101 licensure exams slated in 2021, says Professional Regulation Commission

A total of 101 licensure examinations will be conducted this year after strict lockdowns aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 forced the cancellations of many exams in 2020, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said Thursday.

The PRC held only 11 exams last year as compared to 83 exams in 2019, said PRC Chairperson Teofilo Pilando Jr. at the Laging Handa briefing.

“Kaya ngayon, to make up, we have scheduled 101 licensure examinations for 2021,” Pilando said.

“Unfortunately, may mga iba pa ring mga professional boards na nagri-recommend ng cancelation dahil for various reasons upon consultation from their respective examinees, sa academe as well as the professional organizations.”

The government’s COVID-19 response task force earlier allowed the conduct of licensure examinations scheduled for January to March this year.

According to the PRC, the professional exams set to take place from January to March include those for architects, veterinarians, medical technologists, teachers, social workers, physicians and geologists, among others.

Pilando said health protocols must be strictly observed during the exams.

“We strictly implement iyong mga health protocols for these examinations kagaya ng PCR test or quarantine para sa examinees and examination personnel and pinadamihan namin ang mga examination venue para hindi na kailangan bumiyahe ang mga examinees as much as possible,” he said.

“And at the same time, sa venue mismo, we lessen the capacity from the usual 24 examinees per room to 8 para may social distancing.”

The PRC has also coordinated with the Department of Health and local government units with regard to the conduct of the exams.

“We are happy to know they are very cooperative,” Pilando said.

Pilando added the PRC is eyeing to introduce computer-based licensure examinations later this year.

“Bago pa man ang pandemic, pinag-aaralan na namin iyong computer-based licensure examinations. Pinag-aaralan lang namin iyong mga batas ng bawat propesyon at saka iyong mga issues and privacy, security and then appropriate technology,” he said.

“Hopefully before the end of the year, mako-conduct  na namin at least for the small boards, meaning iyong mga boards na kakaunti lang ang mga examinees para mas manageable.” -NB/MDM, GMA News