The Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM) in recent days published the two long-awaited notices of the PNRR 3 School Competition – the third round of the competition financed by the PNRR (Mission 4, Component 1 – Education and Research) – for a total of 58,135 places for teachers of all levels.
Let’s see the division of places, how to apply and how to prepare for the tests of the PNRR 3 School Competition. We focus here only on secondary schools, since graduates in technical disciplines (such as engineering, architecture and similar) can participate in the competition exclusively for the chairs of this school level, as already provided for in previous announcements.
PNRR 3 School Competition: available places
The total places authorized by the Prime Ministerial Decree of 7 October 2025 are 58,135, of which 30,759 for secondary school. These are broken down as follows:
- Lower secondary school: 13,145 total places of which
- 9,986 common places
- and 3,159 support positions
- Secondary school: 17,614 total places of which
- 13,380 common places
- and 4,234 support positions
The procedures are announced on a regional basis, with distinct rankings for each type of post and for each region.
PNRR 3 School Competition: who can participate
Candidates in possession of the general requirements for access to public jobs are eligible to participate, including:
- Italian citizenship or citizenship of a member state of the European Union (or other equivalent condition pursuant to art. 38 of Legislative Decree 165/2001);
- enjoyment of civil and political rights;
- physical suitability for teaching duties;
- absence of criminal convictions and dismissal measures or exemption from public employment;
- regularity with respect to military service obligations (for subject citizens).
For common places in lower and upper secondary schools, candidates who jointly possess the following qualifications are admitted:
- Master’s degree, single-cycle master’s degree, or second level academic diploma (AFAM), consistent with the competition class;
- Teaching qualification for the specific competition class or similar qualification obtained abroad and recognized in Italy.
Technical-practical teachers (ITP) with qualifications for the relevant competition class or with the requirements established by current legislation for access to the specific competition class are also admitted.
They can also participate with reservations:
- candidates enrolled in university qualification courses (art. 2-bis Legislative Decree 59/2017) activated for the academic year 2024/2025, provided that they obtain the qualification by 31 January 2026;
- those enrolled in specialization courses for support, provided they obtain the qualification by 31 January 2026.
In addition, those who, although not qualified, have completed three years of service in state schools in the last five years, of which at least one in the competition class for which they are participating, are admitted (art. 11, c. 14, L. 124/1999).
PNRR 3 School Competition: how to apply?
The applications must be completed exclusively electronically on the Ministry’s Web Competition Platform, which can be reached both from the MIM website and from the pages dedicated to the two tenders on the InPA Portal, at this link.
It is possible to participate in only one region, but for all types of positions for which you have access qualification (common positions and/or support). Applications can be submitted from 2pm on 10 October 2025 until 11.59pm on 29 October 2025.
It is also necessary to pay a secretarial fee of 10 euros for each competition procedure, to be paid via the Pago In Rete system.
PNRR 3 School Competition: what are the tests?
The competition is divided into the following phases:
- Computer-based written test (100 min) consisting of 50 multiple choice questions, of which:
- 40 on pedagogical, psychopedagogical and didactic methodological knowledge (including aspects of inclusion and evaluation);
- 5 on the English language (B2 CEFR level);
- 5 on digital skills applied to teaching.
- Oral exam, focused on:
- verification of disciplinary, didactic and linguistic knowledge;
- for support positions, assessment of educational and inclusive planning capacity;
- includes a simulated lesson (maximum duration: 30 minutes for nursery/primary, 45 minutes for secondary);
- assessment of knowledge of the English language (minimum level B2).
- For some secondary school competition classes there is also a practical test.
- Evaluation of qualifications: up to 50 points for academic, scientific and professional qualifications.
PNRR 3 School Competition: how to prepare?
For preparation, we particularly recommend two Maggioli editore volumes specifically designed for the PNRR 3 School Competition.
To help candidates in the various study phases, the following are also available:
- concept maps and video pills to simplify and memorize the most important concepts more easily;
- questionnaires to review and test yourself;
- online simulator with quizzes from official tests to continue practicing;
- digital tutor as study assistant for all phases.
