Circular No. 06/2021/TT-BYT stipulates the criteria, conditions for examination and promotion assessment, as well as the content, form, and determination of successful candidates in the promotion assessment period for healthcare professionals.

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON STANDARDS, CONDITIONS FOR EXAMINATION AND PROMOTION REVIEW, CONTENT, FORM, AND DETERMINATION OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE IN THE PROMOTION REVIEW PERIOD FOR THE PROFESSIONAL RANK OF HEALTH CARE CIVIL SERVANTS

Based on Decree No. 115/2020/NĐ-CP dated September 25, 2020 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants:

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 75/2017/NĐ-CP dated June 20, 2017 stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

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.

The Minister of Health issues this Circular to regulate standards, conditions for examination and promotion review, content, form, and determination of the successful candidate in the promotion review period for the professional rank of health care civil servants.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular regulates standards, conditions for examination and promotion review, content, form, and determination of the successful candidate in the promotion review period for the professional rank of health care civil servants.

2. This Circular applies to health care civil servants participating in examinations and promotion reviews for the professional rank of health care civil servants.

Article 2. Standards, Conditions for Examination and Promotion Review of the Professional Rank of Health Care Civil Servants

Health care civil servants are eligible to register for participation in examinations or promotion reviews for the professional rank when they meet the following standards and conditions:

1. Currently holding a professional rank with the same first four digits in the professional rank code as the professional rank being applied for in the examination or promotion review (except in cases where the examination or promotion review is for a professional rank that does not have an immediately lower grade).

2. Having been rated at least as having satisfactorily completed their tasks in the preceding year of work before the examination or promotion review year; possessing good political qualities and professional ethics; not being within the disciplinary action period, nor during the implementation period of regulations related to civil servant discipline as stipulated in Article 56 of the Civil Servant Law amended and supplemented in Clause 8, Article 2 of the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Civil Servant Law and the Public Official Law.

3. Possessing the capability and expertise to assume a higher professional rank grade in the same field of profession.

4. Meeting the requirements regarding academic degrees and certificates of the professional rank standards for the examination or promotion review. In cases where civil servants are exempted from foreign language and information technology exams according to Clause 6 and Clause 7, Article 39 of Decree No. 115/2020/NĐ-CP dated November 25, 2020 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants, they must meet the foreign language and information technology standards of the professional rank for the examination or promotion review.

5. Being nominated by the competent authority managing or utilizing civil servants to participate in the examination or promotion review for the professional rank.

6. Meeting the requirements regarding the time spent in the current professional rank grade.

7. Being appointed as Professor or Associate Professor in a relevant specialty suitable for the professional rank standards for the promotion review for civil servants applying for promotion from Grade II to Grade I.

8. Holding a Master's degree or Doctorate in a relevant specialty suitable for the professional rank standards for the promotion review for civil servants applying for promotion from Grade III to Grade II.

9. Meeting the standards for the professional rank of Grade III for health care civil servants for those applying for promotion from Grade IV to Grade III.

Article 3. Form and Content of the Examination for Promotion to Higher Rank in the Professional Title of Health Sector Civil Servants

1. The examination for promotion to higher rank in the professional title of health sector civil servants shall be conducted through the Examination Board for Promotion to Higher Rank in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. The form of the examination for promotion to higher rank in the professional title of health sector civil servants includes the review of application files in accordance with the regulations on criteria and conditions for the examination for promotion to higher rank in the professional title of health sector civil servants.

3. The content of the examination for promotion to higher rank in the professional title of health sector civil servants includes the review of compliance with requirements for job performance, educational qualifications, training standards, and professional capacity of the proposed professional title for promotion.

Article 4. Determination of Successful Candidates in the Examination for Promotion to Higher Rank in the Professional Title of Health Sector Civil Servants

1. A successful candidate in the examination for promotion to higher rank in the professional title of health sector civil servants is a civil servant who has been reviewed and found to meet all the criteria of the proposed professional title for promotion by the Examination Board for Promotion to Higher Rank.

2. In cases where the number of candidates meeting the criteria and conditions for the examination for promotion to higher rank exceeds the number of positions available for that professional title, which is determined according to the structure of the professional titles in the Position Plan of the public health institution approved by the competent authority, the Examination Board for Promotion to Higher Rank may select from among the following methods:

a) Consideration based on priority orders: scientific research achievements, application of research results to practical work at the workplace; years held in the current professional title rank; evaluation and classification results of civil servants for two consecutive years prior to the examination for promotion.

b) Consideration based on the results of testing and examination. Testing and examination shall be carried out in accordance with Circular No. 6/2020/TT-BNV dated December 2, 2020 issued by the Minister of Home Affairs on the Regulations on Organizing Competitive Examinations and Recruitment for Public Officials and Civil Servants, Promotion Examinations for Public Officials, and Competitive Examinations and Recruitment for Public Officials and Civil Servants; Internal Rules for Competitive Examinations and Recruitment for Public Officials and Civil Servants, Promotion Examinations for Public Officials.

Article 5. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2021.

2. The following Circulars and Joint Circulars shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect:

a) Joint Circular No. 56/2015/TTLT-BYT-BNV dated December 29, 2015 of the Minister of Health and the Minister of Home Affairs stipulating the criteria, conditions, content, and form of examinations for promotion to higher rank in the professional title of health sector civil servants.

b) Circular No. 29/2017/TT-BYT dated July 10, 2017 of the Minister of Health stipulating the criteria, conditions, content, and form of examinations for promotion to higher rank in the professional title of health sector civil servants.

c) Circular No. 44/2016/TT-BYT dated December 15, 2016 of the Minister of Health amending and supplementing Clause 1 of Article 9 of Joint Circular No. 56/2015/TTLT-BYT-BNV dated December 29, 2015 of the Minister of Health and the Minister of Home Affairs stipulating the criteria, conditions, content, and form of examinations for promotion to higher rank in the professional title of health sector civil servants.

Article 6. Responsibility for Organizing Implementation

1. The Minister, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, Heads of Government Agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, heads of subordinate health institutions under the Ministry of Health, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, please reflect them to the Ministry of Health for guidance or consideration and resolution.