Civil Service Exam Exemptions
Are you exempt from taking the civil service exam? To work in the government, you generally need to pass the civil service exam, but there are other ways to acquire civil service eligibility. Learn about the various civil service exam exemptions granted by the Civil Service Commission.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Board and Bar Passers
This eligibility is automatically granted to:
- passers of bar exam conducted by the Supreme Court
- passers of any licensure exam conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission
This allows individuals to practice their respective professions and to qualify for first and second level positions in the government.
Note that board passers who finished less than 4 years of college may practice their profession and be qualified for first level positions only.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Barangay Health Workers
This first level eligibility (except for specified government positions) is granted to individuals who meet the following conditions:
- local health board-accredited barangay health workers
- have completed at least 2 years of college
- have voluntarily rendered at least 5 years of continuous and satisfactory service after February 20, 1995
An application must be submitted and approved by the Civil Service Commission.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Barangay Nutrition Scholars
This first level eligibility is granted to:
- barangay-based volunteer workers
- who rendered at least 2 years of continuous and satisfactory nutrition service
The individuals may qualify for positions which do not require written exams.
An application must be submitted and approved by the Civil Service Commission.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Barangay Officials
This first level eligibility (except for specified government positions) is granted to:
- elective barangay officials (Barangay Captains, Sangguniang Barangay Members, and Sangguniang Kabataan Chairpersons)
- appointive barangay officials (Barangay Treasurers and Secretaries)
To qualify, the individuals must have completed their terms of office.
An application must be submitted and approved by the Civil Service Commission:
- For barangay officials who completed their term of office before August 1, 2012, the application must be filed within 2 years from the said date.
- For barangay officials who completed their term of office after August 1, 2012, the filing of applications is continuous.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Electronic Data Processing Specialists
This eligibility for relevant positions is granted to passers of the proficiency test or training course conducted by the Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) [formerly known as the National Computer Center (NCC)] on Systems Analysis and Design and Computer Programming courses of Java, MS Access, or Visual Basic.
An application must be submitted to the Civil Service Commission within 3 years from the date of issuance of the Certificate of Proficiency by the ITCO or NCC.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Foreign School Honor Graduates
This eligibility is granted to Filipino citizens who meet all the following conditions:
- completed their bachelor’s degree
- graduated summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude
- graduated from a school, college, or university in another country
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Honor School Graduates
This first and second level eligibility (except for positions requiring the practice of profession and covered by board or bar exams or special laws) is granted to individuals who meet all the following conditions:
- graduated summa cum laude, magna cum laude, or cum laude in any bachelor’s degree
- graduated from 1972-73 and after
- graduated in a private higher education institution with a degree recognized by CHED or in a state, local college, or university with a degree included in its charter or duly approved by its board
This eligibility is effective on the date of graduation or completion of course.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Sanggunian Members
This eligibility is granted to:
- Vice Mayors
- Vice Governors
- regular Sanggunian Members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panglungsod, and Sangguniang Panlalawigan
To qualify, the individuals must have been elected from May 11, 1992 onwards.
First level eligibility may be granted to the Sangguanian Members who served for an aggregate period of 6 years and completed 72 units of college degree.
Second level eligibility may be granted to Sanggunian Members who served for an aggregate period of 9 years and completed a bachelor’s degree.
Note that some government positions are expressly excluded from this eligibility. There is also a prescriptive period for the filing of the application with the Civil Service Commission.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Scientific and Technological Specialists
This first and second level eligibility (except for positions requiring the practice of profession and covered by board or bar exams or special laws) is granted to individuals meet all of the following conditions:
- have a bachelor’s degree in any of the following fields of study: Natural Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Mathematics and Information and Communication Technology, and other disciplines
- have at least 3 years of continuous experience in research or training in their respective fields
- have earned a master’s or doctorate degree in any of the specified fields of study from an institution recognized by CHED
An application must be evaluated by the PD 997 Committee, through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). An approved application must be endorsed by the PD 997 Committee to the Civil Service Commission.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Skills Eligibility – Category II
This eligibility is granted to:
- individuals who meet the requirements of positions which cannot be measured by written tests (examples are plant electrician, automotive mechanic, heavy equipment operator, and the like)
- Category II positions which can be obtained only upon completion of a year of satisfactory actual work performance
Note that this is not equivalent to professional and subprofessional eligibilities.
An application must be submitted and approved by the Civil Service Commission.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Veteran Preference Rating
This is a special rating granted to the veteran, or the veteran’s spouse, or any of the veteran’s children. 10 points are added to the failed exam (professional, subprofessional, penology, or fire officer) rating (not lower than 70) of any one of the said individuals.
An application must be submitted and approved by the Civil Service Commission.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Procedure & Application
For detailed information on the procedure and application for civil service exam exemptions, please visit the Civil Service Commission website.
Civil Service Exam Exemptions: Not in the List?
If you are not included in the list of exemptions, start your CSE prep now.
Sources
CSC website
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