The responsibility to "ordain, receive, dismiss, install, remove, and discipline ministers" and to "plan the integration of new ministers into the life and work of presbytery" is given to presbytery by the Book of Order (G-11.0103n.).
 

Within the section detailing "The Historic Principles of Church Order," several principles pertain to the examination of candidates and transferring ministers:

"That, imperfect consistency with the above principle of [the rights of private judgment], every Christian church, or union or association of particular churches, is entitled to declare the terms of admission into its communion, and the qualifications of its ministers and members...

That our blessed Savior, for the edification of the visible church, which is his body, hath appointed officers, not only to preach the gospel and administer the Sacraments, but also to exercise discipline, for the preservation of both truth and duty; and that it is incumbent upon these officers, and upon the whole church, in whose name they act, to censure or cast out the erroneous and scandalous, observing, in all cases, the rules contained in the Word of God.

That truth is in order to goodness; and the great touchstone of truth, its tendency to promote holiness, according to our Savior's rule, "By their fruits ye shall know them." And that no opinion can be either more pernicious or more absurd than that which brings truth and falsehood upon a level, and represents it as of no consequence what a man's opinions are. On the contrary, we are persuaded that there is an inseparable connection between faith and practice, truth and duty. Otherwise, it would be of no consequence either to discover truth or to embrace it.

That, while under the conviction of the above principle we think it necessary to make effectual provision that all who are admitted as teachers be of sound faith, we also believe that there are truths and forms with respect to which men of good character and principles may differ. And in all these we think it the duty both of private Christians and societies to exercise mutual forbearance toward each other." -portions of G-1.0302-0305

Because of this responsibility and in keeping with these principles, Presbyterians have examined ministers and candidates regarding their Christian faith and views. In the past, some presbyteries did a very thorough job, while others did not. To address the problems arising from the differing attitudes taken by presbyteries in the examinations of ministers and candidates, the Presbyterian Church has long provided standard examinations required of all candidates in Open Book Bible Exegesis, Bible Content, Theological Competence, Worship and Sacraments, and Church Polity (G-14.0310d).Representatives of the presbyteries grade these examinations under the supervision of the Presbyteries' Cooperative Committee on Examinations for Candidates.

In addition, the Examinations Committee of the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of New Hope examines each minister and candidate, and reports to the Committee on Ministry (G-11.0402).

Further, the Examinations Committee conducts and examination on the floor of Presbytery. Ordinarily, this will be a short, representative examination followed by questions from the floor. this examination has two purposes. First, it retains the rights of Presbytery to determine its own membership and to fulfill its responsibilities to examine ministers and candidates. Second, it provides an opportunity for the integration of a new member into the life and work of the Presbytery by giving the minister or candidate the opportunity to share his or her Christian faith and views.