Applications open: EPSO 2025 Building Specialists

On 16 September, 2025, the European Personnel Selection Office EPSO launched a new competition to select building specialists across four specialist profiles. The selection process is based on qualifications and a series of tests. Those candidates who pass the eligibility checks and all the tests will end up on one of four reserve lists from which EU institutions, bodies, and agencies can recruit new members of staff. The last time EPSO held a similar competition was in 2017.

The reserve lists have a total of 411 places.

Seriously thinking about applying for this new EPSO Competition, but still unsure?

Get in-depth knowledge of the Notice of Competition and find out what to expect from the application and testing process:

Be part of a collaborative community

Get answers to your questions and be the first to know when EPSO makes a move - join the dedicated Facebook group: EPSO Building Specialists Competition

Ready to get ready?

If you are keen to start building a solid foundation for your EPSO prep now, we can help: 

• EPSO Exam Preparation Mastery - an on-demand webinar about how to approach EPSO tests with clarity, confidence and focus
• View on-demand reasoning skills webinars here - some are even FREE!
• Or join a workshop here.
• Watch this Written Test Methodology webinar for the best prep tips and advice, plus concrete examples

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Competition Snapshot

• Open for Applications: 16 September 2025
• Application Deadline: 17 October 2025 (12-noon Brussels Time)
  • ​Applications can be submitted in any of the 24 official EU languages
• EPSO reference number: EPSO/AD/425/25
• Grade: AD7
• This competition covers 4 profiles - you may apply for only one - and you cannot change profiles after you have validated your application

Under this competition, the following three reserve lists have been advertised, from which the various European institutions may recruit:

Find Annex II in the Notice of Competition to read all about what duties will be expected of you and about the main roles covered by each field.

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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

General criteria:

• Have EU citizenship
• Fulfilled any military service requirements
• Meet the character requirements for the duties concerned

Language Requirements 

Candidates must know at least two official EU languages.

• Language 1: Minimum C1 level of one of the 24 official EU languages (regardless of your citizenship).
• Language 2: Any of the remaining 23 official languages of the EU at a minimum level of B2. 

Language 1 and Language 2 must be different!

Qualifications & Work Experience

• Find section 3.3 in the Notice of Competition titled  "Specific conditions -qualifications and work experience" for the specific requirements according to your chosen profile. 

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SELECTION PROCESS

1. APPLICATION

Candidates must submit their applications through the Single Candidate Portal no later than 17 October 2025 at noon, Brussels time. You must also upload a copy of a valid ID by this point too. The application can be filled out in any of the EU's 24 official languages.

Scanned copies of documents that support the declarations made in your applications must be uploaded and linked to your application through your EPSO account no later than 12 February 2026 at noon, Brussels time.

2. TESTS

All candidates who have validated their applications on time will be invited to sit a series of tests:

a) REASONING TESTS | Language 1

• Pass/fail
• Only those who reach the pass mark will have their MCQ scored.

b) FIELD-RELATED MCQ | Language 2

• The EPSO field-related MCQ will be specific to your chosen field.
• Need to reach the pass mark, as well as be among the highest scoring.
• Candidates who reach the pass mark will be ranked per field in descending order according to their scores.
• The ranking will be used to determine whether or not candidates will have their Written test scored and eligibility checked, and to establish the reserve lists.

c) Written Test | Language 2

This is a Written Test related to the fields of the competition but only assessing written communication skills. It is not a language test. You will be given an assignment (maybe more than one) based on a document provided by EPSO about two weeks before the exam date.​

• You will have 40 minutes to write your response to the given assignment/task.
• The assignment will only be given to you on the day of the exam.
• You will have access to the document on the day as well, for reference.
• The pass mark is 5/10 

Not sure where to start or how to prepare? Read Preparing for the Written Test

3. WRITTEN TEST SCORING + ELIGIBILITY CHECKS

​Only a limited number of candidates will move forward to have their written tests scored and eligibility checked. This stage involves a few important rules and limitations:

• Written test scoring and eligibility checks are carried out in parallel.
• This applies only to the highest-ranked candidates, up to 1.5 times the number of successful candidates sought per field. 
• If candidates are tied at the cut-off point, they will also be included.
• Eligibility is assessed by comparing application form declarations with supporting documents.
• Candidates outside this ranking threshold will not proceed further in the competition.

4. RESERVE LIST

Once the scoring and eligibility checks are complete, the reserve lists are drawn up. The lists include only those candidates who meet all criteria and have ranked highly enough. Here are the key points to understand:

• Only candidates with all required pass scores, one of the highest field-related MCQ scores, and confirmed eligibility will be added to the reserve list.
• Selection is made in descending order of ranking until the quota per field is filled or no more qualifying candidates remain.
• Candidates who tie for the last available spot will all be included.
• The final reserve list is not ranked
• Names on the reserve list are published alphabetically and shared with recruiting services.
• EPSO will inform candidates of their results, unless their test or eligibility was not processed.
• Being on the reserve list does not guarantee a job offer.​

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HOW CAN YOU APPLY?

ALWAYS read the official EPSO Notice of Competition very carefully. Then read it again. Get a good understanding of the content - this is your official guide to this EPSO competition. We also recommend you get familiar with the General Rules Governing Open Competitions.

Then, read this step-by-step guide: How to apply to an EPSO competition

Once the profile pages become available on the EPSO website, we will link them here.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR EPSO EXAMS!

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