9/3/2026
Question: How are seniority points calculated for promotional examinations?
Answer: Except as otherwise provided by the CSC, seniority points shall be added to the passing scores as provided in CSC Rule VII.
In the uniformed ranks, seniority points shall be given for all half years of accredited service that have been accrued as of the test date. Accredited service shall mean all time elapsed from the date of appointment to a position in the lowest ranking uniformed classification in the appropriate division as reflected in the Division’s Official Seniority Roster in effect at the close of the filing period.
On promotional examinations for Fire Captain, an applicant may earn up to 15 seniority points. Points shall be computed as follows: (1) One point shall be awarded for each of the first four years of accredited service in the division. (2) Six-tenths of a point shall be awarded for each of the next ten years of accredited service in the division. In addition, an applicant shall be awarded one point for each of the first five years of accredited service in the rank of Fire Lieutenant.
Seniority points are calculated by subtracting the first date of testing from the hire date (obtained from the Division of Fire) and promotion date to Fire Lieutenant. The following are directions for calculating seniority points.
- Enter the Test Date similar to the example below – Year, Month, Day
- For the 2027 administration that would be – 2027-1-12
- Enter the hire or appointment date similar to the example above – Year, Month, Day
- When making the calculation, you are subtracting the dates. Normal subtraction principals are used. Note that when borrowing for various columns, make sure you borrow the correct number. Below is an example:
- 2027-1-12 ---- First date of testing for the 2027 administration
- 2014-3-30 ---- Hire date
- To subtract 30 days from 12 days, you must borrow from the month’s column. You will borrow 30 days. The 12 now becomes 42 and the 1 becomes a 0. This will result in 12 days. To subtract 3 months from 0 months, you must borrow from the year’s column. You will borrow 12 months. The 0 becomes 12 and the year 2027 becomes 2026. This results in a total of 12 years, 9 months, and 12 days.
Once you have calculated the dates, use the following Years of Permanent Service Chart to find out the total number of seniority points earned:
| Years of Permanent Service in Classes Eligible for Promotion |
Seniority Points |
| 1/2 year |
0.5 |
| 1 year |
1 |
| 1 1/2 year |
1.5 |
| 2 years |
2 |
| 2 1/2 years |
2.5 |
| 3 years |
3 |
| 3 1/2 years |
3.5 |
| 4 years |
4 |
| 4 1/2 years |
4.3 |
| 5 years |
4.6 |
| 5 1/2 years |
4.9 |
| 6 years |
5.2 |
| 6 1/2 years |
5.5 |
| 7 years |
5.8 |
| 7 1/2 years |
6.1 |
| 8 years |
6.4 |
| 8 1/2 years |
6.7 |
| 9 years |
7 |
| 9 1/2 years |
7.3 |
| 10 years |
7.6 |
| 10 1/2 years |
7.9 |
| 11 years |
8.2 |
| 11 1/2 years |
8.5 |
| 12 years |
8.8 |
| 12 1/2 years |
9.1 |
| 13 years |
9.4 |
| 13 1/2 years |
9.7 |
| 14 years |
10 |
- The maximum service points awarded is 10 points (14 years or more of service)
- The above example of 12 years, 9 months, and 12 days would earn 9.1 seniority points.
- The seniority is credited for half years of service.
- If a candidate has 8 years and 5 months of service, they would receive points for 8 years, or 6.4 points.
- If a candidate has 8 years and 10 months of service, they would receive points for 8 1/2 years, or 6.7 points.
For promotional service credit, the same principles apply.
When making the calculation, you are subtracting the dates. Normal subtraction principals are used. Note that when borrowing for various columns, make sure you borrow the correct number. Below is an example:
- 2027-1-12 ---- First date of testing for the 2027 administration
- 1999-3-30 ---- Hire date
- 2021-10-10 ---- Promotion date
- (2027-1-12 – 1999-3-30)
- To subtract 30 days from 12 days, you must borrow from the month’s column. You will borrow 30 days. The 12 now becomes 42 and the 1 becomes a 0. This will result in 12 days. To subtract 3 months from 0 months, you must borrow from the year’s column. You will borrow 12 months. The 0 becomes 12 and the year 2027 becomes 2026. This results in a total of 27 years, 9 months, and 12 days.
- (2027-1-12 – 2021-10-10)
- First subtract 10 days from 12 days. Next subtract the months. To subtract 10 months from 1 month, you must borrow from the year’s column. You will borrow 12 months. The 1 becomes 13 and the year 2027 becomes 2026. Finally, subtract the years. This results in a total of 5 years, 3 months, and 2 days.
Once you have calculated the dates, use the Years of Permanent Service Chart (above) to find the number of seniority points earned for time in the Division and the Years in Current Class Chart (below) to find the number of points earned for time in the current promoted rank:
Years in Current Class Chart
| Years in Current Class |
Seniority Points |
| 1/2 year |
0.5 |
| 1 year |
1 |
| 1 1/2 year |
1.5 |
| 2 years |
2 |
| 2 1/2 years |
2.5 |
| 3 years |
3 |
| 3 1/2 years |
3.5 |
| 4 years |
4 |
| 4 1/2 years |
4.5 |
| 5 years |
5 |
The maximum promotional service points awarded is 5 points (5 or more of service in the rank of Fire Lieutenant) - The above example of 27 years, 9 months, and 11 days would earn 10.0 points for time with the Division and 5 years, 3 months, and 2 days would earn 5.0 points for time in the current promoted rank. When added together, the total number of seniority points earned would be 15.0.
The seniority is credited for half years of service.
For example, when using the Years in Current Class Chart, if a candidate has 4 years and 5 months of service, they would receive points for 4 years, or 4.0 points.
When using the Years in Current Class Chart, if a candidate has 4 years and 10 months of service, they would receive points for 4 1/2 years, or 4.5 points.