N.J. Stat. § 40A:12A-18.1
A person who was an employee of a local housing authority in the position of Deputy Executive Director or Assistant Executive Director on the effective date of this act, who possesses the required work experience to be eligible for a position as executive director of a housing authority pursuant to section 18 of P.L. 1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-18) and who holds certification as a Public Housing Manager (PHM) from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials or equivalent certification from a nationally recognized professional association in the housing and redevelopment field, shall not be required to meet the educational requirement specified by section 18 of P.L. 1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-18), except as otherwise provided in section 45 of P.L. 1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-45), and shall be deemed to be qualified for employment as executive director of the authority in which the person is employed and eligible for equivalent employment in any other local housing authority in this State.
N.J.S. § 40A:12A-18.1