• This page, Alternative Pathways to Hiring, is   offered by
  • Civil Service

Alternative Pathways to Hiring

Following changes to civil service law after the passage of new legislation in November 2024, , a hiring authority has alternative options available to fill vacancies. Below describes those alternative options such as using a Local Register or a Regional List.

Local Register for Commonwealth Police and Fire Appointments

The Local Register program allows Commonwealth cities and towns to appoint entry-level, regular full-time Police and Fire personnel in collaboration with the Human Resources Division (HRD).

Key Details:
Commonwealth's cities and towns may enter into an agreement with the Human Resources Division (HRD) to appoint entry-level regular full-time Police and Fire forces through a Local Register. Appointing Authorities, upon executing a Memorandum of Agreement with HRD’s Civil Service Unit, may appoint a maximum of 50% hires from their Local Register. Employees appointed through this process will be granted civil service status under M.G.L.c.31. This hiring process is subject to specific procedures and restrictions under civil service law, rule, and policy.

Police Departments with a Local Register

Amesbury, Andover, Attleboro, Auburn, Billerica, Boston, Bridgewater, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Chicopee, Dartmouth, Duxbury, Fall River, Fitchburg, Hingham, Holden, Holyoke, Kingston, Lancaster, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Marshfield, MBTA Transit Police, Medford, Medway, Melrose, New Bedford, Newburyport, Norton, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Randolph, Revere, Salem, Somerville, Southbridge, Wakefield, Winthrop, Worcester, Wrentham

Fire Departments with a Local Register

Abington, Attleboro, Boston, Chelsea, Danvers, Easthampton, Easton, Fall River, Hanover, Hull, Ludlow, Norton, Pittsfield, Randolph

For additional information and questions regarding a specific department's local register, please contact the specific department.

Additional Resources

Regional Eligible Lists Information

A Regional eligible list is another alternative pathway to hiring for Civil Service Municipalities.

  • Municipalities with a population under 75,000, may request a Regional Eligible List
  • A Regional Eligible List is composed of all candidates that meet residency preference on all municipal eligible lists that fall within a 10-mile radius of the perimeter (or border) of the requesting municipality.
  • Statutory preferences will apply e.g., veteran's status.
  • List will be created by scores within statutory preferences.
  • Municipalities with a population over 75,000, may jointly petition HRD to create a Regional List

Please Note:  The decision to request to hire from a Regional Eligible List is solely at the discretion of the requesting municipality’s hiring authority.

Date published: July 7, 2025
Last updated: December 15, 2025

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback