With the threat of high-tech cheating on the rise, it is the policy of the N.J. Civil Service Commission (CSC) that possession of electronic devices, such as cell phones, pagers, tablets, e-book readers, smart glasses, digital watches, fitness trackers, PDAs, or any device with recording/imaging, communication, or internet capabilities is strictly prohibited at the test center.  Candidates who are seen with these devices in the test center at ANY time (including before and after their individual examination has been completed), even in a power-off mode, will be disqualified.  The device may also be confiscated to ensure that an attempt was not made to compromise the testing process.  

The CSC has the responsibility of ensuring that candidates who wish to be considered for hiring or promotional opportunities take part in a fair, valid, and competitive exam process.  To accomplish this, the CSC must ensure that candidates’ exam scores are based solely on their merit and fitness, which means the CSC must ensure that candidates are not able to contact others to receive outside help during their exam, look up information online, or access information stored locally on the device to aid in answering the exam questions.  The policy exists to protect candidates from the possibility that others will have an unfair advantage through the use of electronic devices, and to ensure exam materials are not compromised by candidates making digital recordings of exam content.

The CSC takes this responsibility very seriously and therefore cannot allow candidates to just place their cell phone/electronic device out of sight (such as in a pocket) or make a verbal agreement that they won’t use the device during the exam.  CSC staff at test centers also cannot hold anyone’s cell phone for them since staff must be able to focus on ensuring a smooth exam administration and cannot be responsible for taking temporary possession of expensive items for multiple candidates while trying to perform their duties.

Any candidate who refuses to comply with the policy will not be permitted to take their scheduled exam and will forfeit their application processing fee.

While it is the CSC’s responsibility to facilitate a competitive exam process, candidates have an individual responsibility to adhere to the rules set in place to meet the goal of a fair, valid, and competitive exam process and it is for this reason that action must be taken when a candidate is discovered to have violated the policy.  Therefore, a candidate’s possession of a prohibited electronic device at any point while in the test center will result in disqualification from the current exam, as well as possible rejection from future exams for a designated period of time and/or notification to the candidate’s employer if the violation occurred during a promotional exam.

Yes; this policy applies to EVERY exam administered by the CSC regardless of the location of the exam (on-site testing and CSC-designated test centers), format of the exam (written, computerized, oral, and performance), level (entry-level and promotional), and job title (public safety titles and titles that fall into the category of “general testing”). 

Due to the especially competitive nature of exams for entry-level and promotional positions for public safety titles (i.e., Fire and Police/Law Enforcement), an additional safeguard is in place.  For these exams, candidates must sign a candidate security pledge prior to the start of their exam, which includes an affirmation, punishable by law, that they do not have, nor will they utilize, a prohibited electronic device while at the test center.

Candidates who are scheduled to take a CSC exam are sent a notice to appear for the examination, which includes their test location/date/time and other important information.  The notice states the policy so that candidates will have advance warning not to bring cell phones and other prohibited electronic devices into the test center.  Other examples of how the policy may be communicated include signs posted at the test center, verbal warnings from CSC exam staff or monitors at the test center, and notification in other materials produced for public safety candidates, such as orientation guides and sequestration letters.

Anyone with a legitimate medical concern regarding the policy should reach out, in advance of the test date, to the CSC staff who handle Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations by calling (609) 292-4144.