On May 12, 2025, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine scheduled the qualification exam for candidates for the position of a local court judge, as well as for judges, who expressed their intention to be transferred to another local court, and established the following sequence of examination stages:
The first stage – testing of knowledge on the history of Ukrainian statehood;
The second stage – testing of general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge in the specialization of the respective court;
The third stage – testing of cognitive abilities;
The fourth stage – completion of a practical assignment related to the specialization of the respective court.
The Commission determined that each stage of the qualification exam shall be scheduled by a separate decision of the Commission.
According to Part Six of Article 74 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges”, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine sets the passing score for the qualification exam, which cannot be lower than 75 percent of the maximum possible score for the respective test (excluding the cognitive abilities test) and for the practical assignment.
During the selection process for the position of a judge, the passing score for candidates is determined taking into account the number of positions for which the selection is announced..
In accordance with Part Six of Article 82 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges”, for judges specified in Part Three of this Article, the passing score of the qualification exam is set at the level of the passing score for candidates participating in the relevant selection process for the position of a judge.
The selection of candidates for the position of a local court judge was announced by the Commission’s Decision of 11.12.2024 No.366/zp-24, taking into account 1,800 projected vacant positions of local courts judges.
The projected vacant positions of judges were calculated by the Commission based on the register of judicial positions ready to be filled in local courts, which are not yet discontinued, considering also positions that may become vacant as a result of the competition for filling vacant judicial positions in appellate courts, as well as the number of judges who may be dismissed.
According to the stated calculations, among the 1,800 projected vacant positions of judges in local courts:
- 1,400 – in local general courts;
- 200 – in local administrative courts;
- 200 – in local commercial courts.
When scheduling the qualification exam, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine concluded that the passing score shall be set based on two criteria:
1) percentage of the maximum possible score for each stage of the qualification exam;
2) the ratio of the number of candidates for the position of judge and judges who successfully pass the qualification exam to the number of projected vacant positions of judges in local courts for which the selection was announced.
By its decision dated May 12, 2025, the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine also set the passing scores for the stages of the qualification exam.
- The passing score of the first stage of the qualification exam (testing of knowledge on the history of Ukrainian statehood) has been determined, taking into account that the second stage is open to participants who have scored at least 75 per cent of the maximum possible score, in the number that is four times higher than the projected number of vacant positions of judges in local courts, namely 7,200 candidates for the position of judge and judges.
In the event that two or more candidates and judges receive the same lowest passing score for the first stage, all such persons will be admitted to the second stage.
- The passing score of the second stage of the qualification exam (testing of general knowledge in the field of law and knowledge in the specialization of the respective court) has been determined, taking into account that the third stage is open to participants who scored at least 75 per cent of the maximum possible score, in the number that is three times higher than the projected number of vacant positions of judges in local courts, namely:
- 4,200 candidates for the position of a local general court judge and judges who have expressed their intention to be transferred to a local general court;
- 600 candidates for the position of a local administrative court judge and judges who have expressed their intention to be transferred to a local administrative court;
- 600 candidates for the position of a local commercial court judge and judges who have expressed their intention to be transferred to a local commercial court.
In case two or more candidates for the position of judge and judges have received the same lowest passing score of the second stage of the qualification exam, all such candidates for the position of judge and judges shall be admitted to the third stage of the qualification exam.
- The passing score of the third stage of the qualification exam (testing of cognitive abilities) has been determined, taking into account that the fourth stage is open to participants who have scored at least 55 per cent of the maximum possible score, in the number that is twice higher than the projected number of vacant positions of judges in local courts, namely:
- 2,800 candidates for the position of a local general court judge and judges who have expressed their intention to be transferred to a local general court;
- 400 candidates for the position of a local administrative court judge and judges who have expressed their intention to be transferred to a local administrative court;
- 400 candidates for the position of a local commercial court judge and judges who have expressed their intention to be transferred to a local commercial court.
In case two or more candidates for the position of judge and judges received the same lowest passing score of the third stage of the qualification exam, all such candidates for the position of judge and judges shall be admitted to the fourth stage of the qualification exam.
- The passing score of the fourth stage of the qualification exam (completion of a practical assignment on the specialization of the respective court) has been determined – 75 per cent of the maximum possible score.
Please note that an online meeting of the Commission members with candidates for the position of a local court judge and judges who have expressed their intention to be transferred to another local court is planned to be held in the near future to discuss the specifics of the qualification exam. Information on the date and time of the online meeting will be posted on the Commission’s official website.