Republic Act No.

7836
-

is enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives; and it begun on July 25,
1994.

AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE REGULATION AND SUPERVISION OF THE

PRACTICE OF TEACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES AND PRESCRIBING A LICENSURE
EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1. Short Title. "Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994."
Sec. 2. Statement of Policy. The State recognizes the vital role of teachers in nationbuilding and development through a responsible and literate citizenry.
Sec. 3. Objectives.
The promotion, development and professionalization of teachers and the teaching
profession; and
The supervision and regulation of the licensure examination.
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms.
"Teaching" refers to the profession concerned primarily with classroom instruction.
"Teachers" refers to all persons engaged in teaching at the elementary and
secondary levels, in all schools and qualified to practice teaching under this Act.
"Board" refers to the Board for Professional Teachers
"Commission" refers to the Professional Regulation Commission.
Professional Regulation Commission the proponent of this Act.
ARTICLE II
BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS
Sec. 5. Creation and Composition of the Board. The Board for Professional Teachers is
composed of five (5) members including the chairman and the vice chairman appointed by
the President of the Philippines from among the recommendees chosen by the Commission.
Sec. 6. Duties and Function of the Board. 2 most important duties and functions of
the Board:
Prescribe and/or adopt a code of ethical and professional standards for the practice
of the teaching profession.
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.

The primary concern of the Board is the upgrading and enhancing the development and
growth of education in the Philippines.
Sec. 7. Term of Office. The members of the Board shall hold office for a term of
three (3) years from the date they assume office. No person who has served for two (2)
consecutive terms shall be eligible for reappointment. The chairman or any member shall
take his oath of office prior to the performance of his duties.
Sec. 8. Qualification 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
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.
Be a professional teacher with a valid certificate of registration and valid
professional license,
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; and
Not be an official or member of the faculty 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.
Sec. 9. Compensation of the Board. 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.
Sec. 10. Supervision of the Board and Custodian of its Records. The Board shall be
under the supervision and control of the Commission. All records involving professional
teachers shall be kept by the Commission.
Sec. 11. Secretariat and Support Services. The Professional Regulation Commission,
through its chairman, shall provide the secretariat and other support services to implement
effectively the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 12. Removal of a Board Member. 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.
In the course of investigation, the President may preventively suspend the respondent.
ARTICLE III
EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

Sec. 13. Examination, Registration and License Required. All applicants for
registration as professional teachers shall be required to undergo a written examination
which shall be given at least once a year. A valid certificate of registration and a valid
professional license from the Commission are required before any person is allowed to
practice as a professional teacher in the Philippines.
Sec. 14. Scope of Examination. The examinations for the elementary and secondary
school teachers shall be separate.
Elementary school Teachers
Professional Education
General Education

Secondary school Teachers

Professional Education
General Education
Field of Specialization

Sec. 15. Qualification Requirements of Applicants. No applicant shall be admitted to

take the examination unless, on the date of filing of the application, he shall have complied
with the following requirements:
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.
Sec. 16. Report of the Results of the Examination. 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.
Sec. 17. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional License. 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, as evidence that the person named therein is entitled to practice the
profession with all the rights and privileges appurtenant thereto.
Sec. 18. Oath Before Practice. Every registrant shall be required to take his
professional oath before practicing as a professional teacher.
Sec. 19. 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.
Sec. 20. Failure to Pass the Merit Examination. If a teacher fails to pass the merit
examination, he or she shall be allowed to take the examination for a second time. Should he
or she fail to pass the merit examination for the second time, then he or she shall be

required to take a DECS accredited refresher course or program before being allowed to
retake the examination.
Sec. 21. Incentives. Teachers who pass the merit examination shall:
Be 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; and
Enjoy such other benefits as may be promulgated by the Board.
Sec. 22. Integration of the Teaching Profession. Every professional teacher shall be
encouraged to become a member of the integrated national organization. The professional
teachers shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant to their membership only
upon payment of the required membership fees and dues.
Sec. 23. 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 to suspend the certificate of registration of any registrant, to
cancel the temporary/special permit of a holder thereof who is exempt from registration,
for any of the following causes:

Conviction for any criminal offense by a court of competent jurisdiction;

Immoral, unprofessional or dishonorable conduct;
Declaration by a court of competent jurisdiction for being mentally unsound or insane;
Malpractice, gross incompetence, gross negligence or serious ignorance of the
practice of the teaching profession;
The use of or perpetration of any fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate of
registration, professional license or special/temporary permit;
Chronic inebriety or habitual use of drugs;
Violation of any of the provisions of this Act.
Unjustified failure to attend seminars, workshops, conferences and the continuing
education program prescribed by the Board and the Commission.

The decision of the Board to suspend a certificate may be appealed to the regional trial
court of the place where the Board holds office within fifteen (15) days from receipt of
the said decision for reconsideration filed in due time.
Sec. 24. Registration by Reciprocity. No teacher of a foreign nationality shall be
admitted to the examination, or be given a certificate of registration unless the country or
state of which he is a subject permits Filipino professional teachers to practice the
profession in the said country.

Sec. 25. Roster of Professional Teachers. A roster of professional teachers containing

the names and addresses of professional teachers, date of registration and other data shall
be maintained.

Sec. 26. Registration and Exception. Two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act,
no person shall engage in teaching and/or act as a professional teacher as defined in this
Act.
ARTICLE IV
PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION
Sec. 27. Inhibition Against the Practice of the Teaching Profession. No person shall
practice or offer to practice the teaching profession in the Philippines or be appointed as
teacher to any position calling for a teaching position without having previously obtained a
valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license from the Commission.
Sec. 28. Penal Provisions. If a person is practicing a professional teacher without a
valid certificate of registration or valid professional license:
He shall be fined with not less P5,000 - P20,000.00; or
Imprisonment of nor less than six (6) months - five (5) years
Sec. 29. Appropriations. Such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the 1996 General Appropriations Act and thereafter.
Sec. 30. Implementing Guidelines. The Board shall formulate and adopt the necessary
guidelines for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act within sixty (60)
days of its approval.
Sec. 31. Transitory Provision. All incumbent teachers in both the public and private
sector not otherwise certified as professional teachers by virtue of this Act, shall be given
(5) years temporary certificates from the time the Board for Professional Teachers is
organized within which to qualify as required by this Act and be included in the roster of
professionals.
Sec. 32. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act or
the application of such section or provision to any person or circumstance is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, no other section or provision of this Act shall be affected
thereby.
Sec. 33. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 34. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its complete publication in the Official Gazette.
Approved: December 16, 1994 by President Fidel V. Ramos