Policy objectives and definition of CPE

Section 1 requires CPE programs to have these objectives:
- provide and ensure continuous education of a registered professional with the latest trends driven by modernization and scientific and technological advancement;
- raise and maintain the professional’s capability for delivering professional services;
- attain and maintain the highest standard and quality of professional practice;
- make the professional globally competitive; and
- promote the general welfare of the public.
Section 2 defines Continuing Professional Education (CPE) as the inculcation, assimilation, and acquisition of knowledge, skills, proficiency, and ethical and moral values after initial registration of a professional that raises and enhances technical skills and professional competence.
Section 3 states that CPE programs consist of programmed activities requiring participation of a determinate group of professionals to meet requirements for renewal of professional licenses once every three (3) years.
Section 4 provides that CPE compliance as a condition for renewal is an effective and credible substitute for requiring the professional to pass another examination to continue practicing.

CPE councils and organizational structure

Section 5 requires each Professional Regulatory Board (PRB), upon approval by the PRC, to create within thirty (30) days from effectivity a CPE Council to assist its corresponding PRB in implementing the CPE Programs.
Section 6 empowers each CPE Council, by majority vote, to exercise functions including:
- accepting, evaluating, and approving applications for accreditation of CPE providers;
- accepting, evaluating, and approving applications for accreditation of CPE programs/activities/sources and determining the number of CPE credit units based on the program/activity/source contents;
- accepting, evaluating, and approving applications for exemptions from CPE requirements;
- monitoring implementation by CPE providers;
- periodically assessing and upgrading accreditation criteria; and
- performing incidental functions related to implementing CPE programs or policies.
Section 9 assigns to each CPE Council Chairman: presiding over meetings; directing/supervising council activities; submitting minutes of regular and special meetings within 30 days from meeting dates; submitting annual reports; and issuing certificates of registration to qualified CPE providers and certificates of accreditation of programs/activities/sources.
Section 10 requires the Commissioner of the PRC to designate or appoint an official (rank not lower than Division Chief) as Secretary of all CPE Councils, who: records sessions/meetings; prepares minutes; receives applications; submits applications to councils; releases certificates of accreditation; and provides relevant statistical data on license renewal.
Section 10 provides that the Secretary may participate in deliberations but shall not vote; it further requires the PRC Commissioner to select CPE Council secretariat staff from existing PRC personnel.
Section 10 provides that CPE Council Secretaries, among others, must release CPE certifications of credit units earned to professionals, keep records related to evaluation/approval/accreditation, and maintain records of accredited providers, programs, participant lists, and relevant data.
Section 11 requires regular CPE Council meetings once a month on dates fixed by the council, and allows special meetings called by a Chairman or upon written request of at least one member.

Accreditation standards and credit units

Section 12 requires accreditation criteria be met for both providers and programs/activities/sources.
Section 12(A) requires for a CPE Provider:
- it must be either a duly registered organization/firm/institution/agency or a professional of good standing with no conviction of a crime;
- it must have an established mechanism for measuring program quality;
- it must have adequate, modern, updated instructional materials; and
- its instructors/lecturers/resource speakers must have good moral character and technical competence, preferably holding current professional licenses.
Section 12(B) requires for CPE programs/activities/sources:
- the scope must be beyond basic preparation for admission to the practice of the profession, and contents must be relevant/related to the profession (not limited to a specific area); and
- the programs must enhance competence by upgrading and updating knowledge and skills for practice as brought about by modernization and scientific/technical advancements.
Section 13 requires that any provider may submit programs/activities/sources for approval and accreditation, and requires the provider to be notified of disapproval; it also prohibits implementation/administration of any program/activity/source without prior council approval and accreditation.
Section 14 sets total CPE credit requirements for renewal over three (3) years:
- registered professionals with baccalaureate degrees must earn sixty (60) credit units; excess credit units cannot be carried over to the next three-year period except credits earned for doctoral and masteral degrees;
- registered professionals without baccalaureate degrees must earn thirty (30) credit units; excess cannot be carried over to the next three-year period.
Section 14 provides the unit conversion: one (1) credit hour of a CPE program/activity/source equals one (1) credit unit.
Section 13 defines specific terms used in accreditation and crediting, including: Seminars, Conventions, Doctoral Degree, Masteral Degree, Fellowship, Residency/Externship, Authorship (with credit claims allowed within one (1) year from date of publication), Self-Directed Learning Package, Post Graduate/In-Service Training (minimum one (1) week), Resource Speaker, Peer Reviewer, CPE Provider, Multi-Disciplinary Provider, and CPE Programs, Activities or Sources.
Section 13 requires that the scope of accredited CPE programs be beyond basic preparation for admission to practice and related to the profession.

Accreditation procedures for providers and programs

Section 15(A) requires procedures for accreditation of a CPE provider; it distinguishes between natural persons, juridical entities, and multi-disciplinary providers.
Section 15(A)(I) requires that for natural persons, applicants must accomplish and submit an application form to the appropriate CPE Council, and include: full name, address, telephone number; educational background; profession, principal area of work, and years of practice; PRC license number and expiration date; and current employment; it also requires submission of a valid NBI clearance.
Section 15(A)(II) requires that for juridical entities, applicants must submit an application form and include: full name, address, telephone/fax number; SEC registration papers; list of officers with PRC license numbers and expiry dates if officers are members of a regulated profession; plans for CPE programs/activities for the applied year; and proof of past CPE activities/programs conducted/arranged (immediate past year) for renewing applicants.
Section 15(A)(III) requires multi-disciplinary providers to submit a duly accomplished appropriate CPEC application form and include: full name, address, telephone/fax numbers; SEC registration papers; list of professional consultants/coordinators preferably with current PRC license; plans for CPE programs/activities for the applied year; and proof of past CPE activities conducted/arranged (immediate past year) for renewing applicants.
Section 15(A)(IV) requires all provider applicants to submit: a mechanism for measuring program quality and criteria for selecting/evaluating speakers/resource persons/lecturers.
Section 15(A)(V) provides that certificates of accreditation are issued by the CPE Council for natural persons/juridical entities and their programs/activities/sources, and by the Commission Proper for multi-disciplinary providers and their programs/activities/sources.
Section 15(A) sets provider accreditation duration at three (3) years, renewable every three (3) years.
Section 15(B) requires procedures for accreditation of CPE programs/activities/sources: providers must submit the program/activity/source in triplicate to the appropriate CPE Council for evaluation and approval.
Section 15(B)(1) requires that accredited program/activity/source coverage period not exceed three (3) years.
Section 15(B)(2) requires the program/activity/source application to include: titles; CPE provider name/address/phones/fax; date and venue; objectives; targeted audience; contents and number of hours; resource speakers/lecturers/discussion leaders/panelists/reactors/moderators/facilitators with qualifications and current PRC license if members of the regulated profession; actual program and schedule; seminar/convention fee; and the evaluation method (including participant evaluation of seminars, provider evaluation of participants/tests, or other evaluation methods).
Section 15(B)(3) requires the CPE Council to issue a certificate of accreditation within thirty (30) days from receipt of the application when the program/activity/source is relevant to the profession and compliant with the guidelines.

Post-accreditation reporting and certification

Section 16 requires that after completion of an accredited CPE program/activity/source, the CPE provider must submit a report to the appropriate CPE Council or to the Commission Proper for multi-disciplinary providers.
Section 16 requires submission within 15 days from the last day of the offering.
Section 16 requires the post-accreditation report to include: provider name; name/description of the program/activity/source; accreditation number and accreditation issuance date; a certified participant list showing names and PRC professional license numbers and expiry dates, plus resource speakers/lecturers/discussion leaders/panelists/moderators/facilitators who participated; start and completion dates/times; venue; summary of participant evaluation results; and the name of the secretariat representative who monitored the program/activity.

Exemptions from CPE requirements

Section 17 provides that a registered professional is permanently exempted from CPE requirements upon reaching the age of 65.
Section 17 requires a permanently exempt professional to apply by submitting: full name, residence address and phone number; PRC license number; degree obtained; college/university attended; year obtained; principal area of professional work; and employment details if employed (position, employer name, employer address).
Section 17 requires submission of an authentic/authenticated copy of a birth certificate; if unavailable, submission of either a Voter’s ID or Driver’s License is required.
Section 17 provides temporary exemption for a registered professional working or practicing abroad or furthering studies abroad during the period of stay abroad.
Section 17 requires the professional applying for temporary exemption to have been out of the country for at least two (2) years immediately prior to the renewal date.
Section 17 requires a temporary exemption application to include: full name, residence address and phone number; PRC license number; degree obtained; college/university attended; year graduated; principal area of professional work; employment details if employed (position, employer name, employer address, certificate of employment); and if furthering studies abroad, a certificate of enrollment.
Section 17 requires temporary exemption documentation to include original/authenticated passport, xerox copy of the inside front cover, page 2, and the page(s) containing the visa of the country showing date of arrival/departure.
Section 17 provides renewal mechanics:
- a permanently exempt professional may renew without complying with CPE requirements upon accomplishment/submission of the required papers and upon payment of the annual registration fee for three (3) years;
- a temporarily exempt professional may renew upon compliance with temporary exemption requirements and upon payment of the annual registration fee for three (3) years as long as the professional continues to be out of the country.

Sanctions and administrative consequences

Section 18 requires that unless exempted, registered professionals who have not complied with CPE requirements are not allowed to renew their PRC professional licenses.
Section 18 provides that professionals who fail to renew for five (5) continuous years from initial registration or from the last renewal date are declared delinquent.
Section 18 requires that delinquent professionals be dropped from the roster of professionals after due notice through publication in the newsletters of the respective Accredited Professional Organizations or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Section 18 provides that any PRC employee who causes, abets, or helps in the renewal of a license of a professional without complying with CPE requirements violates office and/or civil service rules and regulations.
Section 18 requires administrative prosecution of the employee and mandates imposition of penalties provided for by the applicable laws and rules and regulations.
Section 18 provides that any violation by CPE providers of the guidelines results in cancellation of their Certificate of Accreditation.

Transitory provisions and repeals

Section 19 provides transitory renewal rules for expiration dates on or before December 31, 1996: professionals with baccalaureate and non-baccalaureate degrees renew without requiring submission of CPE certificate with credit units earned.
Section 19 provides transitory CPE credit submission requirements for baccalaureate-degree professionals with licenses expiring on or before specific dates:
- December 31, 1997: 20 credit units;
- December 31, 1998: 40 credit units;
- December 31, 1999: 60 credit units.
Section 19 provides transitory CPE credit submission requirements for non-baccalaureate-degree professionals with licenses expiring on or before specific dates:
- December 31, 1997: 10 credit units;
- December 31, 1998: 20 credit units;
- December 31, 1999: 30 credit units.
Section 19 expressly provides that the transitory rules apply only based on when the professional’s license expires on or before the listed December 31 dates.

Repealing clause

Section 20 repeals Resolution 381, s. 1995, Resolution No. 96-436, s. 1996, Resolution No. 96-409, s. 1996, Resolution No. 473-A, s. 1997, and Resolution No. 483, s. 1997.
Section 20 also repeals all other PRC and Professional Regulatory Board resolutions, circulars, or issuances that provide for or have any bearing on implementation of the CPE programs, activities, or sources.