INSS in CPNU 2: how the Social Security Analyst location choice works

Brazil's National Social Security Institute, INSS, has opened a new location preference stage for candidates approved in the second National Unified Public Service Exam, CPNU 2, for the position of Social Security Analyst with a Social Work or Physiotherapy background. The INSS Presidential Notice No. 5 of September 15, 2026 calls candidates listed in Annexes I and II, classified under Notice No. 228/2026, to rank the available locations within their professional field and the Regional Superintendency for which they competed.

The key point is to distinguish this step from applying for the exam and from an appointment. At this stage, a summoned candidate submits location preferences. Those preferences help INSS distribute positions, but they do not guarantee the first choice. Allocation must follow final ranking, available positions, and the legal rotation and proportionality rules that apply to the competition lists.

Who was called in this INSS CPNU 2 stage

The September call specifically targets candidates for Social Security Analyst with a degree in Social Work or Physiotherapy whose names appear in the INSS notice annexes. The act refers to candidates classified by Notice No. 228 of July 30, 2026, published on July 31.

Notice No. 228 had a broader scope. According to Brazil's Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, it updated the classification for 194 INSS positions, including 34 remaining vacancies and 160 additional vacancies, across several Social Security Analyst specialties. These included Social Work, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Information Technology, Engineering, Law, Accounting, Administration, and Statistics.

That does not mean all of those professional fields are part of the September location preference process. INSS Presidential Notice No. 5 covers Social Work and Physiotherapy in this call. To know whether participation is required, candidates should verify their own name and field in Annexes I and II instead of relying only on their status in another INSS specialty within CPNU 2.

Deadline and location preference schedule

The INSS 2026 notices page hosts the official act and should be checked for any updates. Because the submission window is short, candidates should avoid waiting until the last minutes and keep proof or a record of the final version submitted.

How the preference ranking works

Candidates cannot freely choose any INSS office in Brazil. The notice requires them to rank only the locations linked to their specific professional field and the Regional Superintendency in which they competed. The available locations are listed in the corresponding annexes.

1. Confirm that your name appears in the summoned candidates annex for your professional field.
2. Open the location annex for Social Work or Physiotherapy.
3. Separate only the options linked to the Regional Superintendency in which you competed.
4. Rank the locations in your true order of preference, without assigning the same rank twice.
5. Review before submitting. If you submit again before the deadline, INSS will consider only the last version.

The numbering rule deserves special attention. Each location must receive a unique rank. If a candidate assigns the same preference number to two locations, the notice provides that the first location with the duplicate rank will automatically be moved to the last position on the list.

Your first choice is not a guaranteed placement

The submitted preference is a reference for the administration. The notice states that it does not create a right to be assigned to the chosen location. In practice, distribution takes into account the strict final ranking within the number of positions offered in the Regional Superintendency selected in the exam, together with the applicable rotation and proportionality rules for the competition categories.

The most useful way to approach the form is to rank every available option in the order in which you would actually accept the assignment. Do not treat the list as a bet on a single city. A lower-ranked location expresses a lower preference, but it remains an option that may be used in the allocation process.

What if a candidate does not submit preferences

In the previous INSS vacancy selection round, failure to submit a preference did not necessarily prevent appointment, but it left the choice of location to INSS among the available positions in the relevant Regional Superintendency, subject to ranking and legal criteria. For this round, candidates should follow the wording of INSS Presidential Notice No. 5 and any later corrections. The practical takeaway is straightforward: if your name is in the call, complete the procedure on time so your preferences are recorded instead of leaving allocation entirely to the administration.

Which degrees are included: Social Work and Physiotherapy

This location preference call includes two professional backgrounds. The CPNU 2 Thematic Block 1 annex published in the FGV competition documentation specifies the education requirements for each specialty.

Social Work

For Social Security Analyst in the Social Work specialty, the opening notice requires a duly registered diploma, or a certificate of completion of an undergraduate Social Work program from an institution recognized by Brazil's Ministry of Education, plus registration with the corresponding professional council.

Physiotherapy

For Social Security Analyst in the Physiotherapy specialty, the requirement is a duly registered diploma, or a certificate of completion of an undergraduate Physiotherapy program from an institution recognized by Brazil's Ministry of Education, plus registration with the corresponding professional council.

These requirements do not mean that any health sciences or humanities degree qualifies. Eligibility is tied to the specialty for which the candidate competed in CPNU 2.

Why other INSS specialties appear in CPNU 2 coverage

The July reclassification covered a broader group of Social Security Analyst specialties. That is why candidates may see references to Psychology, Occupational Therapy, administrative and legal fields, technology, and engineering. The September 15 call, however, has its own scope and summons Social Work and Physiotherapy candidates for this location preference stage.

The safest way to follow the process is to separate three sources: the official CPNU 2 portal for the general competition history, Notice No. 228/2026 for the updated classification, and INSS Presidential Notice No. 5/2026 for who must choose a location now and how the process works.

Checklist before submitting the form

• Confirm your name, professional field, competition list, and ranking in the summoned candidates annex.
• Check the Regional Superintendency linked to your candidacy.
• Use only the locations offered for your professional field and region.
• Assign a different position to every location.
• Review the full order before submitting.
• If you change your preferences, make sure the last version submitted is the final one.
• Keep evidence of submission and monitor publication of the result through September 28.
• Continue checking the Federal Official Gazette and official INSS channels for appointment acts and later instructions.

What comes after the preference stage

The INSS People Management Directorate is expected to publish the vacancy preference result by September 28, 2026, according to the notice schedule. Location preference is an administrative step before later acts. It should not be confused with taking office or beginning service.

For candidates who were summoned, the immediate task is clear: check the annexes, rank every eligible location carefully, and submit preferences by September 21 at 11:59 p.m. Brasília time. Candidates in other Social Security Analyst specialties should continue following the official CPNU 2 portal and future INSS-specific calls.