Last updated: November 1, 2026 · Based on CSC Examination Announcement No. 06, s. 2026
Quick answer: How do I apply for the March 2027 civil service exam?
- Filing opens November 2, 2026 and stays open until slots are filled. There’s no fixed deadline, so file early.
- Prepare CS Form No. 100 (Revised 2023), 4 identical ID photos with a hand-held, handwritten name tag, an accepted ID (original and photocopy) and the ₱500 fee.
- Contact the CSC Regional or Field Office where you’ll take the exam to confirm how it accepts applications, then file there.
Exam day: Sunday, March 14, 2027. Results are targeted on or before May 11, 2027.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has released the official announcement for the March 14, 2027 Career Service Examination, Pen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) for both Professional and Subprofessional levels. This guide covers everything in it: who can apply, the exact documents, the strict photo rules, testing centers and slots, and what’s on the exam.
Key Dates
| Item | Date |
|---|---|
| Filing opens | November 2, 2026 |
| Filing closes | When slots are filled, or as CSC announces |
| Deadline to request a testing center transfer | December 9, 2026 |
| 3-month prohibition (no other CSE of the same level) | December 14, 2026 – March 13, 2027 |
| Exam day | March 14, 2027 |
| Target release of results | On or before May 11, 2027 |
Who Can Apply
- Filipino citizen
- At least 18 years old on the date you file
- Of good moral character
- Not convicted by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, examination irregularity, drunkenness or drug addiction
- Not dishonorably discharged from the military or dismissed for cause from government service
- Has not taken the same level of the CSE (PPT or digital) in the 3 months before the exam, which means December 14, 2026 to March 13, 2027
- Has not previously passed the same level
Dual citizens under RA 9225 can also apply. Bring your Bureau of Immigration Identification Certificate.
You may not need to take the exam at all. Under RA 1080, PRC board exam passers and Bar passers are automatically civil service eligible, so licensed teachers, nurses, engineers, CPAs and other PRC professionals don’t need the CSE. The same applies to holders of certain special eligibilities, such as Honor Graduate Eligibility (PD 907) and Barangay Official or Barangay Health Worker eligibility.
Application Requirements
1. Application form
A fully accomplished CS Form No. 100, Revised 2023, either the Professional or Subprofessional version. Get it at any CSC office or download it from csc.gov.ph, and print it on legal-size bond paper.
2. Four identical ID photos, following CSC’s strict rules
Photo problems are one of the most common reasons applications get rejected. CSC requires photos that are:
- Philippine passport size (4.5 cm × 3.5 cm), in color, with a white background
- Taken within the last 3 months and printed on good-quality photo paper
- A close-up from the shoulders up, with your head and face filling at least 80% of the photo
- Bare face: no eyeglasses, colored contacts, headdress or accessories covering your face, and no computer enhancement. Both ears visible, full-face view, neutral expression, eyes open.
- With a hand-held name tag showing your handwritten signature over your printed full name, held about 1 inch below your chin. It must be physically held when the photo is taken. Name tags added by computer are not accepted.
Muslim women wearing a head covering only need to show their forehead and both ears.
3. Accepted ID (original and photocopy)
Any one of the following: driver’s license, passport, PRC license, SSS ID, GSIS/UMID, Voter’s ID or Voter’s Certification, TIN ID (with picture), PhilHealth ID, company or office ID, school ID, police clearance (with picture), postal ID, barangay ID, NBI clearance, seaman’s book, HDMF ID, PWD ID, Solo Parent ID, Senior Citizen ID, CSC Eligibility Card, or PhilID / ePhilID (National ID).
IDs not on CSC’s list aren’t accepted. An expired ID is allowed only as a last resort, and only if it expired within 2026.
4. Examination fee
₱500.00
If applicable
- PSA birth certificate (original and photocopy), if your ID doesn’t show your date of birth. PSA E-Certificates are accepted.
How to File
- Choose your testing center carefully. Transfers are allowed only for exceptional reasons, and requests must be in writing by December 9, 2026.
- Contact the CSC Regional or Field Office that covers that testing center, by phone or email, to confirm how it accepts applications and whether slots are still available. Each office sets its own filing procedure. The directory is on csc.gov.ph.
- Submit your requirements and pay the ₱500 fee. Keep your Application Receipt.
Testing Centers and Available Slots
| Region | Testing centers (slots) |
|---|---|
| NCR | Quezon City (19,200), Manila (12,300), Makati (6,400), Pasay (6,400), Taguig (3,200) |
| CAR | Baguio (3,250), Tabuk (3,000), La Trinidad (2,000), Bangued (1,700), Bontoc (1,500), Lamut (1,500) |
| Region I | Lingayen (4,153), San Fernando, La Union (3,858), Urdaneta (3,413), Laoag (2,277), Vigan (1,915), Candon (1,384) |
| Region II | Tuguegarao (11,025), Cauayan (4,725), Bayombong (2,475), Diffun (1,665), Basco (500), Maconacon (100) |
| Region III | San Fernando, Pampanga (8,700), Cabanatuan (4,050), San Jose, Nueva Ecija (4,050), Malolos (3,250), Tarlac (2,700), Zambales (2,700), Balanga (1,800), Baler (1,500), Guiguinto (1,250) |
| Region IV | Cainta (5,900), Bacoor (5,875), Lucena (5,750), Batangas City (5,300), Puerto Princesa (4,100), Los Baños (3,600), Pinamalayan (3,200), Mamburao (3,100), Boac (1,700), San Agustin, Romblon (1,600), Brooke’s Point (1,200) |
| Region V | Legazpi (2,800), Pili (2,600), Masbate (2,500), Naga (2,400), Virac (1,850), Daet (1,850), Sorsogon (1,850), Daraga (1,700) |
| Region VI | Iloilo City (8,289), Bacolod (6,814), Roxas (3,575), Kalibo (2,925), San Jose, Antique (2,266), Jordan, Guimaras (1,500) |
| Region VII | Cebu City (3,357), Tagbilaran (2,600), Talisay (2,500), Lapu-Lapu (2,500), Dumaguete (2,500), Guihulngan (1,200), Larena (1,150) |
| Region VIII | Tacloban (8,750), Catbalogan (2,100), Borongan (2,000), Catarman (2,000), Maasin (1,900), Ormoc (1,750) |
| Region IX | Zamboanga City (13,000), Pagadian (4,000), Dipolog (4,000) |
| Region X | Cagayan de Oro (10,000), Iligan (3,500), Valencia (3,500), Tangub (2,250), Mambajao (900) |
| Region XI | Davao City (10,500), Tagum (3,000), Digos (2,500), Mati (2,000), Nabunturan (2,000) |
| Region XII | Koronadal (4,500), Kidapawan (3,500), General Santos (3,000), Tacurong (2,500), Polomolok (2,000), Tupi (2,000) |
| Caraga | Butuan (7,000), San Francisco (3,050), Surigao (3,000), Buenavista (1,000), Bislig (1,000) |
| BARMM | Cotabato City (6,100), Iligan (2,200), Jolo (2,200), Bongao (1,700) |
Smaller centers can fill up within days. Cebu City, for example, has only 3,357 slots, compared with Davao City’s 10,500. Call the CSC office first to check availability.
What’s on the Exam
| Area | Professional | Subprofessional |
|---|---|---|
| General Information (English): Constitution, RA 6713, peace and human rights, environment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Verbal Ability (English and Filipino): word meaning, sentence completion, error recognition, sentence structure, paragraph organization, reading comprehension | ✓ | ✓ |
| Numerical Ability: basic operations, number sequence, word problems | ✓ | ✓ |
| Analytical Ability: word analogy, abstract reasoning, assumptions and conclusions, data interpretation | ✓ | — |
| Clerical Ability: filing, spelling | — | ✓ |
Passing grade: a general rating of at least 80.00. No calculators of any kind are allowed, not even watch calculators, and no phones, smartwatches or scratch paper. Cheating is punishable under the Anti-Cheating Law (RA 9416).
Start Your Review Now
Only 14.41% passed the August 2026 exam (see the results), so the 19 weeks until March 14 matter. Take our CSE Interactive Sample Exam to find your weak areas, then follow the Civil Service Exam 2027 Reviewer Guide. For the full year’s schedule, including the August 8, 2027 exam, see our Civil Service Exam 2027 Schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I file for the March 2027 civil service exam?
From November 2, 2026, continuously until the available slots in your chosen testing center are filled, or until CSC announces otherwise.
What are the requirements for the civil service exam 2027?
A filled-out CS Form No. 100 (Revised 2023), four identical passport-size ID photos with a hand-held handwritten name tag, an accepted ID (original and photocopy), and the ₱500 exam fee. Add a PSA birth certificate if your ID doesn’t show your birthdate.
How much is the civil service exam fee?
₱500.
Is the name tag in the photo really required to be handwritten?
Yes. CSC requires a hand-held name tag with your handwritten signature over your printed full name. Name tags added by computer aren’t accepted.
Do PRC board passers need to take the civil service exam?
No. Under RA 1080, PRC board exam and Bar passers are automatically considered civil service eligibles.
Source
Exams Pinas is not affiliated with the Civil Service Commission. Always confirm filing procedures with the CSC Regional or Field Office where you’ll take the exam.