Legal basis and policy purpose
- Republic Act No. 7796 (the TESDA Act of 1994) empowers TESDA to establish and maintain a system of accrediting, coordinating, integrating, monitoring, and evaluating formal and non-formal technical vocational education and training programs.
- The TESDA Board approved the establishment of a unified TVET program registration and accreditation system in TESDA Board Resolution No. 98-03, aligned with quality technical vocational education and training reforms.
- The registration system is primarily intended to promote public interest and welfare by ensuring the quality of all TVET programs.
- The registration system uses competency-based registration anchored on training regulations and qualification standards.
Scope of programs and institutions covered
- UTPRAS covers all TVET programs offered by public and private institutions, including enterprise-based training centers, if enterprise-based programs are fee-charging and open to the public.
- UTPRAS covers TVET programs in industrial trades and crafts, agriculture, fishery, services, home industries, and other areas.
- TVET programs that previously received permit and recognition certificates from the Secretary of Education must be reviewed and registered under UTPRAS within the prescribed period.
- Apprenticeship programs undertaken by private enterprises are not covered by these guidelines and are authorized under existing apprenticeship guidelines; compliance with apprenticeship guidelines is treated as having the effect of UTPRAS registration.
- Dual system offerings require accreditation of TVET institutions as dual training system institutions under the guidelines implementing Republic Act No. 7686, so incentives under that law may be availed.
- Community-based livelihood-oriented training programs undertaken by local government units and non-government organizations are subject to registration unless prescribed by the TESDA Board.
- A module of employable competency or a set of modules may be registered as a TVET program under these guidelines.
Core principles and qualification framework
- Programs must adopt job titles being prepared for and the competency (or set of competencies) to be acquired under a competency-based system.
- Registration requires compliance with minimum standards in training regulations promulgated by the TESDA Board.
- A TVET program for a particular trade area must be registered on the basis of the same training regulations, whether school-based or center-based.
- UTPRAS relies on the TESDA Occupation Qualification and Certification System (TOQCS) and categorizes programs using four qualification levels:
- National Certificate I (basic [operator] competencies)
- National Certificate II (intermediate [craftsman] competencies)
- National Certificate III (advanced) [technical] competencies
- National License (highest [master technician] competencies)
- Program adjustment is allowed within TOQCS qualification level or from one higher level to a lower one.
- Programs designed to develop the entire set of competencies for a competency level are classified as a TVET program leading to NC I or NC II, as the case may be; programs developing a few or a number of competencies within a competency level are classified as a TVET program leading to NC I or NC II, as the case may be.
Registration requirements and supporting documents
- First-time applicants for program registration must submit:
- Board resolution to offer the program (private institutions only)
- SEC registration and articles of incorporation (private institutions only)
- Proof of building ownership or lease-contract of at least five years
- Fire safety certificate
- Curriculum indicating job titles and competencies to be developed
- Course and subjects description
- List of supplies, tools and equipment
- List of instructional materials (books, videotapes, Internet access, etc.)
- List of officials and qualifications
- List of faculty for the program and their qualifications (certificates)
- List of non-teaching personnel and qualifications
- Academic rules including:
- Schedule of tuition and other fees
- Grading system
- Entrance requirements
- Rules on attendance
- Support services including:
- Health service
- Career guidance/placement services
- Community outreach program
- Research programs
- Application and registration fees prescribed by the Authority
- For succeeding applications, institutions must submit updates and revised elements, including:
- Updates on corporate documents (if any)
- Curriculum indicating job title and competencies
- Course and subjects description
- List of supplies, tools and equipment
- List of instructional materials
- List of faculty for the program (with supporting documents)
- Facilities for the program
- Fees prescribed by the Authority
- Branches must submit a copy to TESDA for record purposes if their curriculum and syllabus are registered under the mother institution; branch submission is for record and the other succeeding-application requirements are submitted and evaluated accordingly.
Registration process, certificates, and appeals
- A concerned institution must file a Letter of Application with the TESDA Provincial Office having jurisdiction at least six (6) months before offering the program, or within two (2) years from the date of promulgation of appropriate training regulations for programs under permit or recognition.
- Upon receipt, the Provincial Office must accomplish a checklist based on applicable registration requirements.
- Only applications with complete supporting documents and the non-refundable application fee are officially received for evaluation; incomplete applications must be promptly returned.
- The Letter of Application must be supported by the enumerated requirements and must include payment of the non-refundable application fee per course or program, which must be duly receipted.
- Within three (3) months from receipt, the TESDA Provincial Office must undertake curriculum evaluation and inspection/verification of:
- faculty qualifications
- training supplies and materials
- tools, machines and equipment
- site and facilities
- The Provincial Office may use the services of regional or national TEP for inspection, verification, and assessment.
- The Provincial Office forwards results and recommendations to the TESDA Regional Office for consideration.
- The TESDA Regional Office issues a Certificate of TVET Program Registration after compliance with the registration fee per program, with identification labels:
- Registration Certificate (WTR) for programs covered by existing training regulations
- Registration Certificate (NTR) for programs not covered
- If the institution does not meet requirements for a targeted competency level, the program may be adjusted to develop lower-level competencies or one or a number of modules of employable competencies; if the adjusted program meets requirements, the appropriate certificate is granted.
- An application is denied if the institution fails to meet minimum standards; the application fee is forfeited to underwrite administrative costs.
- Denial is appealable to the Office of the Director General, TESDA; the Director General’s decision is final and executory.
Fees, scholarship/incentive conditions, and transitory rules
- TVET institutions must pay an Application Fee of P1000 payable upon filing of the Letter of Application for program registration.
- An additional registration fee of P1000 must be paid prior to issuance of a Certificate of TVET Program Registration, whether the program is covered by appropriate Training Regulations or not.
- Private Education Student Fund Assistance (PESFA) scholars may enroll only in programs registered under UTPRAS, including those previously registered under the original guidelines.
- College Faculty Development Fund (CFDF) scholarship slots are extended only to teachers and instructors in private TVET institutions whose programs are registered.
- Similar assistance and incentives to TVET institutions require UTPRAS registration as a precondition.
- Transitory rule for TVET programs not covered by training regulations: institutions must submit competency-based curriculum, teachers/instructors’ qualifications, and tools/equipment/facilities; assessment and evaluation by at least two competent persons (which may include TEP members) are required; the Provincial Office must refer to previously-approved curricula in evaluating similar programs.
- Private TVET institutions under permit or recognition status may continue offering programs while submitting a competency-based curriculum within one (1) year from promulgation; within two (2) years from promulgation of appropriate training regulations, programs must be reviewed and registered under UTPRAS.
- Registration of programs previously with recognition certificates does not require payment of any registration fee.
- Where appropriate training regulations are absent, an institution may immediately apply for review for issuance of an UTPRAS registration certificate (NTR) for permit-status programs; application and registration fees apply because the process involves the same costs as private program registration.
- Public TVET institutions must register under these guidelines within one (1) year from promulgation, for programs previously authorized by law or by the Secretary of Education; application and registration fees apply because the process entails the same costs as private institutions’ program registration.
Post-registration requirements and ongoing eligibility
- Within one (1) year from promulgation of appropriate training regulations, programs with Registration Certificates (NTR) must be reassessed under those training regulations and issued Registration Certificates (WTR); application and registration fees are waived.
- All registered programs (WTR and NTR) must be included in the roster of authorized TVET programs that TESDA publishes in newspapers of local and national circulation and makes available through the TESDA Website, with regular regional and national updates.
- Certificate copies must be posted in conspicuous places within the institution’s campus for guidance of would-be enrollees, their parents, and other interested parties.
- Technical assistance and other incentives must be extended to deserving TVET institutions with registered TVET programs to improve program delivery.
- Special Orders (SO) continue until superseded by specific guidelines, but only for programs duly registered under UTPRAS (WTR and NTR) by virtue of these guidelines.
- Only TVET institutions with registered TVET programs are eligible for the Philippine TVET Quality Awards.
Sanctions and consequences for violations
- TVET institutions found to have run TVET programs without complying with registration requirements are liable for violation of these guidelines and must be subjected to appropriate sanctions.
- The sanctions follow Section 68, Chapter I, Title V of the Education Act of 1982, which provides that a person convicted of an act in violation of authorization requirements is punished by a fine of not less than PHP 2,000 nor more than PHP 10,000, or imprisonment for a maximum period of two (2) years, or both, at the discretion of the court.
- If the act is committed by a corporation, the school head and the persons responsible for the offense are equally liable.
- For fraud or deceit connected with the application for registration, unauthorized operation of a course or any component thereof, and unauthorized advertisements or announcements relating to the foregoing, TESDA, through TESDA Regional Offices, must revoke the certificate of registration after due process.
Accreditation system and quality awards structure
- TESDA must create and provide an environment for quality and excellence in TVET.
- The highest level of recognition for a TVET institution is accreditation as Center of TVET Program Excellence via the Philippine TVET Quality Awards.
- The Philippine TVET Quality Awards are based on a self-assessment process involving seven criteria: leadership; strategy; policy and planning; processes; products and services; and organizational performance.
- Program accreditation is subject to reevaluation at the institution’s instance.
- Accreditation is not perpetual and involves continuing assessment; assistance and incentives are provided as a possible consequence at every stage.
- Institutions must work up from the Bronze Award for Commitment to the Silver Award for Excellence.
- The rules and procedures of the Philippine TVET Quality Awards are consistent with those of the Philippine Quality Awards promulgated by the Productivity Development Council.
Revocation, separability, and regulatory continuity
- All prior issuances contrary to these guidelines are revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.
- Special Orders (SO) continue only for programs duly registered under UTPRAS by virtue of these guidelines until superseded by specific guidelines.