Key facts
- A second-level civil service eligibility.
- Earned by passing the Career Service Examination (CSE) at Professional level with a general rating of at least 80.
- Examination fee: ₱500.
- You may not take the same level again within three months of an exam date.
What it is
Career Service Professional eligibility is the eligibility you earn by passing the Career Service Examination at Professional level. It is a second-level eligibility: it meets the eligibility requirement of second-level positions, which are professional, technical and scientific positions that require at least four years of college, up to Division Chief level.
It does not cover positions that involve the practice of a profession regulated by a bar or board examination, or positions covered by special laws. Those need their own licence or eligibility.
Who can take the exam
- A Filipino citizen.
- At least 18 years old on the date of filing the application.
- Of good moral character.
- Not convicted by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude or of the other offences listed in the CSC announcement.
- Not dishonourably discharged from military service or dismissed for cause from a civilian government position.
- Has not taken the same level of the exam within the three months before the exam date, and has not already passed that level.
The exam
The pen-and-paper test (CSE-PPT) covers general information (including the Philippine Constitution, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, peace and human rights, and environment management), verbal ability in English and Filipino, analytical ability, and clerical and numerical ability. The fee is ₱500, and a general rating of at least 80.00 passes.
The Civil Service Commission announces exam dates and filing periods on its website. In 2026 the exams were held on 8 March and 9 August.
Professional eligibility is the one most fresh graduates aim for, because most entry-level office positions in national agencies and local governments are second-level positions. Check the eligibility line in each posting: it states exactly what is accepted.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree with Latin honours, you may not need the exam at all. See our guide to honor graduate eligibility.
After you pass
Passers are listed on the CSC website, and your individual rating is available through the CSC’s online results system. Your certificate of eligibility is released by the CSC Regional or Field Office where you took the exam, under the instructions in the results advisory for your exam date.
Sources
- CSC Examination Announcement No. 03, s. 2026: CSE-PPT on 9 August 2026.
- CSC: 2026 Civil Service Exam schedule and application timelines.
- CSC Examination Advisory No. 17, s. 2026: release of the 9 August 2026 CSE-PPT results.
- Definition of first- and second-level positions (CSC issuance, National Administrative Register Vol. 22 No. 3, 2011).
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