R.A.-7836

• REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7836
• This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994"
• Statement of Policy


  The State recognizes the vital role of teachers in nation-building and development through a responsible and literate citizenry. Towards this end, the State shall ensure and promote quality education by proper supervision and regulation of the licensure examination and professionalization of the practice of the teaching profession.
• Teaching


  Refers to the profession concerned primarily with classroom instruction, at the elementary and secondary levels in accordance with the curriculum prescribed by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, whether on part-time or full-time basis in the private or public schools
• Teachers


  Refers to all persons engaged in teaching at the elementary and secondary levels, whether on full-time or part-time basis, including industrial arts or vocational teachers and all other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools in the aforesaid levels and qualified to practice teaching under this Act
• Board


  Refers to the Board for Professional Teachers duly established and constituted under this Act
• Commission


  Refers to the Professional Regulation Commission
• There is hereby created under this Act a Board for Professional Teachers, hereinafter called the Board, a collegial body under the general supervision and administrative control of the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, composed of five (5) members who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from among the recommendees chosen by the Commission
• The chairman and the voice-chairman of the Board shall be appointed from these five (5) members by the President
• The members of the first Board appointed under this Act shall be automatically registered as professional teachers and issued with the certificate of registration and professional license upon payment of the fees for examination, registration, and other fees prescribed by the Commission
• Duties and Functions of the Board

  • Promulgate, administer and enforce rules and regulations necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act in accordance with the charter of the Professional Regulation Commission
  • Determine and fix the frequency, dates, and places of examination, appoint supervisors, proctors, and other personnel as needed who shall be entitled to a daily allowance to be fixed by the Board for every examination day actually attended, use buildings and facilities of public or private schools for examination purposes
  • Issue, suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration for the practice of the teaching profession
  • Prescribe and collect examination and other fees as it may deem proper
  • Prescribe and/or adopt a code of ethical and professional standards for the practice of the teaching profession
  • Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act
  • Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and practice of professional teachers in the Philippines
  • Adopt an official seal of the Board
  • Look into the conditions affecting the practice of the teaching profession and whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be deemed proper for the enhancement and maintenance of high professional and ethical standards of the profession
  • Ensure that all educational institutions offering elementary and secondary education comply with the essential requirements for curricula, faculty and facilities for the elementary and secondary levels
  • Investigate such violations of this Act, the rules and the code of ethical and professional standards for professional teachers as it may come to the knowledge of the Board, and for this purpose, to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to secure the appearance of witnesses and the production of documents in connection therewith
  • Discharge such other powers, duties and functions as the Board may deem necessary for the practice of the teaching profession and the upgrading, enhancement, development and growth of education in the Philippines
• The members of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years from the date they assume office
• The first appointees to the Board under this Act shall hold office according to the following terms: one (1) member shall serve for one (1) year; one (1) member for two (2) years; the chairman, vice-chairman, and one (1) member for three (3) years
• No person who has served for two (2) consecutive terms shall be eligible for reappointment
• Qualifications of Board Members

  • Be a citizen and resident of the Philippines
  • Be at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of proven integrity, and possessed of high moral values in his personal as well as professional conduct and has not been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude
  • Be a holder of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Education and preferably a holder of a master's or doctorate degree in education, or their equivalents, from a university, school, college, academy or institute duly constituted, recognized and/or accredited by the Philippine government
  • Be a professional teacher with a valid certificate of registration and valid professional license, save those members who shall compose the first Board for Professional Teachers
  • Has been a professional teacher in the active practice of the teaching profession for at least ten (10) years in the elementary and secondary level
  • Not be an official or member of the faculty of, nor have pecuniary interest in any university, college, school, or institution conferring a bachelor's degree in education or its equivalents for at least three (3) years prior to his appointment, and neither connected with a review center or with any group or association where review classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure examination are offered or conducted
• The membership to the Board shall be evenly distributed to cover all levels of education, including equitable representation of the different fields of specialization
• The chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the Board shall receive compensation comparable to the compensation received by existing regulatory boards under the Professional Regulation Commission, computed on the basis of the number of examinees/candidates
• The Board shall be under the supervision and control of the Commission. All records, including applications for examination, examination papers and results, minutes of deliberation, administrative cases and investigative cases and investigations involving professional teachers shall be kept by the Commission
• The Professional Regulation Commission, through its chairman, shall provide the secretariat and other support services to implement effectively the provisions of this Act
• The chairman or any member of the Board may be removed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Commission for neglect of duty, incompetence, unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct, commission or toleration of irregularities in the examination, after having been given the opportunity to defend himself in a proper administrative investigation
• Except as otherwise specifically allowed under the provisions of this Act, all applicants for registration as professional teachers shall be required to undergo a written examination which shall be given at least once a year in such places and dates as the Board may determine upon approval by the Commission
• Scope of Examination


  • The examination for teachers in the elementary level shall consist of two (2) parts, namely: professional education and general education
  • The examination for teachers in the secondary level shall consist of three (3) parts, namely: professional education, general education, and field of specialization
• Qualification Requirements of Applicants


  • A citizen of the Philippines or an alien whose country has reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of the teaching profession
  • At least eighteen (18) years of age
  • In good health and of good reputation with high moral values
  • Has not been convicted by final judgment by a court for an offense involving moral turpitude
  • A graduate of a school, college or university recognized by the government and possesses the minimum educational qualifications
• The Board shall, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the examination, report the ratings obtained by each candidate to the Professional Regulation Commission for approval and appropriate action
• The registration of a professional teacher commences from the date his name is enrolled in the roster of professional teachers
• Every registrant who has satisfactorily met all the requirements specified in this Act shall, upon payment of the registration fee, be issued a certificate of registration as a professional teacher
• A professional license shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the annual registration fees for three (3) consecutive years
• Every registrant shall be required to take his professional oath before practicing as a professional teacher
• To encourage continuing professional growth and development and to provide additional basis for merit promotion, in addition to their performance rating, teachers may take an oral and written examination at least once in five (5) years as basis for merit promotion
• Certificate of registration


  Remains in full force and effect until withdrawn, suspended and/or revoked in accordance with law
• Professional license


  Issued to every registrant who has paid the annual registration fees for three (3) consecutive years, serves as evidence that the licensee can lawfully practice his profession until the expiration of its validity
• Oath Before Practice


  Every registrant shall be required to take his professional oath before practicing as a professional teacher
• Periodic Merit Examination of Teachers

  Teachers may take an oral and written examination at least once in five (5) years as basis for merit promotion, no fee shall be required
• Failure to Pass the Merit Examination


  Teacher is allowed to take the examination for a second time, if they fail again they shall be required to take a DECS accredited refresher course or program before being allowed to retake the examination, failure shall not be used as a ground for dismissal or demotion
• Incentives for teachers who pass the merit examination

  • Awarded a diploma of merit by the Board
  • Earn merit points for purposes of promotion in salary or to a higher position or grade level
  • Be placed in the priority list for government scholarship
  • Enjoy such other benefits as may be promulgated by the Board
• Similar incentives shall be given to teachers who make inventions, develop new methods of teaching, write a book or books and create works of artistic merit
• Integration of the Teaching Profession


  The teaching profession shall be integrated into one national organization which shall be recognized by the Board and the Commission as the one and only integrated and accredited association of professional teachers, membership shall not be a bar to membership in other associations
• Revocation of the Certificate of Registration, Suspension from the Practice of the Teaching Profession, and Cancellation of Temporary or Special Permit


  The Board shall have the power, after due notice and hearing, to suspend or revoke the certificate of registration, reprimand or cancel the temporary/special permit for various causes, the decision may be appealed to the regional trial court
• Registration by Reciprocity


  No teacher of a foreign nationality shall be admitted to the examination, or be given a certificate of registration or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges unless the country or state permits Filipino professional teachers to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis
• A roster of professional teachers containing relevant data shall be maintained and copies provided to the Board, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and the integrated and accredited organization of professional teachers