Who are exempted in taking the Civil Service Exam? Here’s list of 11 eligibilities

MANILA, Philippines – While passing the Civil Service Exam - Paper and Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) will grant you the “eligibility” for a government service, there are also special laws and issuances that list the exemptions to the rule.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has granted 11 eligibilities to qualified individuals. Even without passing the CSE, qualified individuals are still considered fit for government service if they belong to the listed exemptions and passed the requirements.

SEE ALSO: CSC announces Civil Service Exam 2025 schedule, requirements

“The career service examination is not the be-all and end-all of acquiring civil service eligibility. Do you know that the CSC also grants eligibilities other than the Career Service Professional and Sub-Professional eligibilities? You can acquire a civil service eligibility even without taking the Career Service Examination,” CSC said.

Here are the basic requirements to pre-qualify for the special eligibility:

1. Citizen of the Republic of the Philippines;

2. At least 18 years of age at the time of application;

3. Has not been found guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude or of infamous, disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, drunkenness or addiction to drugs;

4. Has not been previously found guilty of offenses relative to, or in connection with the conduct of a civil service examination; and

5. Has not been dismissed from the service for cause.

Here are the 11 eligibilities granted under special laws and CSC issuances:

1. Bar/Board Eligibility – pursuant to Republic Act No. 1080, all passers of bar examination conducted by the Supreme Court and of licensure board examinations administered by the Professional Regulation Commission are automatically granted eligibility.

2. Barangay Health Worker (BHW) Eligibility – pursuant to RA No. 7883 and granted to Barangay Health Workers who meet the qualifications:

• BHW must have at least two years in college education leading to a college degree and five years of active and satisfactory service as BHW to the community
• The services must be voluntary, meaning, the BHW has not been employed and has not received any form of salary, or compensation, except honorarium, in the entirety of the five-year period for service requirement
• The services rendered must be continuous for a minimum period of five (5) years, meaning, the BHW should have served actively and satisfactorily on a full time basis.
• The applicant-BHW should already had been accredited by the Local Health Board before rendering the five-year service requirement.
• BHW who had been hired by agency under Job Order status and/or Contract of Service, may still avail of/qualify for the grant of BHWE.

3. Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Eligibility – pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1569, granted to barangay-based volunteer workers who meet the qualifications:

2 years of continuous and satisfactory nutrition services and other related activities to the barangay

4. Barangay Official Eligibility (BOE) – pursuant to RA No. 7160, is granted to elective barangay officials: Punong Barangay, regular Sangguniang Barangay Members, and Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman.

Appointive barangay officials: Barangay Treasurers and Barangay Secretaries who were appointed by the duly elected punong barangay, who meet the qualifications.

5. Electronic Data Processing Specialist (EDPS) Eligibility – pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 90-083, is conferred on passers of the proficiency test or training course conducted by the National Computer Institute National Computer Center (NCI-NCC) on the following computer courses: Systems Analysis and Design; Computer Programming; Java; MS Access; and Visual Basic.

6. Foreign School Honor Graduate Eligibility (FSHGE) – pursuant to CSC Resolution No. 1302714, is granted to Filipino citizens who graduated summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude, or its equivalent, in their baccalaureate degree from school year 1972-1973 and thereafter, in legitimate prominent/reputable school/college/university in other countries as verified by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the Philippine Foreign Service Posts. View full details and requirements here.

7. Honor Graduate Eligibility (HGE) – pursuant to PD No. 907 (local schools), those who graduated summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude, in their baccalaureate degree, regardless of the number of years of completion both for Private HEIs with bachelor's degree recognized by the Commission on Higher Education and State Colleges with baccalaureate degree duly approved by its Board of Trustees.

8. Sanggunian Member Eligibility (SME) – pursuant to RA No. 10156, is granted to Sanggunian Members (SM) who have been elected after the effectivity of the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160) on May 11, 1992. Members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan are conferred the appropriate CSE Eligibility.

9. Scientific and Technological Specialist (STS) Eligibility – pursuant to PD No. 997, conferred on S&T Specialist who has at least a bachelor’s degree in areas enumerated in Section 1 of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Provisions of PD 997 (Revised 2009) and who meets any of the additional requirements.

At least three (3) years of continuous experience in research and/or teaching in the pertinent field, which may include specialized training in research, or teaching experience at the college level in one’s major field or field of specialization, or completion of a patented invention or has earned a master’s or doctorate degree in his area of specialization.

The applicant shall be specialized in the following fields of study.

Natural Sciences

• Astronomy - Astrophysics
• Biological Sciences - Biology (S & T), Microbiology, Botany, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Ecology, Physical Anthropology, Marine Biology and Zoology
• Geological Sciences - Archeology, Geophysics, Paleontology, Seismology
• Meteorology
• Oceanography
• Physics/Applied Physics

Engineering Sciences

• Biological Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Materials Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Food Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Geothermal Engineering, Railway Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Textile Engineering, Nuclear Engineering

Mathematics and Information and Communication Technology

• Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology, Pure Mathematics, Statistics

Other Disciplines

• Environmental Science, Food Science

10. Skill Eligibility – Pursuant to CSC MC No. 11, s. 1996, positions which are not measurable by written test will be granted CSC eligibility. These include plant electrician, automotive mechanic, heavy equipment operator, laboratory technician, shrine curator, carpenter, draftsman, plumber, and others.

11. Veteran Preference Rating (VPR) Eligibility - pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 132, s. 1948 / 790, s. 1982, is granted to Philippine Veterans Affairs Office-certified World War II veteran, or his/her spouse, or any one of his/her children who failed and lacks no more than 10 points in either the Career Service Professional Examination, the Career Service Sub Professional Examination, the Fire Officer Examination, or the Penology Officer Examination.

The grant of eligibility under special laws and CSC issuances involves two (2) stages – Evaluation of Application, and Processing of Certificate of Eligibility.

If you belong to the exemptions, you can visit the nearest Civil Service Regional Office near you to submit the requirements and secure the CSC Certificate of Eligibility.

You can also check the official website of the Civil Service Commission for more information on the qualifications and requirements.

— Sally, The Summit Express