The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC; ) is a three-member commission attached to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Its mandate is to regulate and supervise the practice of professionals (except lawyers, who are handled by the

Supreme Court of the Philippines The Supreme Court (; colloquially referred to as the ' (also used in formal writing), is the highest court in the Philippines. It was established by the Taft Commission on June 11, 1901, through the enactment of Act No. 136, which abolished th ...

) who constitute the highly skilled manpower of Philippines. As the agency-in-charge of the professional sector, the PRC plays a strategic role in developing the corps of professionals for industry, commerce, governance, and the economy.

History

On June 17, 1950, the Office of the Board of Examiners was created through Republic Act No. 546 on June 17, 1950, under the supervision of the

Civil Service Commission A civil service commission (also known as a Public Service Commission) is a government agency or public body that is established by the constitution, or by the legislature, to regulate the employment and working conditions of civil servants, overse ...

. The Office of Board Examiners would later be renamed as Professional Regulation Commission through

Presidential Decree A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, royal figure, or other relevant authorities, according to certain procedures. These procedures are usually defined by the constitution, Legislative laws, or customary l ...

No. 223 on June 22, 1973, which was signed by President

Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino lawyer, politician, dictator, and Kleptocracy, kleptocrat who served as the tenth president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled the c ...

. The first PRC Commissioner, Architect Eric C. Nubla assumed office on January 2, 1974. The PRC Coat-of-Arms designed by the Heraldry Commission was officially adopted on February 1, 1974. The Commission made its offices at the burned Civil Service Commission building at P. Paredes Street in Manila. The structure later became the PRC Main Building. The PRC began issuing certificates of registration in Filipino with English translation. In the same year, also saw the computerization of the database of registered professionals with the assistance of the National Computer Center. The Implementing Rules and Regulations of Presidential Decree 223 are promulgated on December 9 of that year. In 1975, PRC began issuing computer-printed registration cards with one-year validity. PRC starts accrediting professional organizations. On December 5, 2000, President

Joseph Estrada Joseph Ejercito Estrada (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor, who served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 until his resignation in 2001. ...

signed the Republic Act No. 8981, known as the PRC Modernization Act of 2000. The Implementing Rules and Regulations of the act were adopted on February 15, 2001.

Functions

Executive

Administer, implements, and enforces the regulatory policies of the national government, including the maintenance of professional and occupational standards and ethics and the enforcement of the rules and regulations relative thereto.

Quasi-Judicial

Investigates cases against erring examinees and professionals. Its decisions have the force and effect of the decisions of a court of law, with the same level of authority as a

Regional Trial Court The regional trial courts (RTC; ) are the highest trial courts in the Philippines. In criminal matters, they have original jurisdiction. History It was formerly called as the Court of First Instance since the Spanish colonial period. It cont ...

. After the lapse of the period within which to file an appeal, Commission decisions become final and executory.

Quasi-Legislative

Formulates rules and policies on professional regulation. When published in the official gazette, these rules have the force and effect of law.

Mandate

Republic Act This article contains a partial list of Philippine laws. Sources of Philippine laws ;Notes : *Customs may be considered as supplementary source of law, however, customs which are contrary to law, public order or public policy shall not ...

8981, otherwise known as the "PRC Modernization Act Of 2000", mandates the following: *Institutionalization of centerpiece programs :#full computerization :#careful selection of Professional Regulatory Board members, and :#monitoring of school performance to upgrade quality of education *Updating of organizational structure for operational efficiency and effectiveness; *Strengthening of PRC's enforcement powers, including regulatory powers over foreign professionals practicing in the country; *Authority to use income for full computerization; and *Upgrading of compensation and allowances of Chairperson to that of a Department Secretary and those of the Commissioners to that of Undersecretary.

Regulated professions

Under the Commission are the forty-three (43) Professional Regulatory Boards which exercise administrative, quasi-legislative, and quasi-judicial powers over their respective professions. The 43 PRBs which were created by separate enabling laws, perform these functions subject to review and approval by the Commission: *Prepare the contents of licensure examinations. Determine, prescribe, and revise the course requirements *Recommend measures necessary for advancement in their fields *Visit / inspect schools and establishments for feedback *Adopt and enforce a Code of ethics for the practice of their respective professions *Administer oaths and issue Certificate of Registration *Eligibility to Work at any Government offices whether National or Local. *Investigate violations of set professional standards and adjudicate administrative and other cases against erring registrants *Suspend, revoke, or reissue Certificate of Registration for causes provided by law

Professional Regulatory Boards

Source: Agriculture *

Agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...

Architecture and Design *

Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...

Interior Design Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. With a keen eye for detail and a Creativity, creative flair, an ...

Landscape Architecture Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve environmental, social-behavioural, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic design and general engineering of various structures for constructio ...

* Master

Plumbing Plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing uses piping, pipes, valves, piping and plumbing fitting, plumbing fixtures, Storage tank, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. HVAC, Heating and co ...

Business *

Accountancy Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the process of recording and processing information about economic entities, such as businesses and corporations. Accounting measures the results of an organization's economic activities and conveys ...

* Real Estate Services Communication and Information Science *

Library Science Library and information science (LIS)Library and Information Sciences is the name used in the Dewey Decimal Classification for class 20 from the 18th edition (1971) to the 22nd edition (2003). are two interconnected disciplines that deal with info ...

Education * Professional Teaching Engineering *

Aeronautical Engineering Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is s ...

Agricultural Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created f ...

and

Biosystems Engineering Biological systems engineering or biosystems engineering is a broad-based engineering discipline with particular emphasis on non-medical biology. It can be thought of as a subset of the broader notion of biological engineering or bio-technology ...

Chemical Engineering Chemical engineering is an engineering field which deals with the study of the operation and design of chemical plants as well as methods of improving production. Chemical engineers develop economical commercial processes to convert raw materials ...

Civil Engineering Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...

Electrical Engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

* Electronics and Communications Engineering * Geodetic Engineering *

Mechanical Engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines and mechanism (engineering), mechanisms that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and engineering mathematics, mathematics principl ...

Metallurgical Engineering Metallurgy is a domain of materials science and engineering that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their inter-metallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are known as alloys. Metallurgy encompasses both the ...

Mining Engineering Mining engineering is the extraction of minerals from the ground. It is associated with many other disciplines, such as mineral processing, exploration, excavation, geology, metallurgy, geotechnical engineering and surveying. A mining engineer m ...

Naval Architecture Naval architecture, or naval engineering, is an engineering discipline incorporating elements of mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and safety engineering as applied to the engineering design process, shipbuilding, maintenance, and op ...

and

Marine Engineering Marine engineering is the engineering of boats, ships, submarines, and any other marine vessel. Here it is also taken to include the engineering of other ocean systems and structures – referred to in certain academic and professional circ ...

Sanitary Engineering Sanitary engineering or sanitation engineering, also known as public health engineering or wastewater engineering, is the application of engineering methods to improve sanitation of human communities, primarily by providing the removal and disp ...

Health Sciences *

Dentistry Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the Human tooth, teeth, gums, and Human mouth, mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, dis ...

Medical Technology Health technology is defined by the World Health Organization as the "application of organized knowledge and skills in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures, and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of liv ...

Medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...

Midwifery Midwifery is the health science and health profession that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (including care of the newborn), in addition to the sexual and reproductive health of women throughout their lives. In many cou ...

Nursing Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...

Nutrition Nutrition is the biochemistry, biochemical and physiology, physiological process by which an organism uses food and water to support its life. The intake of these substances provides organisms with nutrients (divided into Macronutrient, macro- ...

and Dietetics *

Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy (OT), also known as ergotherapy, is a healthcare profession. Ergotherapy is derived from the Greek wiktionary:ergon, ergon which is allied to work, to act and to be active. Occupational therapy is based on the assumption t ...

Optometry Optometry is the healthcare practice concerned with examining the eyes for visual defects, prescribing corrective lenses, and detecting eye abnormalities. In the United States and Canada, optometrists are those that hold a post-baccalaureate f ...

Pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medication, medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it ...

Physical Therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease preventio ...

* Radiologic

Technology Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...

and

X-ray An X-ray (also known in many languages as Röntgen radiation) is a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than those of ultraviolet rays and longer than those of gamma rays. Roughly, X-rays have a wavelength ran ...

Respiratory Therapy A respiratory therapist is a specialized healthcare practitioner trained in critical care and cardio-pulmonary medicine in order to work therapeutically with people who have acute critical conditions, cardiac and pulmonary disease. Respirato ...

* Speech-Language Pathology Natural Sciences *

Chemistry Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a physical science within the natural sciences that studies the chemical elements that make up matter and chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules a ...

Environmental Planning Environmental planning is the process of facilitating decision making to carry out land development with the consideration given to the natural environment, social, political, economic and governance factors and provides a holistic framework to a ...

Fisheries Fishery can mean either the enterprise of raising or harvesting fish and other aquatic life or, more commonly, the site where such enterprise takes place ( a.k.a., fishing grounds). Commercial fisheries include wild fisheries and fish farm ...

Food Technology Food technology is a branch of food science that addresses the production, preservation, quality control and research and development of food products. It may also be understood as the science of ensuring that a society is food secure and ha ...

Forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests and woodlands for associated resources for human and Natural environment, environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and ...

Geology Geology (). is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth ...

Veterinary Medicine Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, medical diagnosis, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all a ...

Public Administration * Customs brokerage Social Sciences *

Criminology Criminology (from Latin , 'accusation', and Ancient Greek , ''-logia'', from λόγος ''logos'', 'word, reason') is the interdisciplinary study of crime and deviant behaviour. Criminology is a multidisciplinary field in both the behaviou ...

* Guidance Counselor *

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...

Psychometrics Psychometrics is a field of study within psychology concerned with the theory and technique of measurement. Psychometrics generally covers specialized fields within psychology and education devoted to testing, measurement, assessment, and rela ...

Social Work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...

Accredited Professional Organization (APO)

Agriculture * Philippine Association of Agriculturists, Inc. (PAA) Architecture and Design * National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines (NAMPAP) * Philippine Association of Landscape Architects (PALA) * Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) * United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) Business * Philippine Association of Realty Consultants and Specialists (PARCS) * Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Communication and Information Science * Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) Engineering * Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines (GEP) * Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (IECEP) * Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (IIEE) * Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) * Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) * Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) * Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) * Philippine Society of Mining Engineers (PSEM) * Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers (PSSE) * Society of Aerospace Engineers of the Philippines (SAEP) * Society of Metallurgical Engineers of the Philippines (SMEP) *

Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) is a global professional society that provides a forum for the advancement of the engineering profession as applied to the marine field. Although it particularly names the naval arch ...

(SONAME) Health Sciences * Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (IMAP) * Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists, Inc. (IPAO) * Nutritionist-Dietitians' Association of the Philippines (NDAP) * Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) * Philippine Association of Radiologic Technologists (PART) * Philippine Association of Speech-Language Pathologists (PASP) * Philippine Dental Association (PDA) * Philippine Medical Association (PMA) * Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) * Philippine Pharmacists Association, Inc. (PPHA) * Philippine Physical Therapy Association (PPTA) Natural Sciences * Geological Society of the Philippines (GSP) * Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) * Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) * Philippine Society of Fisheries, Inc. (PSF) * Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) * Society of Filipino Foresters (SFF) Public Administration * Chamber of Customs Brokers (CCB) * Philippine Association of Community Development (PACD) Social Sciences * Philippine Association of Social Workers, Inc. (PASWI) * Philippine Guidance Counseling Association, Inc. (PGCA) * Professional Criminologist Association of the Philippines (PCAP) * Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP)

Outstanding Professional of the Year Awards (OPYA)

The Professional Regulation Commission annually awards outstanding professionals in field clusters: * Business, Education and Social * Engineering * Health and allied * Technology. Notable recipients of awards have included: * Josefa Jara Martinez (Social Worker of the Year, 1978).

References

External links

* * * {{Department of Education of the Philippines Quasi-judicial bodies Professional associations based in the Philippines Department of Labor and Employment (Philippines) Establishments by Philippine presidential decree