Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10912)
The official title is the 'Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016.'
The policy is to promote and upgrade the practice of professions in the country by instituting measures to continuously improve the competence of professionals according to international standards.
CPD is defined as the inculcation of advanced knowledge, skills, and ethical values in post-licensure specialization or inter- or multidisciplinary fields of study, for assimilation into professional practice, self-directed research, or lifelong learning.
The PRC and PRBs are responsible for overall implementation of CPD Programs, forming CPD Councils, promulgating guidelines, reviewing CPD Programs, coordinating with stakeholders, and developing mechanisms for credit unit transfer.
A CPD Council is created for each regulated profession under the supervision of the concerned PRB. It consists of a chairperson who is a PRB member, a first member representing the Accredited Integrated Professional Organization or similar, and a second member representing the national organization of deans or department chairpersons.
Yes, CPD is a mandatory requirement for the renewal of Professional Identification Cards (PICs) for all registered and licensed professionals under PRC regulation.
CPD Programs consist of formal learning, nonformal learning, informal learning, self-directed learning, online learning activities, and professional work experience.
Fraudulent acts are punishable under the Revised Penal Code, New Civil Code, and other laws, with additional penalties including suspension or revocation of the PRC Certificate of Registration/Certificate of Specialization, and administrative penalties for government officials involved.
A CPD credit unit refers to the value of a learning amount that can be transferred to a qualification achieved from formal, informal, or nonformal learning settings and can be accumulated for the award of qualifications.
The Act provides for validation, accreditation, and recognition of self-directed learning, prior/informal learning, online learning, and other learning processes through professional work experience as part of CPD credit accumulation.
The CPD Council evaluates and acts on applications for accreditation of CPD Providers and their CPD Programs.
Funding for CPD Councils is included in PRC's budget programs for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act and is used for regular operations, including monitoring CPD Programs and for honoraria or allowances of CPD Council members.
The chairperson's term is coterminous with their PRB incumbency, while the first and second members serve two years unless sooner replaced as per the resolution of their nominating organizations or PRC.
They provide mechanisms that allow access to qualifications and facilitate the transfer of CPD credit units to recognized qualifications under the Philippine Qualifications Framework.