- The Public Service Commission has opened registration for the 2026 Proficiency Examination for Clerical Officers, with examinations scheduled for September 21 to 24.
- Eligible public officers have until August 28 to submit their applications, while late registration will attract an additional fee before the final September 3 deadline.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has officially opened registration for the 2026 Proficiency Examination for Clerical Officers, setting September 21 to September 24, 2026, as the examination dates and urging eligible public officers to complete their registration before the August deadline.
The examination, which is a key requirement for professional growth and career progression for clerical officers in the Public Service, will be administered simultaneously at nine centres across the country.
In a notice issued by PSC Secretary and Chief Executive Paul Famba, the Commission announced that candidates will sit the examinations in Machakos, Nyeri, Mombasa, Embu, Garissa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Kakamega and Eldoret. The specific examination venues will be communicated to registered candidates once the registration exercise has been completed.
The Commission said the annual examination is designed to assess the professional knowledge, competence and administrative skills of clerical officers while supporting merit-based advancement within the Public Service.
PSC has outlined clear eligibility requirements for officers wishing to sit the examination.
Applicants must have attained a minimum Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of C- (Minus) or its equivalent. They must also be serving as Clerical Officers in the Public Service and should have held the position for at least one year before applying.
The Commission emphasized that only officers who satisfy these qualifications will be admitted to the examination.
Registration requirements
Candidates sitting the examination for the first time are required to complete Form A, which must be duly endorsed by their respective Head of Department or Section.
Those re-sitting the examination after being referred are required to complete Form B.
The registration forms can be downloaded from the Public Service Commission’s official website.
Completed forms must be submitted together with the Government copy of the payment receipt generated through the eCitizen platform to the Secretary and Chief Executive of the Public Service Commission in Nairobi.
PSC has set Friday, August 28, 2026, as the official deadline for submission of registration documents.
Digital registration through eCitizen
The Commission has streamlined the registration process through the PSC eCitizen portal to improve efficiency and convenience.
Applicants are required to create or log into their eCitizen accounts, provide the required personal information, indicate whether they are registering for the first time or re-sitting the examination, select their preferred examination centre and submit the application for approval.
After verification, successful applicants will receive an approval notification through SMS sent to their registered mobile numbers.
Candidates should only make payment after receiving the approval notification. Once payment is completed, they must download the Government copy of the receipt and attach it to the registration form before submitting the documents to PSC.
Examination fees and deadlines
The Commission has maintained the prescribed examination charges for the 2026 exercise.
Candidates will pay a registration fee of Sh2,625, while every examination paper attracts a fee of Sh875.
As the proficiency examination consists of seven papers, candidates registering for all papers will pay the applicable examination fees in addition to the mandatory Sh50 eCitizen transaction charge.
PSC has advised applicants to make all payments exclusively through the official eCitizen platform.
The Commission warned that candidates who fail to meet the August 28 registration deadline will be required to pay an additional Sh525 late registration fee.
Late registration will remain open until Thursday, September 3, 2026, after which no further applications will be accepted.
Applicants have therefore been encouraged to complete the registration process early to avoid unnecessary penalties and last-minute inconveniences.
PSC releases 2025 examination certificates
In a separate announcement, the Commission confirmed that certificates for officers who successfully passed the September 2025 Proficiency Examination for Clerical Officers are ready for collection.
The certificates can be collected from the Public Service Commission House during official working hours upon presentation of an original National Identity Card or a valid passport.
PSC also appealed to officers who passed promotional examinations administered in previous years but are yet to collect their certificates to do so without further delay.
The Commission has urged all prospective candidates to carefully study the examination guidelines, download the appropriate registration forms and complete the registration process well before the deadline to ensure smooth participation in this year’s proficiency examination.
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The 2026 Proficiency Examination is expected to attract hundreds of clerical officers from ministries, departments and other public institutions across the country as they seek to enhance their professional qualifications and advance their careers within Kenya’s Public Service.
By Hillary Muhalya
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