N.J. Stat. Ann. § 40A:14-9.4

In any municipality wherein Title 11 (Civil Service) of the Revised Statutes is operative, promotions to positions on the paid or part-paid fire department and force shall be based upon merit as determined by suitable promotion tests for such positions, provided however that a resident shall be appointed rather than a nonresident thereof in any instance in which the resident and nonresident achieved the same final average score in such test. The preference granted by this section shall in no way diminish, reduce or affect the preferences granted to veterans pursuant to chapter 27 of Title 11 of the Revised Statutes or any other provision of law.