eligibility, Scheduling, Information Center, etc.) to exchange information regarding close-out of symbols, candidate counts, scheduling and staffing of examinations, reasonable accommodations, and candidate reviews. May take the lead or participate in test administrations for various types of examinations. Analyzes statistical information contained within raw score distributions (RSDs) to determine the validity of test items, identify items that are too easy, too hard, or unclear, and identify items that may be miskeyed; calculates adverse impact and establishes cut-off points that are submitted for review and approval. Submits requested examination files and documentation to analysts in the Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs, in the Civil Service Commission, when appeals are received. Assists the supervisor in conferring with higher-level management and state and local government jurisdiction officials concerning proposed, current, and completed examinations, and devises realistic and sound solutions to problems affecting testing activities. Assists in investigating complaints received regarding examination matters. May provide recommendations to a supervisory official or management for improving efficiency within the division. Provides guidance to Test Development Specialists of lower levels and takes the lead on employee selection-related matters. May review the work done by Test Development Specialists of lower levels. May provide training and instruction to Test Development Specialist Trainees. Assists in conducting special short and long-range projects to improve the quality of examinations. May perform complex research in the area of employee selection. Drafts correspondence, technical reports, memoranda, and other written materials. Maintains records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of Test Development & Analytics Technical Standards. Knowledge of the uniform guidelines on employee selection procedures. Knowledge of division policies and procedures related to test development, security, and assembled examinations. Knowledge of Merit System principles, N.J.A.C. 4A, and Title 11A (Civil Service Act). Knowledge of job analysis methods and techniques. Knowledge of test development principles including test mode selection, identification of content areas, subtest weighting strategies, and item development. Knowledge of descriptive statistics and psychometrics. Knowledge of employee selection research techniques and procedures. Ability to apply research principles and methods to test validation and development. Ability to analyze data/information. Ability to perform basic mathematical and statistical calculations (e.g., percentages, mean, standard deviation, etc.). Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with associates, representatives from local and state agencies, members of the public, and others. Ability to keep current with new concepts and developments in the field of testing. Ability to provide leadership and guidance to Test Development Specialists of lower levels. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Seven (7) years of professional experience in job analysis and/or test development, including or supplemented by eighteen (18) semester hour credits in Psychology, Education, or Sociology, and three (3) semester hour credits in Statistics. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree, including or supplemented by eighteen (18) semester hour credits in Psychology, Education, or Sociology, and three (3) semester hour credits in Statistics from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree in Psychology, including three (3) semester hour credits in Statistics; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. OR Possession of a Master's degree in Psychology, Education, or Sociology, including three (3) semester hour credits in Statistics from an accredited college or university; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.