Guide

How to apply for the Civil Service Exam online.

Short answer

Apply through the CSC's online registration system: create an account, reserve a slot during the open window, complete your profile and upload requirements, pay the fee, then print your Examination Permit. Slots fill fast — register the moment the window opens.

Registration for the Civil Service Exam runs through the CSC's online system, and the single most important thing to know is that slots are limited and go quickly when a window opens. This guide walks through the online application end to end — account, slot, requirements, payment, permit — so you're not fumbling with the portal while slots disappear.

Quick facts

Where: CSC online portal
Slots: Limited — fill fast
Output: Examination Permit
Bring on day: Permit + valid ID

Before the window opens

Confirm you're eligible (Filipino citizen, at least 18, good moral character, no disqualifying record) and decide your level — Professional or Subprofessional. Have your requirements ready in advance: a valid government-issued ID and a recent ID photo meeting the announced specifications. Knowing your preferred testing region also helps, since slots are allocated by venue.

Watch for the official examination announcement, which states the registration window, exam date, and venues. Registration windows are short and slots are capped, so preparation before the window opens is what gets you a seat.

Source: the CSC's official examination information

The online application steps

Create or log into your account on the CSC online registration system. When the window opens, reserve a slot for your chosen level and testing venue — this is the step that's time-sensitive. Complete your personal profile accurately; the name and details must match the ID you'll present on exam day.

Upload the required documents (ID photo and any specified requirements) in the formats the portal requires. Pay the examination fee through the accepted payment channels. Once your registration is confirmed, download and print your Examination Permit.

After you register

Keep your printed Examination Permit safe and verify your assigned venue and room. Confirm your valid ID is unexpired and that its details match your registration exactly. Then turn your attention to actually preparing — a confirmed slot is the start of the work, not the end of it.

Use the weeks before the exam to run a diagnostic mock, find your weakest subject, drill it, and re-measure. Walking in with a confirmed slot but no measured preparation is the most common path to a retake.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply for the Civil Service Exam?

Through the CSC's online registration system. You create an account, reserve a slot during the open window, complete your profile, upload requirements, pay the fee, and print your Examination Permit.

Why do slots run out so fast?

Slots are capped per venue and demand is high. Prepare your requirements before the window opens and register the moment it does, or you may have to wait for the next administration.

What do I get after a successful application?

An Examination Permit, which you print and bring on exam day along with the valid ID matching your registration.

Can I change my testing venue after registering?

Venue changes depend on slot availability and CSC rules for that administration. Choose carefully at registration, since reallocation isn't guaranteed.

Related guides

Drill these topics

Now find your floor.

Forty questions across all four subtests. Forty minutes. No signup required. See exactly where you stand against the 80% pass mark.

Take the free diagnostic Or create a free account →