(a) Examinations shall be in such form and of such character and shall relate to such matters as will fairly test and determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of the persons tested to perform the duties of the class or position to which they seek appointment. Examinations shall be formulated in cooperation with agencies appointing specific classes of employees and shall be competitive and open to all persons who may be lawfully appointed to any position in the class for which examinations are held, with such limitations as to age, residence, health, habits, character, sex and qualifications as are considered desirable by the Commissioner of Administrative Services and as are specified in the public announcement of the examination, provided no such limitation shall be made as to age or sex except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification or need. Formal education requirements may be considered as a condition for the taking of such examinations. Possession of a professional license or degree, or satisfactory completion of an accreditation, certificate or licensure program may serve as the sole basis for appointment, provided such credentials are a mandatory requirement for employment in a position. Examinations may take the form of written or oral tests, demonstration of skill or physical ability, experience and training evaluation, or in the case of promotional examinations, evaluation of prior performance, or any other assessment device or technique deemed appropriate to measure the knowledge, skills or abilities required to successfully perform the duties of the job. All persons competing for placement on any one candidate list shall be administered the same or equivalent forms of the same examination or examination phases, except as necessary to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and § 4-61nn, and be required to achieve passing scores on each successive phase and for the examination as a whole in order to remain in competition. The provisions of this section shall be the sole determinant for qualification and no other examination shall be permitted by any agency head to further qualify persons seeking appointment except as authorized by the commissioner.

(b) The commissioner may charge any person not employed by the state a reasonable fee for taking an examination, provided such fee shall not exceed the cost of developing and administering such examination. The commissioner may waive any such fee for any person who applies, in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, for a waiver of such fee and demonstrates that he or she is financially unable to pay such fee. Before charging any fees authorized by this subsection, the commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish reasonable fees.