Law Summary
Board of Electrical Engineering Composition and Powers
- Board consists of a chairman and two members appointed by the President from nominees of accredited professional associations.
- Powers include supervising and regulating the profession, conducting licensure examinations, issuing certificates and licenses, investigation and enforcement, promulgation of rules and ethics codes, and coordination with educational authorities.
- The Board has quasi-legislative, executive, and quasi-judicial functions.
Board Member Qualifications and Terms
- Members must be natural-born Filipino citizens, 35 years or older, holders of BSEE degree, registered professional electrical engineers with 10 years practice, and of good moral character.
- Prohibited from involvement in schools conferring BSEE or review centers for 3 years prior to appointment.
- Term of office is three years, renewable once. Removal allowed for malpractice or unethical conduct.
Examination and Registration Requirements
- Licensure examination is required for professional, registered electrical engineers, and master electricians, except certain foreign professionals with special permits.
- Examination subjects include mathematics, engineering sciences, electrical engineering professional subjects, and relevant code provisions.
- Registration requires passing examination and payment of prescribed fees.
Exemptions and Special Permits
- Foreign electrical engineers and electricians may be allowed temporary practice on a per-project basis under strict conditions including securing a special permit and employing a Filipino understudy.
- Engineering students, apprentices, and subordinates are exempt from registration.
- Operation of private electric generating sets within certain size and voltage limits requires only periodic inspection, not registration.
Licensing and Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
- Valid certificates and professional licenses are required before practicing electrical engineering.
- Licenses must be renewed with compliance to CPE requirements.
- The Board establishes CPE program guidelines and a governing CPE council.
Integration and Membership of Electrical Engineering Professions
- All registered professional electrical engineers, registered electrical engineers, and master electricians are integrated into one national accredited organization.
- Membership in the integrated organization is automatic upon registration with the Board.
Professional Responsibilities and Use of Seals
- Only licensed professional electrical engineers may seal plans and documents related to electrical engineering.
- Use of seal and registration/license numbers is mandatory on professional documents.
- Unauthorized use or false endorsement of documents is prohibited.
Penal Provisions and Enforcement
- Illegal practice, falsification, impersonation, and use of revoked licenses are prohibited and penalized.
- Violations punishable by fines from P10,000 to P50,000, imprisonment from six months to five years, or both.
- Law enforcement officers are mandated to enforce the Act.
Personnel Requirements for Electrical Installations
- Electric plants, industrial plants, commercial, institutional buildings, watercrafts, and electric locomotives must employ licensed electrical personnel.
- Specific personnel complement depends on the scale of electrical capacity and voltage ratings.
Prohibitions on Practice by Firms and Corporations
- Electrical engineering practice is a professional service restricted to qualified individuals.
- Firms or corporations cannot be registered or licensed as electrical engineering practitioners.
Procedures for Revocation, Suspension, and Reinstatement
- The Board may revoke, suspend, or reprimand licensees for fraud, negligence, unprofessional conduct, or violations of this Act.
- Decisions are appealable to the Commission and subsequently to the Court of Appeals.
- Re-issuance of certificates is possible after one year post-revocation subject to Board approval.
Transitional and Final Provisions
- Incumbent Board members continue until their terms expire.
- Holders of certificates under prior law must register within two years to obtain new credentials under this Act.
- Previous laws conflicting with this Act are repealed.
- The Act takes effect 30 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.