The Spanish public administration is preparing for one of its most ambitious reforms yet in access to and selection of personnel for groups A1 and A2. The Government, through the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service, has introduced a revamped competitive examination system that focuses on pre-entry training and adaptation to emerging professional profiles, with the aim of updating the civil service in line with current challenges.
The renewal, promoted under the framework of “Consensus for an Open Administration”, represents a twist on the classic mechanism of oppositionsThe new procedure is defined by the replacement of the traditional eliminatory exam by a structured training itinerary similar to a free university master's degreeOnly those who pass the initial entrance exam will be eligible to enroll in these programs, which will last two years and be offered by public training institutes and schools.
Formal training and ECTS credits: this is how the new exams for A1 and A2 will work.
Access to public service in groups A1 and A2 will be conditional on passing two phases. First, applicants must pass a test that will allow them to access a structured training period lasting two academic years. This training is adapted to the European ECTS credit system: 120 ECTS for subgroup A1 and 90 for A2During this time, future civil servants will receive specific content on digital competencies, public management, and new skills essential to today's administrative demands.
Once this cycle is completed, Candidates must pass a final exam This will determine who is awarded a place based on their highest grades. The number of students admitted to the training phase will be greater than the available places, which encourages competition and ensures the selection of the most suitable profiles.
Those who complete the training but do not pass the final exam will receive an official title equivalent to a university postgraduate degree, thus accrediting your specialization and effort.
Guarantee of equality and scholarship system
To avoid inequalities, Admission to the training program is decided by a single test and linked to merit. Furthermore, the Government plans to integrate this process with the state scholarship system, managed by the Ministry of Education, to ensure that no applicant is excluded for financial reasons. This approach strengthens equal access and encourages diversity in the selected profiles.
The new system will apply only to candidates in groups A1 and A2, reserving the traditional system for other subgroups. For C1 and C2, training will be provided after obtaining the position, allowing for more specific adaptation to each position.
New strategies for digital transformation and public services
Within the package of measures of the plan, the Executive has planned an investment of 43 million euros aimed at digitizing and modernizing the administration. In this regard, a self-developed Artificial Intelligence platform, with the aim of simplifying procedures and anticipating the needs of both citizens and businesses.
One of the most anticipated changes is the gradual elimination of the mandatory appointmentThe Ministry is working to make access to public services more agile and accessible through new technologies and the introduction of AI in management. Furthermore, the creation of integrated single offices—for example, at Post Office headquarters—is being considered, where multiple administrative tasks can be carried out from a single location, making citizens' daily lives easier.
Social reaction and regulatory horizon
The model, presented by Minister Óscar López and Secretary of State Clara Mapelli, It has been received with caution and some reservations by civil servant associations and unions, who are requesting greater clarity regarding the implementation and the impact on objectivity and selection capacity. The Government, for its part, emphasizes that the proposal follows European standards and will be negotiated with social stakeholders to achieve maximum consensus, in addition to harmonizing with the regulations of the autonomous communities.
The deployment of this new system will depend in part on the regulatory support of Congress and inter-institutional collaboration. Although the timeline is not yet fully defined, the Executive branch is confident that it will represent The greatest evolution in access to public employment since the arrival of the Internet.