QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 7920)
RA 7920, Sec. 2 defines practice of electrical engineering as rendering or offering to render professional services such as: consultation/investigation/valuation/management requiring electrical engineering knowledge; design and preparation of plans/specifications/estimates for electrical power systems and related facilities and equipment; supervision of erection/installation/testing/commissioning of power plants and related works; supervision of operation and maintenance of electrical equipment (including in watercraft and electric locomotives); supervision of manufacture and repair of electrical equipment; teaching electrical engineering professional subjects; and taking charge of sale/distribution of equipment and systems requiring engineering calculations or applications of engineering data.
RA 7920, Sec. 3–4 creates the Board as a collegial body under PRC supervision. The Board has executive/administrative, quasi-legislative (rule-making), and quasi-judicial (investigative) powers to supervise and regulate the electrical engineering profession, including examinations, registration, enforcement, rulemaking (including code of ethics), and administrative investigations and decisions.
RA 7920, Sec. 3: the Board has a chairman and two (2) members appointed by the President from among recommendees of the PRC Commissioner, chosen from nominees of the integrated and accredited association of electrical engineers and other registered associations of electrical engineers and allied fields.
RA 7920, Sec. 5 requires Board members to be: (1) natural-born Filipino citizen and resident in the Philippines for at least 5 consecutive years; (2) at least 35 years old with proven integrity and high moral values; (3) with no final conviction involving moral turpitude; (4) BSEE degree holder from a recognized Philippine government-accredited institution; (5) a professional electrical engineer with valid PRC certificate and license; (6) practiced electrical engineering for at least 10 years prior to appointment (with sworn statement); and (7) not an official/member of faculty nor having pecuniary interest in any BSEE conferring university for at least 3 years prior, and not connected with review centers or groups offering licensure review at the time of appointment.
RA 7920, Sec. 6: members serve for 3 years from date of appointment or until successors are appointed and qualified; they may be reappointed for a second term. Vacancies are filled by the President from the first list of recommendees by the PRC Commissioner, chosen from nominees submitted by the integrated and accredited association, for the unexpired term only.
RA 7920, Sec. 4(b)–(d) provides that the Board determines/evaluates applicant qualifications, prepares exam questions and syllabi and their weights, prescribes/adopts test questions into a question bank, draws questions at random through computerization, conducts examinations, corrects and rates papers (manual/computerized), submits results to PRC, and prescribes/amends examination requirements subject to Commission approval.
RA 7920, Sec. 10–11: all applicants for registration must pass a technical examination (unless specifically allowed by the Act), and a valid certificate of registration and professional license from the Commission are required before any person may practice electrical engineering in the Philippines (unless otherwise allowed).
RA 7920, Sec. 14: examination/registration is not required for certain foreign electrical engineers/electricians under conditions such as: they are legally qualified in their home country with requirements not lower than RA 7920; scope limited to contracted project; they must secure a special permit before commencing; they cannot engage in private practice on their own account; a Filipino registered understudy must be employed for at least the duration of tenure; and the exemption is only for 6 months renewable for another 6 months at the Board’s discretion. If they cease employment and engage in occupation requiring registration, they must register under the Act.
RA 7920, Sec. 14: no registration is required of engineering students/apprentices/subordinates or trainees under a registered and licensed person; and no registration is required for persons in charge of/supervising operation/tending/maintenance of a private electric generating set limited to not exceeding 250 volts and not exceeding 50 KVA—provided the owner/operator must have it periodically inspected no more than once per year by a professional electrical engineer or registered electrical engineer.
RA 7920, Sec. 15: examinations for electrical engineering practice should be given twice a year in the City of Manila and other places on dates determined by the Board; interview/oral examination for professional electrical engineer applicants is conducted at the PRC office.
RA 7920, Sec. 16: applicant must be a Philippine citizen; of good reputation with high moral values; not finally convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude; holder of BSEE from a government-recognized accredited institution; and a registered electrical engineer with valid certificate/license with at least 4 years active practice reckoned from the date of registration as a registered electrical engineer.
RA 7920, Sec. 19: three groupings—(1) Mathematics (25%); (2) Engineering sciences and allied subjects (30%); and (3) Electrical engineering professional subjects (45%). Passing weighted average is 70% with no grade below 50% in any group.
RA 7920, Sec. 19: written exam includes technical subjects (Ohm’s Law; electrical machines; control equipment; electrical components; maintenance/repair; test equipment; electrical engineering law for master electricians; and others) and Philippine Electrical Code Parts 1 and 2 (general requirements; approved wiring methods; materials/devices; installation of switchboard/panelboards; hazardous locations; motor starter wiring diagrams; symbols and wiring plans; and others). Relative weights are 50% technical and 50% PEC. Passing: 70% general average with no grade below 50% in any subject.
RA 7920, Sec. 31: Professional Electrical Engineer has sole authority to seal electrical plans and can practice electrical engineering in full scope; Registered Electrical Engineer includes charge/supervision of operation and maintenance of electrical equipment in specified facilities; manufacture/repair of electrical supply and utilization equipment; teaching of electrical subjects; and sale/distribution requiring engineering calculations/data. Registered Master Electrician includes installation/wiring/operation/maintenance/repair of electrical machinery/equipment and devices in various buildings and installations, but if installation/machinery is rated above 500 KVA or above 600 V, work must be under supervision of a Professional or Registered Electrical Engineer.
RA 7920, Sec. 32 prohibits: practicing/offering to practice without certificate and professional license (except Sec. 14); using another’s certificate/license/seal; giving false/forged evidence; falsely impersonating registrants; attempting to use revoked/suspended certificate or expired license; using/advertising titles implying licensure without valid license; and signing documents involving electrical design/plans/specifications/valuation/others without proper authorization.