NJ Civil Service Navigator

N.J.S.A. 11A:4-1.1 Application fee for examinations; additional fees; uses

a. Except as provided in subsection b. of this section concerning law enforcement officer and firefighter examinations, the commission shall establish… Cited by 1 other section of Title 11A.

Title 11A · Chapter 4. Examination, Selection and Appointment of Employees

In plain language

Four fees, not one, and a State-service applicant pays more than the headline. The base is $25 to apply for an open competitive or promotional examination, $15 for a veteran, and nothing for someone receiving public assistance under any of three named programmes applying for an open competitive examination. Law enforcement and firefighter examinations are priced separately at cost. On top of the base, an application for a position in State service carries a further $15, earmarked for the displaced workers pool programme and collected only while that programme runs. And an appeal costs $20, waived for veterans and public assistance recipients. The chairperson reviews the $25 every five years and may change it, subject to the fees together not exceeding what the examination costs to develop, procure and administer.

Written by the NJ Civil Service Navigator editorial team from the text of this section. The statute itself is below, unabridged.

Current through the close of the 221st Legislature (L. 2025, c. 346). What that means

Enacted by L. 1992, c. 197. Last amended by L. 2010, c. 26, effective June 29, 2010, the most recent of 5 amendments.

A New Jersey statute changes only when the Legislature amends it, so a section untouched since its last amendment is settled rather than out of date.

Reviewed as of July 28, 2026. Official text: njleg.state.nj.us.

a.Except as provided in subsection b. of this section concerning law enforcement officer and firefighter examinations, the commission shall establish a $25 fee for each application for an open competitive or promotional examination and a $15 fee for each application for an open competitive or promotional examination by a veteran. Persons receiving public assistance benefits pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.), P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.), or P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) shall not be required to pay this fee if they apply for an open competitive examination. Receipts derived from application fees established by this subsection shall be appropriated to the commission. On or after July 1, 2015, and every five years thereafter, the chairperson of the commission shall review the $25 fee established by this subsection and may modify the fee, provided, however, that the fee, along with the $15 fee, shall not exceed the cost of developing, procuring, and administering the examination.#

b.The commission shall establish a fee for each application for an open competitive or promotional examination for a law enforcement officer or firefighter title. The fee shall not exceed the cost of developing, procuring and administering the examination. Persons receiving public assistance benefits pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.), P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.), or P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) shall not be required to pay this fee if they apply for an open competitive examination. Receipts derived from application fees established by this subsection shall be appropriated to the commission for use in developing, procuring and administering law enforcement officer and firefighter examinations.#

c.In addition to the fees established in subsections a. and b. of this section, the commission shall establish a $15 fee for each application for an open competitive or promotional examination for a position in State service. Persons receiving public assistance benefits pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.), P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.), or P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) shall not be required to pay this fee if they apply for an open competitive examination. Receipts derived from the application fee established pursuant to this subsection shall be appropriated annually to the commission for the costs of the displaced workers pool program. This fee shall not be assessed and collected unless the commission implements a displaced workers pool program. If the displaced workers pool program is terminated at any time by the commission, the assessment and collection of this additional fee shall also be terminated.#

d.The commission shall establish a $20 fee for each appeal filed under the provisions of subsection a. or b. of N.J.S.11A:2-6, subsection e. of N.J.S.11A:4-1, N.J.S.11A:8-4, and the rules promulgated thereunder. Persons who are receiving public assistance benefits pursuant to P.L.1947, c.156 (C.44:8-107 et seq.), P.L.1973, c.256 (C.44:7-85 et seq.), or P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.), or persons who are veterans, shall not be required to pay this fee.#

Legislative history

Session laws, newest first

  1. L. 2010, c. 26, section 1Amended
    effective June 29, 2010
  2. L. 2008, c. 29, section 29Amended
    effective June 30, 2008
  3. L. 2002, c. 34, section 11Amended
    effective July 1, 2002
  4. L. 1998, c. 63, section 1Amended
    effective July 30, 1998
  5. L. 1996, c. 46, section 1Amended
    effective June 28, 1996
  6. L. 1992, c. 197, section 1Enacted
    no effective date given

Effective-date provisions

Quoted from the session laws themselves.

  • Section 120 of L. 2008, c. 29 provides: “This act shall take effect immediately and any actions necessary to implement this act may be taken any time thereafter. General implementation shall be completed no later than 12 months following enactment.” Chapter 29, L. 2008, was approved on June 29, 2008.
  • Section 2 of L. 2010, c. 26 provides: “This act shall take effect on July 1, 2010, or if enacted after that date, this act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.” Chapter 26, L. 2010, was approved on June 29, 2010.
  • Pursuant to R.S.1:3-1, the Office of Legislative Services, through its Legislative Counsel and with the concurrence of the Attorney General, corrected technical errors in L. 2010, c. 26, § 1.

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