Circular No. 02/2023/TT-BNNPTNT stipulates the standards, conditions for examination or promotion review; contents, forms, and determination of successful candidates in the promotion review for career titles and professions for agricultural and rural development officials.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on standards, conditions for examination or promotion review; content, form, and determination of successful candidates in the promotion review period for occupational titles of agricultural and rural development professionals

After reaching consensus with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issues this Circular to regulate standards, conditions for examination or promotion review; content, form, and determination of successful candidates in the promotion review period for occupational titles of agricultural and rural development professionals.

This Circular regulates standards, conditions for examination or promotion review; content, form, and determination of successful candidates in the promotion review period for occupational titles of professionals in crop production and plant protection, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, aquatic product inspection, agricultural extension, and forest management (hereinafter referred to as agricultural and rural development specialties).

______________________

Pursuant to the Civil Servant Law dated November 15, 2010; and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Civil Servants and Public Officials Law and the Civil Servant Law dated November 25, 2019;

Pursuant to Decree No. 105/2022/NĐ-CP dated December 22, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

Based on the proposal of the Director of the Cadre and Civil Servant Department;

The phrase "or examination" is abolished pursuant to Clause 6, Article 8 of Circular No. 15/2025/TT-BVHTTDL dated November 25, 2025, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism amending and supplementing certain articles of Circulars prescribing job codes, qualification standards, and salary grades for civil servants in the heritage culture, library, grassroots cultural activities, sports, fine arts, art performance, film, and cultural propaganda sectors, which takes effect from January 15, 2026.

1. This Circular applies to agricultural and rural development professionals and related agencies, units, organizations, and individuals.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

2. This Circular does not apply to the promotion review of civil servants holding specific job grades in agricultural and rural development specialties. Civil servants holding specific job grades in agricultural and rural development specialties shall be promoted through examinations as stipulated in Decree No. 115/2020/NĐ-CP dated September 25, 2020 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants.

Article 2. Applicability

STANDARDS, CONDITIONS AND APPLICATIONS FOR EXAMINATION OR PROMOTION REVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONAL TITLES

Article 3. Standards and Conditions for Participation in Promotion Examination

Chapter II

1. Being decided by the agency or unit managing the professional to participate in the promotion examination.

2. Agricultural and rural development professionals may register to participate in the promotion examination for professional occupational titles if they meet the following standards and conditions:

a) Meeting the standards and conditions set forth in Clause 1, Article 32 of Decree No. 115/2020/NĐ-CP dated September 25, 2020 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 115/2020/NĐ-CP);

b) Meeting other requirements of the professional occupational title standards for the examination registration as prescribed in: Joint Circular No. 36/2015/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BNV dated October 20, 2015 of the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development and Home Affairs on job code and professional occupational title standards for crop production and plant protection professionals; Joint Circular No. 37/2015/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BNV dated October 20, 2015 of the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development and Home Affairs on job code and professional occupational title standards for animal husbandry and veterinary medicine professionals; Joint Circular No. 38/2015/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BNV dated October 20, 2015 of the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development and Home Affairs on job code and professional occupational title standards for aquatic product inspection professionals; Circular No. 18/2020/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 28, 2020 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on job code, professional occupational title standards, and salary grading for agricultural extension and forest management professionals; Circular No. 07/2022/TT-BNNPTNT dated August 11, 2022 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development amending and supplementing certain articles of the Circulars and Joint Circulars on job code, professional occupational title standards, and salary grading for agricultural and rural development professionals;

3. Currently holding a lower corresponding professional occupational title immediately below the one registered for the promotion examination.

a) Comply with the standards and conditions stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 32 of Decree No. 115/2020/ND-CP dated September 25, 2020 of the Government on recruitment, employment, and management of civil servants (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 115/2020/ND-CP);

b) Meet other requirements of the occupational title standards for the registered examination as prescribed in: Circular Joint Circular No. 36/2015/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BNV dated October 20, 2015 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Home Affairs on job code and occupational title standards for civil servants specializing in crop production and plant protection; Circular Joint Circular No. 37/2015/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BNV dated October 20, 2015 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Home Affairs on job code and occupational title standards for civil servants specializing in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine; Circular Joint Circular No. 38/2015/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BNV dated October 20, 2015 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Home Affairs on job code and occupational title standards for civil servants specializing in aquatic product testing; Circular No. 18/2020/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 28, 2020 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on job code, occupational title standards, and salary grading for civil servants specializing in agricultural extension and forest management; Circular No. 07/2022/TT-BNNPTNT dated August 11, 2022 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars and Joint Circulars on job code, occupational title standards, and salary grading for civil servants specializing in agriculture and rural development;

3. Currently holding an occupational title at the immediately lower grade corresponding to the occupational title registered for the higher-grade examination.

Article 4. Standards and conditions for promotion examination

Civil servants must meet the standards and conditions stipulated in Article 3 of this Circular and the following standards and conditions:

1. For civil servants applying for promotion from Class III to Class II, they must meet the occupational title standards for Class II agricultural and rural development professionals and satisfy the requirement of converting the results of their professional activities to a minimum of 3.0 points as specified in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

2. For civil servants applying for promotion from Class IV to Class III, they must meet the occupational title standards and conditions for Class III agricultural and rural development professionals.

Article 5. Application dossier for examination or promotion of occupational titles

1. For application dossiers for examination of occupational title promotions that comply with the provisions of Article 36 of Decree No. 115/2020/NĐ-CP of the Government, and copies of the following documents: Decision on recruitment, decision on appointment of occupational titles; most recent salary increment decision; decision recognizing inventions; decision (or certificate issued by the competent authority) assigning responsibility for leading or participating in the construction and implementation of tasks (excluding participation in reviewing draft proposals, being invited as an expert, and contributing opinions at conferences and seminars).

2. For application dossiers for examination of occupational title promotions that comply with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article and the results of professional activities recognized or issued by the competent authority, achieving a minimum of 3.0 converted points as specified in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

Chapter III

ORGANIZATION OF PROMOTION EXAMINATION AND DETERMINATION OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES

DURING THE PROMOTION EXAMINATION PERIOD FOR CIVIL SERVANTS' OCCUPATIONAL TITLES

Article 6. Organization of Promotion Examination

1. The promotion examination shall be conducted through the Promotion Examination Board for agricultural and rural development professionals in accordance with Articles 34, 37, and 38 of Decree No. 115/2020/NĐ-CP of the Government and Circular No. 06/2020/TT-BNV dated December 2, 2020, issued by the Minister of Home Affairs on regulations for civil service examinations and selections, examinations and selections for civil servants, examinations for upgrading civil servant ranks, and examinations or promotions of occupational titles for civil servants; Regulations for civil service examinations and selections, examinations for upgrading civil servant ranks, and examinations or promotions of occupational titles for civil servants.

2. Promotion examination for occupational titles from Class III to Class II

a) Reviewing the application dossiers of civil servants applying for promotion who meet the standards and conditions stipulated in Article 4 and paragraph 2 of Article 5 of this Circular;

b) Calculating the converted points of the results of professional activities of civil servants applying for promotion according to the Appendix attached to this Circular; where the results and professional activities converted to points must be relevant to the specialty and consistent with the position held by the civil servant during the period when they held the Class III occupational title.

3. Promotion examination for occupational titles from Class IV to Class III Reviewing the application dossiers of civil servants applying for promotion who meet the standards and conditions stipulated in Article 4 and the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 5 of this Circular.

Article 7. Determination of Successful Candidates in the Period of Promotion Examination for Professional Title

1. The Promotion Examination Board for the Professional Title of Agricultural and Rural Development Specialists shall determine successful candidates in the promotion examination period when there are results as prescribed in Clauses 2, 3, and 4 of this Article.

2. Successful candidates promoted from Grade III to Grade II shall be selected in descending order of points from the highest to the lowest based on their professional and vocational activity achievements converted into points within the number of promotion quota for each specialty.

3. In cases where successful candidates have equal points (for promotion from Grade III to Grade II) or the number of candidates meeting the criteria for the professional title of specialists (for promotion from Grade IV to Grade III) exceeds the promotion quota for each specialty, the Promotion Examination Board for the Professional Title shall determine successful candidates in the following priority order:

a) Specialists who are entitled to preferential treatment under revolutionary laws;

b) Female specialists;

c) Specialists belonging to ethnic minorities;

d) Older specialists (based on date of birth);

đ) Specialists with longer years of service (with more social insurance contributions).

4. If it is still not possible to determine successful candidates according to the priority order, the head of the agency or unit authorized to organize the promotion examination for the professional title shall exchange opinions in writing with the head of the agency authorized to manage specialists and decide on successful candidates based on the proposal of the head of the agency authorized to manage specialists.

5. Specialists shall not retain the results for subsequent promotion examinations.

6. Announcement of Results of Promotion Examination for the Professional Title of Specialists

a) Within ten days from the end of the promotion examination, the Promotion Examination Board for the Professional Title must report to the head of the agency or unit authorized to organize the promotion examination for the professional title about the examination results; at the same time, publicly announce the results on the electronic information portal or website of the agency or unit authorized to organize the promotion examination for the professional title and send a written notification to the agency or unit that nominated the specialist for the examination to inform the specialist of the results;

b) Within fifteen days from the announcement of the examination results, the specialist participating in the examination has the right to submit a request for a review of the examination results. The Promotion Examination Board for the Professional Title is responsible for establishing a Review Committee and organizing a review examination; the announcement of the review examination results must be completed no later than fifteen days from the deadline for submitting review requests;

c) No later than five working days from the announcement of the review examination results, the Promotion Examination Board for the Professional Title must report to the head of the agency or unit authorized to organize the promotion examination for the professional title to approve the results of the promotion examination and the list of successful candidates;

d) No later than five working days from the date of the decision approving the results of the promotion examination for the professional title, the Promotion Examination Board for the Professional Title is responsible for announcing the examination results and the list of successful candidates in writing to the agency or unit that nominated the specialist to participate in the promotion examination.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 8. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 20, 2023.

2. This Circular abolishes Circular No. 34/2016/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 23, 2016, issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, which stipulates the criteria, conditions, content, and form of examination and promotion for the professional title of agricultural and rural development specialists.

3. In cases where the referenced documents in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced, they shall be implemented according to the new amended referenced documents.

Article 9. Responsibility for implementation

1. Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, heads of agencies and units directly under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, organizations and individuals are requested to reflect them to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (through the Cadre and Civil Servant Department) for research, amendment, and supplementation to ensure compliance./.