NJ Civil Service Navigator

N.J.S.A. 11A:4-9 Types of eligible lists

The commission may establish the following types of eligible lists: a. Open competitive, which shall include all qualified eligibles without regard to… Implemented by a rule in N.J.A.C. Title 4A.

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

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

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

In plain language

Five kinds of list, and which one you are on decides a great deal. Open competitive takes all qualified eligibles whether or not they already work for the State or a subdivision. Promotional is limited to qualified permanent employees. Regular reemployment holds former permanent employees who resigned in good standing where the appointing authority certifies that taking them back serves the service, and a name stays on it no more than three years from resignation unless extended under 11A:4-6. Police, sheriff's officer or fire reemployment does the same for former permanent uniformed members of those departments. Special reemployment holds permanent employees laid off or demoted in lieu of layoff. Their order of priority against each other is set separately, at 11A:4-12.

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

The commission may establish the following types of eligible lists:

a.Open competitive, which shall include all qualified eligibles without regard to whether they are currently employed by the State or a political subdivision;#

b.Promotional, which shall include qualified permanent eligibles;#

c.Regular reemployment, which shall include former permanent employees who resigned in good standing and whose reemployment is certified by the appointing authority as in the best interest of the service. The name of any such employee shall not remain on a reemployment list for more than three years from the date of resignation, unless otherwise extended pursuant to N.J.S.11A:4-6;#

d.Police, sheriff’s officer, or fire reemployment, which shall include former permanent uniformed members of a police department, sheriff’s office, or fire department who have resigned in good standing and whose reemployment is certified by the appointing authority as in the best interest of the service; and#

e.Special reemployment, which shall include permanent employees laid off or demoted in lieu of layoff from permanent titles.#

Enacted by L. 1986, c. 112, effective September 25, 1986. Last amended by L. 2015, c. 17, effective February 5, 2015, the most recent of 2 amendments.

An old amendment date alone does not mean a provision is obsolete. This mirror reflects the source watermark above; later laws and decisions can affect how the text applies.

The rules that implement this section

A statute sets the framework and the Civil Service Commission’s rules fill in the detail. Where a question turns on procedure, the rule usually governs; where it turns on who is covered or what the Commission may do, the statute does.

Legislative history

Session laws, newest first

  1. L. 2015, c. 17, section 1Amended
    effective February 5, 2015
  2. L. 2008, c. 29, section 37Amended
    effective June 30, 2008
  3. L. 1986, c. 112Enacted
    effective September 25, 1986

How this section has been applied

4 reported decisions cite this section. Citations only: the summaries in the source are the publisher's own writing, and where we describe a case we write it from the decision itself.

Appellate Division 4
  • Department of Civil Service v. Newark131 N.J. Super. 275, 329 A.2d 572
  • 87 N.J. Super. 146, 208 A.2d 416
  • Klawitter v. City of Trenton395 N.J. Super. 302, 928 A.2d 900
  • In re Chief Clerk282 N.J. Super. 530, 660 A.2d 1217

Commission decisions resting on 11A:4-9

3 decisions of the Civil Service Commission since January 16, 2019 rest on this section: 3 cite it directly. The newest:

Search the 3 decisions citing 11A:4-9 directly

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 30, 2008.
  • Section 2 of L. 2015, c. 17 provides: “This act shall take effect immediately and shall be retroactive to January 1, 2002.” Chapter 17, L. 2015, was approved on Feb. 5, 2015.

Sections this one refers to