Any person holding an office, position, or employment in the classified service, as herein defined, at the time this article takes effect, by virtue of a civil service act repealed in whole or in part by this act, and who was appointed after test and certification to such office, position, or employment, shall become a member of the classified service created by this article without original entrance test. Any person holding an office, position, or employment in such classified service at the time this article takes effect who has not been appointed after test and certification under a civil service act, shall continue to hold such office, position, or employment only until laid off or removed for inefficiency by the appointing officer or until removed under the provisions of this article, but such persons shall not be entitled to reinstatement, transfer or promotion under the provisions of this article.
53 P.S. § 12624