Civil Service Exam March 14, 2027: how to apply (filing starts November 2, 2026), requirements and fee

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) will hold the next Career Service Examination, Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) for the Professional and Subprofessional levels on Sunday, March 14, 2027. Filing of applications starts on November 2, 2026. There is no fixed closing date. The CSC accepts applications on a continuous basis until the slots are filled, or until it announces otherwise. If you want a government job, this is the exam that gives you civil service eligibility. File early.

Last verified: October 20, 2026, against CSC Examination Announcement No. 05, s. 2026 (2027 exam calendar), Examination Announcement No. 03, s. 2026 (the latest full CSE-PPT announcement, for the August 9, 2026 exam), and Examination Advisory No. 10, s. 2026. The CSC will issue a separate, detailed announcement for the March 14, 2027 exam. Check it on csc.gov.ph before you file, because details can change.

Key dates for the 2027 Civil Service Exam

From CSC Examination Announcement No. 05, s. 2026:

The CSC notes that the slot numbers are targets and depend on available testing centers. The results dates are also targets and may move depending on the number of examinees. The CSC said it will release a specific announcement for each exam about three weeks before filing opens, and an exam advisory about two weeks before exam day.

Professional vs Subprofessional: which one should you take?

Per Examination Announcement No. 03, s. 2026:

• Professional → Career Service Professional Eligibility. This is a second-level eligibility. It fits first-level (clerical) positions and second-level (technical) positions in government, including executive/managerial second-level positions that do not involve practice of a profession and are not covered by special laws.
• Subprofessional → Career Service Subprofessional Eligibility. This is a first-level eligibility, for first-level (clerical) positions only.

If you are not sure, look at the qualification standards of the government jobs you are targeting. Many college-level and supervisory posts ask for Professional eligibility.

Who can take the exam (qualifications)

Based on the latest full CSE-PPT announcement (No. 03, s. 2026). Expect the same rules for March 2027, but confirm in the new announcement:

1. Filipino citizen.
2. At least 18 years old on the date you file your application. If you file but are found under-age before exam day, you are disqualified and your fee is forfeited.
3. Of good moral character.
4. Not convicted by final judgment of an offense involving moral turpitude, disgraceful or immoral conduct, dishonesty, examination irregularity, drunkenness or drug addiction.
5. Not dishonorably discharged from the military, or dismissed for cause from a government post.
6. Has not taken the same level of the CSE (pen-and-paper or computerized) within three months before the exam date.
7. Has not already passed the same level you are applying for.

Other notes from the CSC:

• Dual citizens under R.A. 9225 may apply with supporting documents, including a Bureau of Immigration Identification Certificate.
• Applicants with pending administrative or criminal cases may take the exam. Their eligibility can be cancelled later if they are found guilty.
• Bar and PRC board passers are already civil service eligibles under R.A. 1080, and do not need to take the CSE. The same goes for some special eligibilities, such as Honor Graduate Eligibility (P.D. 907) and Barangay Official Eligibility.
• Approval of an application can be recalled at any time if a disqualification is discovered. The fee is forfeited.

Requirements checklist

From Examination Announcement No. 03, s. 2026:

1. Application Form: CS Form No. 100 (Revised 2023), fully accomplished. Choose the Professional or Subprofessional version. You can get it at any CSC Regional/Field Office or download it from csc.gov.ph. Print on legal-size bond paper.
2. Four (4) identical ID pictures (specs below).
3. Original and photocopy of one accepted ID (list below).
4. Examination fee: ₱500 (the fee for the 2026 exams; confirm in the March 2027 announcement).

Additional requirements, if applicable:

• PSA or Local Civil Registry birth certificate (original and photocopy), if your ID has no date of birth.
• Bureau of Immigration Identification Certificate (original and photocopy), for dual citizens.

ID photo specifications

• Philippine passport size: 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm (1.8 x 1.4 inches)
• Colored, white background
• Taken within three months before filing
• Printed on good quality photo paper
• Close-up from shoulder level up; head and face fill at least 80% of the picture
• Bare face: no eyeglasses, no colored contact lenses, no headdress or accessories covering the face, no computer enhancement
• Both ears visible (Muslim women may keep their head covering but must show the forehead and both ears)
• Full-face view, neutral expression, both eyes open
• Hand-held name tag about 1 inch below the chin, showing your handwritten signature over printed full name (given name, middle initial, last name, extension). Not computer-generated.

Accepted IDs

Bring the original and a photocopy of any one of these. IDs not on the list are not accepted:

• Driver’s License / Temporary Driver’s License (with LTO O.R. and old license) / Student Permit
• Passport
• PRC License
• SSS ID; GSIS ID (UMID)
• Voter’s ID / Voter’s Certification
• BIR/TIN ID with picture (Digital TIN ID included)
• PhilHealth ID (with name, clear picture, signature and PhilHealth number)
• Company/Office ID; School ID
• Police Clearance (with picture); NBI Clearance
• Postal ID; Barangay ID
• Seaman’s Book; HDMF (Pag-IBIG) Transaction ID
• PWD ID; Solo Parent ID; Senior Citizen’s ID
• CSC Eligibility Card
• Philippine Identification (PhilID) card, including the printed ePhilID. The Digital National ID may be accepted, subject to verification at everify.gov.ph/check.

As a last resort, an expired ID may be accepted at filing if it expired within the same calendar year. For the 2026 exam, that meant an ID that expired in 2026. Check the March 2027 announcement for the rule that applies.

📌 Read also: Walang valid ID? Paano kumuha ng government documents at unang ID mo (2026 guide)

How to apply: step by step

1. Read the official March 14, 2027 announcement on csc.gov.ph once it is posted. It will list the testing centers, slots and filing mode.
2. Pick your testing center carefully. Transfers are allowed only in extraordinary, meritorious cases, by written request within a short window after filing closes.
3. Prepare your requirements: CS Form No. 100, 4 photos, accepted ID (original and photocopy), and the ₱500 fee.
4. File your application with the CSC Regional or Field Office that covers your testing center, using the filing mode that office uses (see below).
5. Pay the fee and keep your receipt. Your Application Receipt or CSC Official Receipt is where you note your Examinee Number.
6. Check your school assignment about two weeks before exam day, through the CSC’s Online Notice of School Assignment (ONSA) on the CSC website, or by asking your CSC office.
7. Take the exam on March 14, 2027. Then watch for the results on the CSC website (target: May 11, 2027).

Filing modes: walk-in, eServe or OCSEAS?

For the August 2026 exam, the CSC listed different filing modes by region:

The CSC asks applicants to coordinate with the CSC Regional or Field Office where they plan to take the exam, because each office may use its own procedure. The modes for March 2027 had not been posted when we checked. Confirm with your CSC office or the March 2027 announcement before filing. The CSC directory of offices is on csc.gov.ph.

First-come, first-served. The 2027 calendar says filing is continuous until slots are filled. In practice, popular testing centers can fill up quickly, so file in the first weeks after November 2.

What the exam covers

Passing grade: a general rating of at least 80.00, for both levels.

The CSC does not hold review classes, sell review materials, or accredit any review center. Be careful with groups that use the CSC name or logo.

Exam day: what to bring and what to expect

Based on the CSC’s reminders for the August 2026 exam (Examination Advisory No. 10, s. 2026). Check the new advisory about two weeks before March 14, 2027:

• Bring your original valid ID. The CSC strictly follows a “No ID, No Exam” policy.
• Bring black ballpen/s.
• Bring your Application Receipt / CSC Official Receipt, so you can copy your Examinee Number.
• Be at the venue by 6:30 a.m. Gates close at exactly 7:45 a.m. Late examinees are not admitted.
• Wear proper attire, preferably a plain white top. Sleeveless tops, shorts, tokong pants, ripped jeans and slippers are not allowed. Tie long hair. A transparent bag is encouraged.
• Bags, phones and gadgets (including smart watches) are left in front of the room, not under your seat.
• Allowed at your seat during the test: answer sheet, black ballpen/s, alcohol (100 ml max), transparent water bottle and biscuits or candies.
• Use only the spaces in the Test Booklet for scratch work.
• Visit your testing venue a day ahead if you can. Do not rely only on GPS on exam day.

Prohibited: calculators, phones and other gadgets, books or printed materials, taking photos of test materials, using paper or your skin for scratch work, and taking the booklet or answer sheet out of the room. Violations lead to cancellation of your exam and possible liability under the Anti-Cheating Law (R.A. 9416).

Results

The CSC posts the list of passers on its website. For the August 2026 exam, the CSC also let examinees generate their individual rating through the OCSERGS (Online Civil Service Examination Result Generation System) on the CSC website. The target release for the March 14, 2027 exam is May 11, 2027. Only the list posted on the CSC website is official.

CSE-PPT vs computerized exam (CSC COMEX)

The CSE-PPT is the nationwide pen-and-paper exam held on fixed Sundays (March 14 and August 8 in 2027). The CSC also runs a computerized examination system, CSC COMEX, in its regional offices, with schedules and slot reservations through the COMEX portal. The three-month rule applies across both modes: you cannot take the same level within three months before the exam date, whether by PPT or COMEX. COMEX schedules vary by regional office. Check the COMEX portal or your CSC Regional Office.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for a “deadline.” There is none. Filing closes when slots run out.
• Wrong photos: no name tag, typed name instead of a handwritten signature, eyeglasses on, or a non-white background.
• Bringing an ID that is not on the accepted list.
• Filing for the same level you already passed, or within three months of your last attempt. The fee is forfeited.
• Arriving after 7:45 a.m. on exam day.
• Trusting non-CSC pages for results or schedules.

📌 Read also: First job checklist 2026: SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, TIN at clearances para sa unang trabaho

📌 Read also: NBI vs police vs barangay clearance 2026: ano ang pagkakaiba at paano kumuha ng police clearance online

Questions people ask

When is the next Civil Service Exam?

The next CSE-PPT for Professional and Subprofessional levels is on March 14, 2027. Another one is on August 8, 2027.

When is the deadline to apply for the March 2027 exam?

There is no fixed deadline. Filing starts November 2, 2026 and continues until the slots are filled or the CSC announces otherwise.

How much is the fee?

₱500 for the 2026 exams. Confirm the amount in the official March 2027 announcement.

Can I take both Professional and Subprofessional?

Each application is for one level. Choose the level that matches the jobs you want. The Professional eligibility also covers first-level (clerical) positions.

I failed the August 2026 exam. Can I take the March 2027 exam?

The rule is that you must not have taken the same level within three months before the exam date. Check the exact prohibition period in the March 2027 announcement. The rule bars anyone who already passed the same level.

Can I apply online?

It depends on your CSC Regional Office. For August 2026, some offices used CSC eServe and others used OCSEAS. Confirm the March 2027 mode with your CSC office.

What is the passing score?

A general rating of at least 80.00.

Does the eligibility expire?

The CSC announcement does not say the eligibility expires. Check with the CSC if you need confirmation for a specific use.

Official sources

• CSC Examination Announcement No. 05, s. 2026: Calendar of CSE-PPT for CY 2027
• Exam Announcement No. 05, s. 2026 (signed PDF)
• CSC Examination Announcement No. 03, s. 2026: CSE-PPT August 9, 2026
• Exam Announcement No. 03, s. 2026 (signed PDF): qualifications, requirements, scope, passing grade
• CSC Examination Advisory No. 10, s. 2026: school assignment and reminders
• CSC eServe
• CSC OCSEAS
• CSC COMEX
• Civil Service Commission: csc.gov.ph

Disclaimer: This guide is for reference only. Exam rules, fees, filing modes and dates may change through new CSC announcements. Always follow the official CSC announcement for the exam you are taking. Pilipinas Guide is not the Civil Service Commission and does not accept exam applications.