Within the Valencian administration, upcoming senior officials will be required to demonstrate knowledge of Valencian at level C1 (mitjà), replacing the previous B2 standard. The change hinges on a new evaluation framework that outsources the verification of language proficiency to the education system if a score of at least seven is achieved. This reform coincides with a Galician-style Baccalaureate model and represents the principal novelty in the draft decrees under development by the Ministry of Interior and Public Duties alongside the Ministry of National Education. In practical terms, this shift aims to resolve ongoing disputes over Valencian language requirements for entry into public service, a debate that has long defined tensions between PSPV and Compromís.
Publicly announced by Gabriela Bravo, Minister of Public Service and Education, and Raquel Tamarit, the responsible minister for Education, the new language criterion is slated to take effect for the public opposition process starting in 2025. It will apply to all A1 and A2 level officials within the Generalitat Administration. In addition, Valencian communities across Valencia, along with local governments, non-teaching staff at universities, and public employees within consortia throughout the Valencia region, have been granted an exemption as a residual provision at this stage. This exemption may cover areas where there is room to claim leniency in Valencian language learning requirements.
The decree clarifies that subgroups A1 and A2, representing the highest rung of public service, will need C1 proficiency in Valencian. Those in group B and C1 will be required to reach B2, while group C2 workers will need B1. In all three cases, the language levels are to be achieved through the education system, ensuring consistency with academic pathways.
It is important to note that the C1 requirement will not apply to teachers or medical staff, who operate under separate regulatory frameworks. In the healthcare sector, a 2017 regulation already positions Valencian language ability as a professional virtue rather than a mandatory hurdle. Bravo underscored this distinction to prevent disruption in essential services while the broader language framework is restructured.
Until 2025, a transitional period will remain in place. During this interval, applicants who currently meet the B2 threshold may continue to qualify for senior civil service positions, ensuring a smoother transition for candidates already navigating the system. This approach helps balance continuity with the goal of elevating language competency across the public sector.
As the public service reforms proceed, Education is also preparing an accompanying decree that will enable direct acquisition of the C1 qualification through the education system. The plan envisions that students completing secondary education will receive a B1 certificate, those finishing Baccalaureate will be awarded B2, and a minimum score of seven in Valencian courses will unlock C1 through the educational pathway. In effect, the Baccalaureate route will be the sole pathway toward senior civil service positions, reducing the need for additional examinations beyond academic performance. The ministers emphasized that this streamlined process will facilitate access to high-level public administration roles while maintaining rigorous language standards for eligibility. This coordinated approach aims to align linguistic qualification with educational milestones, fostering a more merit-oriented, accessible public administration ecosystem. [citation needed]