Civil Service Requirements, Application, Exam, and More [2024 Updated]

Are you considering a career in the Philippines’ public sector? It might be necessary for you to pass the Civil Service Exam as one of your initial steps. Knowing the ins and outs of the Civil Service Exam is crucial, regardless of whether you’re a professional seeking progression in your current work or a recent graduate looking for chances in government service. We’ll walk you through the requirements, the application procedure, the exam specifics, and more in this post to help you get ready for this Philippine civil service exam.

What Is the Civil Service Exam in the Philippines?

For Filipinos to be eligible to work for the Philippine government, they must pass the Civil Service Exam. It is overseen by the Philippine Civil Service Commission and is held twice a year.

Types of Civil Service Exam

There are two types of the Philippine Civil Service Exam. Depending on the kind of position you wish to apply for with the Philippine government, there will be several exams you must pass. For most clerk positions, the Sub-professional CSE is sufficient. Officially, these positions are referred to as Level 1 occupations. Conversely, Level 2 positions necessitate a greater degree of decision-making. It could be necessary for you to take the Professional CSE if you wish to apply for and advance to these kinds of positions.

SubProfessional CSE vs Professional CSE

The coverage of these two exam types varies as well. The 2024 CSE-PPT covered the following subjects at the Professional and Subprofessional levels:

Professional Level – In Both Filipino and English

• Numerical Proficiency (Simple Algebra; Word Problems)
• Analytical Skills (Data Interpretation; Logic; Word Association: Recognizing Assumptions and Conclusions)
• Verbal Ability (Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar and Correct Usage, and Paragraph Organization)

Subprofessional Level: In Filipino and English

• Numerical Proficiency (Simple Algebra; Word Problems)
• Clerical Skills (Spelling and Filing)
• Verbal Ability (Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar and Correct Usage, and Paragraph Organization)

How Many Items in the Civil Service Exam?

There will be 170 items available for the Professional level in 3 hours and 10 minutes; and 165 items at the sub-professional level in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Civil Service Exam Schedule in 2024

Check the following table to see the exact civil service exam schedule in 2024:

Who Can Take the Civil Service Exam?

To be eligible to take the CSE-PPT, candidates need to meet the following criteria:

• A citizen of the Philippines. 
• A minimum of eighteen years old on the application filing date. 
• Good moral character. 
• Not having received a judgment of guilt for any crime or offense; not having received a dishonorable discharge from military duty or a firing from a government position for a valid reason. 
• Not having taken the same level of Career Service Examination, either through PPT or CSC Computerized Examination, within three months before the exam date or between December 3, 2023, and March 2, 2024.

Civil Service Exam Requirements

To apply for the civil service exam, you have to prepare the following required documents:

• Four Philippines passport-sized photos (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm or 1.8 inches x 1.4 inches) which need to be compliant with the following requirements:
  • Colored with a white background and printed on high-quality photo paper.
  • The image is a standard close-up shot taken from shoulder level up, with the head and face taking up at least 80% of the frame. 
  • The name tag is positioned approximately 1 inch, or 2.54 cm, below the chin. 
  • The image shows the subject’s bare face, without any accessories that could obscure their facial features, including their left and right ears. 
  • The image is taken in full-face view, directly facing the camera, with both eyes open and a neutral expression. 
  • The name tag is fully handwritten, not computer-generated. (Signature over the printed name; First Name, Middle Initial past Name, and Extension Name, if applicable) For example, JUAN C. DELA CRUZ, JR.
  • Taken during the past three months before application filing.
• Both original and photocopies of one of the following IDs: DL, Passport, Visa, SSS ID, GSIS ID, PhilHealth ID, current office/company ID, Present-day ID for school, Delivery ID BIR ID (TIN), Voter ID Barangay ID, Registration of Police Clearance 
• Application form completed in full (CS Form No. 100 Revised November 2012). The form should have both the “Right Thumbmark” and “Signature of Applicant” left empty.

📚 Read Also: How to Get a Philippine Passport-size Picture Online?

Civil Service Online Application Process

Check how to apply for the civil service exam in the Philippines step by step in this section.

Step 1. Go to the CSC website and download the application form. Civil Service Examination Form No. 100 is the most latest version (Revised September 2016).

Step 2. Send in the completed application form without signing and thumbprinting it.
The service provider will verify the following: a) form completion; b) applicant qualification (citizenship and age); c) validity and completeness of supporting document requirements; d) demand that the applicant attach their thumbprint and signature.

Step 3. Sign and thumbprint the document in front of the action officer. The service provider will verify the applicant’s exam records using the DIBAR** and E-Retaker* systems. They will return the application form and instruct the client to pay the examination fee to the cashier if the applicant is eligible to take the test. If the applicant is found to be unqualified, please return the application form and explain why the applicant is unqualified.

Step 4. Pay to the cashier.

Step 5. Go to the Action Officer the O.R. with the processed application form.

Civil Service Exam Fee

The Examination fee for the civil service exam is PHP 500.00. And if you need a tutor to prepare for the exam, you need to prepare more.

Civil Service Exam Passing Score

Have confidence in your ability to score more than 80. You have a great chance to pass the civil service exam. Twenty percent are unsure, but the other eighty percent already know it in their bones.

Civil Service Passing Rate

For the Civil Service Examination (CSE) 2024, the passing percentage stayed at 80%. 

Civil Service Job Opportunities

After passing the civil service exam, candidates are added to an eligible list that is sorted by test results. Candidates with the highest scores will be at the top of the list and will be given priority when it comes to any open opportunities. These are the parts of the recent civil service job opportunities:

• REMOTE Project Estimator Civil Construction.
• Financial Claims Examiner I/SG10 Field Service Office.
• Minutes/Corporate/Technical Writer (Technical Support Assistant)
• Executive Assistant.
• Bookkeeper.

How to Get Civil Service ID Pictures with Cellphone

You can take a compliant civil service ID picture on your phone. Make sure your ID photo is in line with these requirements:

• Size: Philippines passport-sized photos (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm or 1.8 inches x 1.4 inches)
• Color: color images. 
• Size and placement of the head: Place your face in the center of the picture and look straight into the camera. 
• Background: White 
• Facial Expression: Neutral smile with lips pursed. 
• Eyes: Open and visible 
• Glasses: Tinted lenses are not permitted, although prescription reading glasses are. 
• Headgear: No, except for religious headgear.

To resize your ID photo or modify the background, light, etc., you can use the professional Philippines ID photo maker online. Just upload the taken photo, and wait for the auto image processing. Powered by AI, this AipassportPhotos can generate a compliant civil service ID picture easily and quickly.

When to Check Civil Service Exam Result

The Exam Rating will not be accessible for about 15 days following the publication of the List of Passers.
Through the Online Civil Service Examination Result Generation System (OCSERGS), which is also accessible on the CSC website, you can obtain your Examination Rating. Approximately thirty days following the publication of the official List of Passers on the CSC website, you will get a Certification of Eligibility as verification that you have passed the exam.

What Is the Advantage of Taking the Civil Service Exam in the Philippines?

When a person is eligible for civil service, they can apply for permanent positions with the government and are eligible for various benefits, including insurance, career advancement opportunities, and competitive pay.

The Bottom Line

That’s all the things you should know about the civil service exam in the Philippines. Check whether you are eligible to attend this exam and apply for it. Remember to prepare all the necessary documents and revise for the exam. Wish you can successfully pass the exam and get an ideal score.