(a) General rule.--Examinations shall be conducted to establish employment and promotion lists. Examinations may be:

(1) Written or oral.

(2) A demonstration of skill.

(3) An evaluation of experience and education.

(4) A combination of paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) which fairly appraise the fitness and ability of competitors.

(b) Method of examination.--The appointing authority shall select the method of examination that will be used for the individual position or the class of positions for which the employment or promotion list is being established. The examinations shall:

(1) Be practical in nature.

(2) Relate to the duties and responsibilities of the position for which the applicant is being examined.

(3) Fairly test the relative capacity and fitness of individuals examined to perform the duties of the position or class of positions to which the individuals seek to be appointed or promoted.

(c) Qualifications.--An applicant may be required to possess scholastic education qualifications only if the position for which the applicant is being examined requires professional or technical knowledge, skills and abilities or if the scholastic qualifications are required to ensure the continued eligibility of the Commonwealth for Federal grants-in-aid. No greater credit for experience gained during a provisional, emergency or temporary appointment under this chapter shall be given to an individual in an examination than is given for experience in the same type of work performed in a similar position not under the provisions of this chapter.

(d) Military service.--In evaluating experience in order to compute the final rating in an examination to establish eligible lists, an individual discharged other than dishonorably after active service during a war or armed conflict in which the United States engaged, from a branch of the armed forces of the United States or from a women's uniformed service directly connected with the armed forces of the United States, may not be given less credit for experience than would be given for continued experience in the position held at the time of induction into the service.

(e) Discriminatory questions prohibited.--No question in an examination shall relate to the race, gender, religion, disability or political or labor union affiliation of the candidate.