Civil Service Examinations for Senior Secretary 2026: Key Points for Local Government Officials

Key data

Local government officials with national qualification who aspire to advance to the Senior category of the Secretary Sub-scale now have the formal pathway to do so. The Order TDF/335/2026, of April 1, published in the Official Gazette on April 13, 2026, announces the corresponding selection tests exclusively through the internal promotion route.

This process is not open to external candidates. Only those who already belong to lower or equivalent scales within the Scale of local government officials with national qualification can participate. The positions resulting from this process will fill posts in municipalities and local entities that require national qualification for their performance.

What does this regulation establish?

Order TDF/335/2026 regulates the selection process for accessing, through internal promotion, the Secretary Sub-scale, Senior category, of the Scale of local government officials with national qualification.

The main elements established by the announcement are as follows:

The announcement sets specific deadlines for submitting applications and for developing each phase of the selection process. These deadlines are fully contained in the official text of the Order, available in the Official Gazette.

Economic and operational impact

For aspiring officials, passing this process means a category promotion within the national qualification Scale, with the salary improvements and level increases that come with advancing to the Senior category of the Secretary Sub-scale. The individual economic impact will depend on the position supplement and the level of the specific post in each municipality or local entity.

For municipalities and local entities, the impact is operational and related to human resources planning:

• Vacant positions in the Secretary Sub-scale, Senior category, can be filled through this process, reducing reliance on temporary appointments or accumulation of functions.
• Filling these positions strengthens the legal certainty of administrative acts that require the intervention of a secretary with national qualification.
• Human resources departments of local entities must identify which positions can be filled and plan possible internal movements resulting from the process.

No data has been published on the exact number of positions announced in the available summary of the regulation. To know the specific number, it is necessary to consult the full text of Order TDF/335/2026 in the Official Gazette.

Who does it affect?

• Local government officials with national qualification belonging to lower or equivalent scales who wish to advance to the Senior category of the Secretary Sub-scale.
• Municipalities and local entities with vacant or pending positions in the Secretary Sub-scale, Senior category.
• Human resources managers of local administrations who must manage personnel movements resulting from the selection process.
• Personnel advisors and managers who provide services to local entities and need to know the status of the process to plan staffing.

Practical example

An official who currently holds a position in the Secretary Sub-scale in Entry or Access category, with the years of seniority and qualifications required by Order TDF/335/2026, can submit their application within the deadline established in the announcement.

If they pass the theoretical-practical exercises, they advance to the Senior category of the Secretary Sub-scale and can apply for positions in larger or more complex municipalities and local entities, which are those that typically require this senior category with national qualification. This means a change in salary level and responsibility, as well as expanding the range of available positions in the subsequent merit competition.

For the municipality that has a vacant Senior Secretary position, this process is the way to fill it permanently with an official with national qualification, avoiding interim situations or accumulation of functions that create legal uncertainty in acts requiring the secretary's signature.

What should those affected do now?

1. Consult the full text of Order TDF/335/2026 in the Official Gazette to know the exact number of positions, qualification and seniority requirements, and application submission deadlines.
2. Verify compliance with access requirements: required qualifications, years of seniority in the scale and any other specific requirements included in the announcement.
3. Prepare the necessary documentation for the application before the deadline established in the announcement expires. Do not wait until the last moment.
4. Human resources managers of local entities must identify vacant Senior Secretary positions in their staffing and assess the impact of the process on their personnel structure.
5. Plan preparation for theoretical-practical tests with sufficient advance notice, given that this type of process requires up-to-date knowledge of local government regulations and applicable legal framework.