When a vacancy needs to be filled from an Eligibility List an Appointing Authority will request that the Civil Service Commission issue a list of names from the Eligibility List, i.e. a Certification.

Eligibles get certified in rank order, but on State Certifications, eligibles get certified in rank order and by geographic location.  On State Certifications, an eligible will only be certified to vacancies in counties where the eligible indicated on the examination application that he/she is willing to accept employment.

For those that have passed the Law Enforcement Examination (LEE) for municipal and
county law enforcement titles, i.e. Police Officer, Sheriff's Officer and County Correction
Officer, eligibles are certified in rank order and by their residency as indicated on the Law Enforcement Examination application.  Where hiring preferences apply, eligibles must meet the residency requirements of the appointing jurisdiction as of the LEE's application closing date.

After the eligibility list is issued, an Appointing Authority will contact the Civil Service Commission when there is a need to fill a vacancy.  At that time, the Civil Service Commission will issue a Certification.

On open-competitive exam certifications, the Civil Service Commission will mail each certified eligible a Notification of Certification.  An eligible will have five (5) business days from the date on that Notification of Certification to respond to the Appointing Authority that is listed on the Notification of Certification to respond to the Appointing Authority that is noted on the Notification of Certification.

On promotional exam certifications the Civil Service Commission or the Appointing Authority that requested the Certification will mail each certified eligible a Notification of Certification.  An eligible will have five (5) business days from the notice date on that Notification of Certification to respond to the Appointing Authority that is noted on the Notification of Certification.

Typically, certifications are issued for three (3) months.  However, for open competitive public safety titles, such as fire fighter and police officer, certifications are issued for six (6) months.

Yes, you are required to respond to each Notification of Certification that you receive. If you wish to decline consideration for the position, you'll want to explain your reasoning in that response.

If you do not respond to a Certification, your name will be removed from the Eligibility
List and you will not receive any more Certifications issued from that Eligibility List.

For the Law Enforcement Examination, eligibles that fail to respond to the Notification of Certification are removed from the Law Enforcement Examination pool of eligibles for the particular title area.

The Appointing Authority that requested the Certification may contact you depending on your position on the Certification and the number of vacancies that need to be filled.

Being on an Eligibility List and receiving a Notification of Certification does not guarantee an appointment.  The Appointing Authority that requested the Certification will conduct a pre-employment screening of eligibles that responded as interested to the Notification of Certification and can appoint any one of the top three interested eligibles that successfully complete the pre-employment screening in accordance with the Rule of Three.

The "Rule of Three allows an Appointing Authority to appoint any one of the top three interested eligibles from a Certification to a permanent position.

Although you may be recognized as a veteran by the federal government, you are not automatically considered a veteran by the State of New Jersey for veterans' status on civil service examinations.  Veterans' Preference is granted to those eligibles who meet the Veterans' requirements of the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NJDMAVA).  Once you are granted Veterans' status by NJDMAVA, you will have Veterans' Preference on all Eligibility Lists and Certifications.

1. On Open Competitive Exam Lists veterans that pass a Civil Service examination go to the top of the list in rank order.  Eligibles are ranked in the following order on open competitive lists:
   • Disabled Veterans (in rank order)
   • Veterans (in rank order)
   • Non Veterans (in rank order)

NOTE:  On Police Officer and Fire Fighter lists, children of Police Officers and Fire Fighters that died in the line of duty are ranked above non veterans.

1. On an open competitive Certification, an interested veteran cannot be bypassed.  The interested veteran must be appointed or removed for cause.
2. On Promotional Exam Lists there is no distinction between veterans and non veterans i.e.; an eligible is ranked solely by final average, regardless of veterans' status.  The only exception is when there are veterans and non veterans within a tied rank; in that case, Veterans are listed above non veterans.
3. On Promotional Exam Certifications, if an interested veteran heads the Certification, then the first appointment made must go to a veteran. 
   • For example, a promotional Certification is issued with the names of three interested eligibles.  One veteran is ranked number 1, one veteran is ranked number 3 and a non veteran is ranked number 2.  The Appointing Authority can appoint either the veteran ranked number 1 or the veteran ranked 3.  The department cannot appoint the number 2 ranked, non veteran. 
   • Conversely, if an interested non veteran heads a promotional Certification, then the Rule of Three applies i.e., any one of the top three interested eligibles can be appointed regardless of veterans' status. 
     For example, a promotional Certification is issued with the names of three interested eligibles.  One non veteran is ranked number 1, one non veteran is ranked number 3 and a disabled veteran is ranked number 2.  The department can appoint any of the top three eligibles.  Veterans' Preference does not apply.  The disabled veteran can be bypassed and the number 3 ranked, non veteran can be appointed.

There are a number of causes that may affect your position on a certification:

• If there are two active eligible lists for the same title, department and jurisdiction, eligibles on the active eligibility list that issued the earliest are certified first, followed by the eligibles on the active eligibility list that issued last.
• When there is a Certification of eligibles that have a tied rank, eligibles are certified in alphabetical order by last name, unless there is a veteran in the tied rank, then Veterans' Preference applies.
• Over the duration of the eligibility list, numerous certifications can be issued.  Although your ranking never changes, as eligibles are appointed or removed, your position on future certifications can be affected.

• Contact the Civil Service Commission's Certification Unit (Phone: 609-292-4100) to determine if your name has been certified.  If a Notification of Certification has been recently sent to your address, then there may be a short delay in receiving your notice.
• However, if you discover that a Notification of Certification was sent to your address, but it was never delivered by the postal service, write to the Appointing Authority that certified your name, explaining what occurred. It is at the discretion of the Appointing Authority whether to retain or remove your name from the eligibility list.
• Remember that all information is mailed to the address that you put on your application, unless you have submitted a Change of Address Form.  It is your responsibility to keep your mailing address and contact information current with the CSC.

When a Certification List is issued prior to the list expiring, the Appointing Authority may make appointments from the Certification up to the date that the Certification is due to be returned to the Civil Service Commission.

A Disposition Notice advises whether you have been bypassed on a Certification, suspended from future certification, removed from the eligibility list or that the Certification has been cancelled.  In addition, the Disposition Notice advises you of your right to appeal and the procedures that must be followed to file an appeal.  If you disagree with the reason that you were bypassed, suspended or removed on a Certification, you have 20 days from the date on that Disposition Notice to submit a written appeal to the Civil Service Commission.

Within three (3) years from the effective date of a Permanent Employee  resignation in good standing, retirement or voluntary demolition he/she may request to be placed on a Regular Reemployment List through their former employer.  If the employer approves the request, then the Civil Service Commission will place the employee's name on a Regular Reemployment List. 

This request must be submitted to your former employer within three years from the date of resignation, retirement or voluntary demotion since the Reemployment List only has a three (3) year duration from the effective date.  Click here for the Application for Reemployment. 

These requests must be submitted, in writing, to the Civil Service Commission's Certification Unit, P.O. Box 313, Trenton, NJ 08625-0313.

A NOTE ON YOUR ADDRESS (N.J.A.C. 4A:4-3.2(e))

Every year, the Civil Service Commission processes numerous job applications and issues thousands of certifications for open competitive, promotional, and special reemployment lists. However, we understand that, from the time when you first file an application until the examination is scheduled or when your name appears on an eligible list to the time a certification is issued from the list for appointment consideration, certain particulars like your address or phone number may change. In accordance with N.J.A.C. 4A:3-3.2(e), “[i]t shall be the responsibility of an eligible to keep a current address on file with the Civil Service Commission.” This means that if your address changes at any time during the application and selection process or during the life of an eligible or special reemployment list, you are responsible to update your current mailing address directly with the CSC. If you fail to do so, you may not receive notifications to appear for examinations or notifications that your name has been certified for appointment consideration. Filling out a change-of-address form from the post office is not enough; your information must be updated directly with the CSC. If you are removed from an eligible list because we are unable to contact you due to a change in your address that you do not report to us, it will not be considered a valid basis in an appeal to restore your name to the list. Use this link to access an official CSC change of address form. 

Please note: You must also update any address change with your department or local appointing authority. The CSC address change form only covers correspondence between the CSC and you regarding your applications, eligibility status, and certification lists. Also, changing your address after the closing date of a symbol does not change your residency status or rank on an existing eligibility list.