Overview
Russia has no single national entrance exam for the state civil service. Under Federal Law No. 79-FZ of 27 July 2004 on the State Civil Service, entry to a civil service post is normally decided by a competition (конкурс) for that specific vacancy. Each state body forms its own competition commission by its own legal act, so competitions are run separately by each ministry, agency or regional body rather than centrally.
The law defines the competition as an assessment of each applicant's professional level, a check that they meet the post's qualification requirements, and the selection of the winner for appointment from among the applicants. The detailed procedure is set by a Presidential decree, the Regulation on the competition for a vacant state civil service post.
Who can apply
Under Article 21 of 79-FZ, Russian citizens who are at least 18, speak Russian (the state language) and meet the qualification requirements for the post may enter the civil service. A person cannot be admitted in the cases listed in Article 16 of the law, which sets out restrictions on civil service, and other federal laws may add further restrictions. An applicant can be refused admission to a competition for not meeting the post's qualification requirements or because of these restrictions, and may appeal that refusal.
Levels or stages
Qualification requirements depend on the category and group of the post. Article 12 of 79-FZ sets these education levels:
| Posts | Minimum education |
|---|---|
| Heads, assistants (advisers) and specialists in the highest and main groups | Higher education at specialist or master's level |
| Heads and assistants (advisers) in the leading group; specialists in the leading and senior groups; support specialists in the main and leading groups | Higher education |
| Support specialists in the senior and junior groups | Professional education |
Beyond education, a post can require a set length of civil service or work experience in the field, a professional level defined in the post's job regulations (должностной регламент), and where the employer decides, a specific specialty or field of study. Experience requirements for federal posts are set by Presidential decree and, for regional posts, by regional laws. The state body's personnel unit checks whether each applicant meets the requirements.
Competition commission
The competition assesses each applicant's professional level against the post's requirements. It is run by a competition commission that includes the employer's representative or civil servants authorised by them, such as staff from the personnel unit and the unit with the vacancy. At least a quarter of the commission must be independent experts from research, educational and other organisations who specialise in the relevant field, in personnel work or in the civil service. In federal executive bodies and regional executive bodies with a public council, members of that council also sit on the commission, and together with the independent experts they must make up at least a quarter of it. An independent expert may serve on a body's commission for no more than three years in total. Commissions are formed so as to rule out conflicts of interest, and an applicant may appeal the commission's decision.
When no competition is held
Article 22 lists cases where no competition is held, including:
appointment for a fixed term of office to posts in the heads and assistants (advisers) categories;
appointment to head posts filled by the President or the Government;
appointment under a fixed-term service contract;
certain transfers of serving civil servants to another post;
appointment of a person from the civil service personnel reserve (кадровый резерв).
A competition may also be skipped for posts involving state secrets, under a list set by the state body, and, at the employer's discretion, for posts in the junior group and in other cases set by federal law.
How to apply
Competitions are held by the state body that has the vacancy, so applications go to that body. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements in that post's job regulations, and the body's personnel unit checks them before admission to the competition.
Preparation tips
Read the job regulations for the specific post, since they set the professional knowledge and skills the commission will assess.
Check the education category for the post's group before applying; a missing qualification means you will not be admitted.
Being included in a body's personnel reserve can lead to appointment without a fresh competition.
Is there one national civil service exam in Russia?
No. Each state body runs its own competition for each vacancy, under the rules in Federal Law 79-FZ and the Presidential regulation on competitions.
What is the minimum age?
Applicants must also be Russian citizens who speak Russian and meet the post's qualification requirements.
Can I be appointed without a competition?
In some cases, yes, for example under a fixed-term contract, from the personnel reserve, or, at the employer's discretion, to a junior-group post.