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AT A GLANCE
- The Civil Service Commission is the central personnel agency of the Government.
- Appointments in the Civil Service shall be made only according to merit and fitness.
- No civil service examination shall be required for promotion to a higher position in one or more related occupational groups.
The Civil Service Commission, as the central personnel agency of the Government, shall establish a career service and adopt measures to promote moral, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy in the civil service. (Section 3, Part B, Article IX, 1987 Constitution of the Philippines)
Appointments in the Civil Service shall be made only according to merit and fitness. A public office is a public trust. (Section 1, Article XI, 1987 Constitution) Thus, the Civil Service Commission is likewise tasked to strengthen the merit and rewards system, integrate all human resource development programs for all levels and ranks, and institutionalize a management climate conducive to public accountability. (Section 1, Chapter I, Title I, The Revised Administrative Code of 1987 on the Civil Service Commission)
RELATED ARTICLE: Who are covered by the Civil Service Law?
The Civil Service shall be characterized by:
- Entrance exam based on merit and fitness to be determined as far as practicable by a competitive examination, or based on highly technical qualifications
- Opportunity for advancement to higher career positions; and
- Security of tenure (Section 7, Chapter 2, Title I, The Revised Administrative Code of 1987 on the Civil Service Commission)
Position specific-exams
- Classes positions in the career service, appointment to which requires examinations shall be grouped into three major levels as follows:
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- The first level shall include clerical, trades, crafts, and custodial service positions which involve non-professional or subprofessional work in a non-supervisory or supervisory capacity requiring less than four years of collegiate studies;
- The second level shall include professional, technical and scientific positions which involve professional, technical or scientific work in a non-supervisory or supervisory capacity requiring at least four years of college work up to Division Chief level; and
- The third level shall cover positions in the Career Executive Service.
- Except as herein otherwise provided, entrance to the first two levels shall be through competitive examinations, which shall be open to those inside and outside the service who meet the minimum qualification requirements. Entrance to a higher level does not require previous qualification in the lower level. Entrance to the third level shall be prescribed by the Career Executive Service Board.
- Within the same level, no civil service examination shall be required for promotion to a higher position in one or more related occupational groups. A candidate for promotion should, however, have previously passed the examination for that level. (Section 8, Chapter 2, Chapter I, Title I, The Revised Administrative Code of 1987 on the Civil Service Commission)
Qualifications for civil service applicants
- Must be a Filipino Citizen;
- Must be of good moral character;
- Must have not been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude, or disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, examination irregularity, drunkenness or addiction to drugs;
- Must have not been dishonorably discharged from military service or dismissed for cause from any civilian positions in the government; and
- For Career Service Examination applicants:
- must be at least 18 years of age on the date of filing of application.
- must have not taken the same level of Career Service Examination, regardless of mode, within the last three (3) months before the date of examination. (CF Form 100, Civil Service Examination Form, Revised September 2016)
Note: a) Approval of applications may be recalled any time upon discovery of applicant’s disqualification, for which the examination fees paid shall be forfeited.
b) Applicants holding dual citizenship under R.A. 9225 may apply for and take the examination upon presentation of original and photocopy of Certification of Retention/Reacquisition of Philippine Citizenship from the Bureau of Immigration, and meeting of all the other admission and application requirements for the examination.
c) Applicants with pending administrative and/or criminal cases may take the examination and shall be conferred the eligibility if they successfully pass the same. However, this is without prejudice to the outcome of their pending cases. If they are found guilty, their eligibility shall be forfeited based on the penalties stated in the decision and under existing Civil Service Law and Rules.
d) Passers of the regular Bar examination given by the Supreme Court of the Philippines and of Board examinations given by the PRC are automatically granted a civil service eligibility. They are automatically considered as civil service eligibles pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 90-1212. Thus, they may opt not to apply and take the corresponding examination anymore. Also, individuals who were granted the Honor Graduate Eligibility (HGE) pursuant to P.D. 907 may opt not to apply and take the corresponding examination anymore
Documents needed for application
1. Fully accomplished Application Form
2. Four (4) pieces of identical I.D. pictures with specifications, as follows:
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- taken within the last three (3) months prior to filing of application;
- Philippine passport picture size (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm or 1.78” x 1.38”);
- colored, with white background and printed on good quality photo paper;
- in standard close-up shot (from shoulder level up with the head and face occupying at least 80% of the picture and with the name tag positioned at approximately 1 inch or 2.54 cm. below the chin)
- in bare face (with no eyeglasses, colored contact lens, or any accessories that may cover the facial features (facial features not computer enhanced)
- showing left and right ears
- taken in full-face view directly facing the camera, with neutral facial expression and both eyes open
- with handwritten (not computer-generated) name tag legibly showing signature over printed full name in the format: First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, and Extension Name, if any
3. Original and photocopy of any of the following I.D. cards, which must be valid (not expired upon filing of application), and contains the name, clear picture, date of birth and signature of applicant, and the name and signature of the issuing agency’s current head/authorized representative. All other ID cards not included in the list shall not be accepted.
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- Driver’s License
- Passport
- PRC ID
- SSS ID
- GSIS ID/ GSIS UMID ID
- Philhealth ID (must at least contain the applicant’s name, clear picture, signature and Philhealth number)
- Current Company/Office ID
- Current School ID (validated for the current school year/semester/trimester)
- Postal ID
- BIR ID (ATM type/TIN card type with picture)
- Barangay ID
- Voter’s ID
- Police Clearance/Police Clearance Certificate, or
- NBI Clearance
4. For applicants without date of birth on their I.D. card/s, original and photocopy of Birth Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly National Statistics Office) or the Local Civil Registry printed on Security Paper (SecPa).
5. For applicants holding dual citizenship under Republic Act No. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003, original and photocopy of Certification of Retention/Re-acquisition of Philippine Citizenship issued by the Bureau of Immigration.
6. Examination fee of PhP500 for the Civil Service Examination Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT), or PhP680 for the of Civil Service Commission Computerized Examination (CSC COMEX). (CF Form 100, Civil Service Examination Form, Revised September 2016)
Reminders for examinees
- For applicants for the Civil Service Examination Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT)
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- Qualified applicants shall be notified of their school assignment through an Application Receipt or a Notice of School Assignment (NOSA) via SMS or e-mail.
- They can also use as applicable the Online Notice of School Assignment (ONSA) found in the CSC Website (www.csc.gov.ph) to verify and get a print-out of their NOSA, or access related Exam Advisory posted in the CSC website.
- If applicants still do not know their school assignment or cannot get a copy of their NOSA via internet one (1) week before the examination day, they should visit or call the Regional Office or Field Office where they filed their application to inquire about their school assignment.
- Applicants are also advised to conduct ocular inspection of their school assignment one (1) day before examination day.
- Failure to come on scheduled examination will mean forfeiture of examination fee and slot.
- Rescheduling of examination date is NOT allowed.
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- For applications of Civil Service Commission Computerized Examination (CSC COMEX)
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- Failure to come on scheduled examination will mean forfeiture of examination fee and slot.
- Rescheduling of examination date is NOT allowed.
For both examinations:
- Gates of examination venues shall be closed to examinees at 7:30 AM on the examination date.
- All personal belongings including articles in clothing (hats/caps, shades, and the like), digital watches/watch calculators, calculators, cellular phones, books, iPads/tablets, and all other electronic gadgets and printed materials shall be surrendered to the Room Examiners.
- Firearms, if any, must also be surrendered to the security guard/designated firearm custodian at the entrance gate of the testing center.
- Proper attire should be worn on filing of application form and on examination day, that is, not in sleeveless shirt/blouse, or in short pants, or in slippers. (CF Form 100, Civil Service Examination Form, Revised September 2016)
What to bring on exam day
- Fully accomplished Application Form and/or Notice of School Assignment;
- Same valid I.D. presented at the time of filing of application; and
- Black ballpen/s
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