Law Summary
Previous Implementation and Need for New Guidelines
- Previous Board Resolution No. 153 (1990) required refresher courses but allowed administration by non-recognized institutions.
- Consultations with medical school deans highlighted the need for updated and standardized guidelines.
Scope and Applicability of the Refresher Course
- Applies to examinees who have failed the physician licensure examinations three times in any subject.
- Examinees failing any subject(s) three times are required to enroll specifically in those subjects during the refresher course.
- Examinees who passed all subjects despite three overall exam failures are exempted from enrolling in any refresher course subjects.
Enrollment Procedures
- Deans of recognized schools or colleges must accommodate eligible examinees for enrollment in specified failed subjects.
- Examinees must submit official rating reports from the three failed licensure examinations for accurate subject enrollment.
- Registrars must provide deans with lists of enrolled refresher course examinees, specifying subjects.
Course and Attendance Requirements
- Refresher courses must be at least one year in duration.
- Refresher enrollees are exempt from laboratory work if it is part of the enrolled subjects.
- Absenteeism of 20% or more of the total required attendance hours in any subject disqualifies the examinee from certification.
Certification and Examination Eligibility
- Upon course completion, deans must issue certification confirming satisfactory performance and attendance.
- Dean’s certification, bearing the official seal, serves as the basis for the Board to allow the examinee to retake the licensure examination.
- Certification excludes examinees with excessive absences.
Administrative Provisions and Effectivity
- Resolution repeals Board Resolution No. 153, Series of 1990, and other inconsistent rules.
- Mandates dissemination of the resolution to all medical schools and universities.
- Resolution takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Key Legal Concepts
- Limitation on examination attempts requiring additional education, ensuring competence.
- Emphasis on recognized institutions to maintain educational standards.
- Clear delineation between passing and failing examinees regarding refresher requirements.
- Mechanism for monitoring attendance and academic performance as prerequisites for certification.
- Safeguard measures ensuring only qualified candidates may retake the examination after repeated failure.