Section 23. Promotion

23.1. Examinations

A. Open Exams: Any person meeting the minimum qualifications for the job class may compete.

B. General Promotional Exams: Permanent and probationary employees who have served at least six (6) months in such status prior to the date of the exam are eligible to compete. Persons who have been laid off and whose names are on a reemployment list are also eligible provided they had served at least six (6) months prior to layoff.

C. Departmental Promotional Exams: Permanent and probationary employees of the department in which a promotional opportunity exists who have served at least six (6) months in such status prior to the date of the exam are eligible to compete. Persons who have been laid off and whose names appear on the appropriate departmental reemployment eligible list are also eligible provided they had served at least six months prior to layoff.

D. Open and Promotional Exams: Any person meeting the minimum qualifications for the job class may compete. In addition, any person competing in this type of an exam who meets the criteria described in (B) above, shall have five (5) points added to the final passing score.

E. Qualifying Exams: Qualifying exams may be given to probationary and permanent employees for specifically designed position reclassifications, transfers, demotions, and alternately staffed classifications.

The name of an employee who has successfully passed a qualifying exam shall be placed on the eligible list for the class for which examined. The Director may place the employee on such eligible list with or without an exam score. If an exam score is assigned, such employee’s rank on that eligible list shall be based on the exam score, as determined by the Director. Such exams shall not require the publication of an examination notice.

F. Veterans preference shall not apply to promotional exams.

23.2. Promotional Eligible Lists

A. General Promotional Eligible Lists: The names of applicants successful in general promotional exams shall be placed on general promotional eligible lists for the classes examined.

B. Departmental Promotional Eligible Lists: The names of applicants successful in departmental promotional exams shall be placed on departmental promotional eligible lists for the classes examined.

C. These lists shall take precedence over General Eligible Lists.

D. If, at the time of termination, an employee’s name appears on a promotional eligible list their name shall be removed from the promotional list and placed on the open competitive eligible list for that classification in accordance with their final score.

23.3. Probationary Period

Permanent employees who are promoted to a higher class shall undergo the probationary period prescribed for the higher class, but shall have the right to demote to their former class in their former department if rejected during their probationary period if a vacancy in their former class exists, except that trainees who are promoted to journey level classes shall not have the right to revert to their former trainee class if rejected during the probationary period. If no vacancy exists, such employees shall be placed in the longest standing vacancy, as determined by the requisition form date, County‑wide. If no vacancy exists, such employees shall displace the least senior employee as determined by Rule XVI. If no less senior position exists, then the employee shall be removed from County service.