Every year in our country thousands of students graduate and begin preparing to enter the workforce. One of the career paths available is becoming a government civil servant. Civil servants are recruited to government institutions annually through the public personnel selection exam (KPSS) or other entrance tests. Therefore, understanding who is eligible to become a civil servant is important.
The state offers many benefits to civil servants, such as family allowances and holiday bonuses. Those who meet the required qualifications and are accepted after applying can receive these benefits.
The conditions for becoming a civil servant are outlined in the Civil Servants Law No. 657. Applicants must satisfy these conditions to be appointed. The law divides the requirements into General and Special Conditions. General conditions apply across all institutions, while special conditions are set by the individual agencies.
General Requirements to Become a Civil Servant
- Candidates must be citizens of the Republic of Turkey.
- Candidates must meet the required age criteria. According to the Civil Servants Law, there are two age-related rules. A candidate must be at least 18 years old. As an exception, those who have completed vocational or art schools and have legally obtained maturity may be accepted from age 15.
- Upper age limits vary depending on the position. Some civil service posts have no maximum age, while others set the limit at 35. In certain roles the maximum age may be defined as 30.
- Candidates must satisfy the educational requirements. The minimum education level to enter civil service is typically completion of middle school, but this varies by position. Some roles require a university degree, while others accept high school graduation.
- Candidates must not be deprived of public rights. If an applicant has been legally stripped of public rights for any reason, their eligibility to become a civil servant is invalidated.
- Candidates must not have committed crimes that would disqualify them from civil service. Applications from individuals convicted of disqualifying offenses will be rejected.
- Male applicants must have an acceptable military status. They should have completed military service, be exempt, have an official medical report preventing service, or have an approved postponement of their military obligation.
- Candidates must be medically fit to perform the duties of the position. Any health condition that prevents duty performance may disqualify an applicant.
- Unless applying for positions designated for persons with disabilities, candidates should not have disabilities that prevent fulfilling the role. Individuals with mental disorders that make them unable to perform job duties may not be accepted even for disability-designated posts if they are judged unfit.
- Applicants must obtain a valid score from the most recent Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS) or other exams specified in job announcements.
Special Requirements to Become a Civil Servant
In addition to the general requirements, special conditions may be specified for particular posts. These special conditions are not exhaustively detailed in the law and can vary by the hiring institution. Each agency defines its own special requirements in its regulations and job announcements.
Special requirements can differ between institutions: the preferred fields of study, specific certifications, professional experience, or other qualifications may vary based on the agency’s duties and working conditions. Alongside the general conditions, applicants must also meet the special requirements set by the institution to which they apply.