Guidelines on releasing topnotchers in licensure exams

The official release of examination results must indicate the rank, name, college, and general average rating of the topnotchers.

For examinations with 3,000 or more examinees and at least 100 successful examinees, the top 20 examinees will be released.
For examinations with fewer than 3,000 but at least 100 examinees, and at least 50 successful examinees, the top 10 examinees will be released.
If these criteria are not met, no listing of topnotchers shall be published.

In examinations divided into several grades, the number of examinees per grade determines whether to list the top 10 or 20 examinees for that grade.

A topnotcher in the deferred-for-registration list due to non-compliance with certain requirements can still be listed as a topnotcher in the official release and in newspapers.
Examinees whose examination papers are cancellable due to violation of instructions will not have their names published.
Instead, their rank will be noted as "Name withheld pending investigation" in the top 10 or 20 placers list.
If their papers are later not cancelled, their names will be inserted in the official Table of Results with appropriate amendment.
To be eligible as a topnotcher, an examinee must have taken the complete examination and must not have failed the examination twice previously.

The Professional Regulatory Boards, Rating Division, and the Legal and Investigation Division are mandated to strictly implement the resolution.
A copy of the resolution will be furnished to DECS for dissemination to colleges offering courses requiring licensure examinations.

The resolution takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.