The article deals with the problem of qualification advancement of civil servants in Ukraine. The article reveals the problems connected with qualification advancement of the employees of the state authorities. The article outlines the main directions of formation of the current effective system of professional development of civil servants. It was found that the mechanisms of the system of vocational training, which are used in foreign countries, mainly do not vary from the domestic tools of professional development (e.g., workplace training, on-the-job training (lectures, seminars, workshops, interdepartmental trainings), group training, distance learning), but their application in practice has certain peculiarities. Reform requires a high level of qualification and professional uniformity of the management apparatus, which will enable to provide a professional basis for the constitutional uniformity of the system of power, as well as the transition (vertical, horizontal, interdepartmental, etc.) of public servants. The establishment of systemic and innovative thinking of public servants is considered to be a new challenge of today’s realities. It should be noted that “professionalism of a public servant is intended to ensure the proper performance of duties, stability of public service, the ability to solve complex problems and the ability and readiness to improve their qualification. The main criteria of professionalism of a public servant can include: Availability of high education; competence (knowledge, skills and abilities) in performance of duties; availability of practical work experience; discipline, responsibility; accurate adherence to the law; political neutrality; organizational, managerial skills, initiative, creativity; ability and inclination to work in the service career; social protection, as well as psychological, moral and ethical qualities”. At the same time, the character and nature of performance of duties by public servants require them to have not only basic organizational and managerial skills, competence and initiative in fulfilling the assigned tasks, but also high human qualities: orderliness, self-control, modesty and self-criticism, sense of responsibility for the entrusted task, concern for state and public interests. Professionalism is the main qualitative category of a public servant, which determines the efficiency of work and his career.