THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE

IN PHILIPPINE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION AND career progression

Ronaldo E. Puno, RMT, MBA-H

National President
Philippine Association of Medical Technologists
(PAMET)
 Talking points

• Legal Framework and Milestones

• Structure of Licensure Examination
• International Certification
• Continuing Education & Career Progression
THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK

R.A. 5527
Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969
• Enacted on June 21, 1969
• 3 Amendments
R.A. 6138 - August 31, 1970
P.D. 498 – June 28, 1974
P.D. 1534 – June 11, 1978
P.D. 498
(a) “Practice of Medical Technology”

An auxiliary branch of laboratory medicine which deals with the

• Examination of tissues,secretions, & excretions of the human

body & body fluids
• Blood banking procedures
• Parasitologic, mycologic & microbiologic techniques
• Histopathologic & cytotechnology 
• Clinical research
• Preparations & standardization of reagents
• Clinical Laboratory Quality Control
• Collection & preservation of specimen

which will aid the physician in the diagnosis, study and treatment
of disease and in the promotion of health in general
 Milestones in Philippine Medical Technology
Leading to Licensure of Professionals
1945 - Medical Technology was introduced by the 6th US Army

1947 - Training of high school graduates as laboratory technicians

started. No definite period, no certificate of completion issued
1954 - First training syllabus was prepared with formal 6-month training
period. Certificate of completion was issued.
1954- The first Medical Technology school (PUC) with 5-year curriculum
opened.
1955- First Medical Technology graduate was produced
1957 - The second Medical Technology school opened (UST)
1963 - Philippine Association of Medical Technologists was organized.
1969 - Philippine Medical Technology Act was enacted into law
1970 - Philippine Association of Schools of Medical Technology and
Public Health was organized.
The Board of Medical Technology was for created
The 1st Licensure Examination was held
1971 - The first oath-taking was held.
1973 - Professional Regulation commission was created
 Milestones in Philippine Medical Technology

1994 – The Higher Education Act was enacted into law

2000 – PRC Modernization Act was enacted into law

2006 – CHED Memorandum 14, s. 2006 was approved, shortening internship

program from 1 year to 6 months

2016 – Continuing Professional Development Act lapsed into law

2017 – CHED Memorandum 13, s. 2017 was approved, reverting back to

1 year internship and introducing a new curriculum

2018 - Start of implementation of new curriculum

•
•
 areas of Professional Practice
CHED Memorandum Order 13, series of 2017

Specific professions, careers, occupations or trades that the graduates of this program
may go into.

• Licensed Medical Technologists: Medical Technologists in Hospital

Laboratories, Clinics and Sanitarium.
(incl. Phlebotomist, Histotechnician/Histotechnologist)
• Educators: Medical Technologist can be employed as faculty in colleges and
universities offering Medical Technology program to teach professional
subjects. (Administrator, Academician, Health Educator)
• Diagnostic Molecular Scientists
• Research Scientists
• Diagnostic Product Specialists
• Public Health Practitioners
• Healthcare Leaders
 Areas of Professional Practice

Allied Medical Fields Employing the

Knowledge and Skills of Medical
Technologists:
• Public Health/Epidemiology
• Veterinary Laboratory Science
• Molecular Biology/Biology
• Nuclear Science
• Forensic Science
• Health Administration/Management
• Food and Industrial Microbiology
Government Regulatory Structure in Licensing Professionals

46 Professions under PRC

Board of Medical Technology

Composition:
Chairman - Pathologist
2 Members - Medical
Medical Technology
Technologists
 PROPOSED

Chairman and 2 Members be ALL Registered Medical Technologists

Minimum Requirements for
Licensure Examination

Past >>>> Present >>>Future

R.A. 5527 – Section 6 CMO No. 14, s. 2006, Article 3
Definition of Terms

(d) “Minimum Required Course” (d) “Program specifications”

• At least 4 years • A 4-year program

• Including 12-month • Internship program of 6 months

internship in accredited in an accredited training
training laboratories laboratory

• BS Medical Technology/Public • B.S. Medical

Health Technology/MLS/Public Health

PAST PRESENT
1969-2006 2006-2018
CMO No. 13, s. 2017

(d) “Program specifications”

• A 4-year program

• Internship program of 12 months in an accredited

training laboratory

• B.S. Medical
Technology/MLS/Public Health

FUTURE
starting SY 2018-2019
Section17.Scope of Examination
The examination questions shall cover the following
subjects with their respective relative weights:
Clinical Chemistry ...................................................... 20%
Microbiology & Parasitology ...................................... 20%
Hematology ............................................................... 20%
Blood Banking & Serology ......................................... 20%
Clinical Microscopy (Urinalysis and
other body fluids) ...................................................... 10%
Histopathologic Techniques,
Cytotechnology, Medical
Technology Laws, Related
Laws and its implementing
rules, and the Code of Ethics .................................... 10%
 CRITERIA TO BE A REGISTERED/
LICENSED MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS

Section 19.Rating in the Examination

In order to pass the examination a candidate must :
• obtain a general average of at least 75% in the written test
• with no rating below fifty percent in any of the major subjects:

Provided , that the candidate

• has not failed in at least sixty percent of the subjects computed
according to their relative weights.

No further examinations, unless and until he shall have completed 12 months

refresher course in an accredited laboratory if an examinee failed to pass
for 3 times.
R.A. 5527 – Section 21

(a) “Issuance of Certificate of Registration”

Every applicant who has satisfactory passed

the required examination shall be issued a
Certificate of Registration as Medical
Technologist. Provided that:

• no certificate shall be issued to any successful

applicant who has not attained the age of 21

• All certificates shall be signed by ALL the

members of the Board, and by the PRC
Commissioner
Refusal to issue Certificate.
•Moral turpitude
•Immoral of dishonorable conduct
• Unsound mind
•Incurable communicable disease

Written statement shall be given to applicant

Setting forth the reason for such action, to be
Incorporated in the record of the Board
 7-Year Data on Licensure Examination

YEAR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

# OF
TAKERS 2286 2669 3631 4861 6782 7722 8877

#OF
PASSERS
1612 2054 2917 3871 5467 6190 7199
AVERAGE
ANNUAL
PASSING 70.52 76.96 80.34 79.63 80.61 80.16 81.09 78.87
RATE % % % % % % % %
(7-year
Average)

Source: PRC Board of Medical Technology

 Board Performance
Professional Regulations Commission National Passing Percentage for
Medical Technology Licensure Examinations, Philippines, 1999-2010

YEAR # OF # OF PASSED PERCENTAGE

EXAMINEE (%)
S
1999 3326 1703 51.20
2000 3608 1890 52.38
2001 3621 1904 52.58
2002 3280 1612 49.14
2003 3443 1641 47.66
2004 3414 1473 43.14
2005 3377 1744 51.64
2006 3239 1507 46.52
2007 2547 1311 51.47
2008 2380 1414 59.41
2009 2270 1170 51.54
March 873 514 58.88
2010
TOTAL 34893 18353/34893=52.59%
March 2018 Licensure Examination

No. of takers : 3,644

No. of passers : 2,648
National % Passing rate : 72.66%

Number of RMTs as of Dec. 2017 : 83,697

Plus March 2018 passers : 2,648
Total Number of RMTs as of March 2018 : 86,345

Note: Board exam is given twice a year

20
Source: PRC Board of Medical Technology
 NUMBER OF SCHOOLS
OFFERING THE PROGRAM

2008 = 66
2018 = 150
Official Professional Title Conferred:

Registered Medical Technologists

(as mandated by law)

Medical Laboratory Technician

- a licensed given to BSMT/BSMLS/BS Public Health

Graduate who did not meet the criteria for RMTs
but have obtained a rating of 70-74.9% in the
licensure examination.
International Certification
and Opportunities
 International Certification
and Opportunities

• ASCPi
 International Certification
and Opportunities
Information about ASCPi
• The ASCP Board of Certification examination for International Medical
Technologist, MT (ASCPi) has been approved for licensure purposes
By the state of California.

• Any individual already certified as an International Medical

Technologist, MT(ASCPi) after June 1, 2007 will not need to retake
the examination for California State licensure.

• There is ASCP Task Force on Globalization in the Philippines

(Advisory Board for BOC)

• ASCPi is administered regularly in the Philippines

 International Certification
and Opportunities
Latest ASCPi Statistics
Total Certified (Phils) - 5,869
(as of 2017)
Average Passing rate : 70%
Applicants from Phils : 81% of
total (74 countries)
Continuing education &
career progression
Continuing professional development

law of 2016 (R.A.10912)

“ A response to the standards in

the national, regional and
International labor markets,
given the envisioned ASEAN
Economic community”
Republic Act 10912 “Continuing Professional
Lapsed into law on July 21, Development Act of 2016”
2016

Sec 2. It is hereby declared the policy

of the State to promote and
Declaration of Policy upgrade the practice of
professions in the
country.

Towards this end, the State shall

institute measures that will
continuously improve the
competence of the
professionals in accordance
with the international standards
of practice.
Republic Act 10912 “Continuing Professional
Lapsed into law on July Development Act of 2016”
21, 2016

Article 3, Sec. 10. CPD CPD as Mandatory

Program Implementation Requirement in the
Renewal of
Professional License
and Accreditation
System for the
Practice of Professions

31
Republic Act 10912 “Continuing Profssional
Lapsed into law on July 21, 2016 Development Act of 2016”

Sec 3. Continuing Professional Refers to the inculcation of

Development (CPD) advance knowledge, skills
and ethical values in a post-
licensure specialization or in
an inter- or multidisciplinary
field of duty, for assimilation
into professional practice,
self-directed research
and/or lifelong learning

32
Republic Act 10912 “Continuing Profssional
Lapsed into law on July 21, Development Act of 2016”
2016

Sec 5. Nature of CPD The CPD Programs consist of

Programs activities that range from
structured to non-structured
activities, which have learning
processes and outcomes.

These include, but not limited to

the following:
• Formal learning
• Non-formal learning
• Informal learning
• Self-directed learning
• Online learning activities
33
• Professional work experience
Republic Act 10912 “Continuing Profssional
Lapsed into law on July 21, Development Act of 2016”
2016

Sec 12. Career …concerned government

Progression and agencies and industry
Specialization stakeholoders shall
formulate and implement
a Career Progression and
Specialization Program for
every profession.

34
Why Do We Need to Formulate Career
Progression and Specialization?

• It is a provision of the law

• For career growth and performance
development of professionals
• For better job opportunities
• To upgrade skills and competencies
in response to globalization and ASEAN
integration

35
Specialization/”Pool of Experts”

Section 12 of PRC Resolution 1032:

“IRR of R.A. 10912” - Career Progression
and Specialization

• Developing Professional Track for Med

Techs
• Formed the “Pool of Experts”
• 12 Tracks are being developed by PAMET
and
PRC leading to Diplomate and Fellow
36
• Leveling up to level 7 or 8 of Philippine
Qualifcation Framework (PQF)
37
12 Specialization Tracks Being Developed
• Hematology
• Clinical Chemistry
• Microbiology
• Clinical Microscopy
• Transfusion Medicine
• Laboratory Management
• Immunology/Serology
• Parasitology
• Biosafety
• Phlebotomy
• Histopathology 38
• Research
Collaboration on Specialization and
Certification:

ASCP
- formalizing the partnership of PAMET with
ASCP to provide international certification
and platform for specialization among Filipino
Medical Technologists

39
Areas of Possible Cooperation:

• International membership
• Student membership
• On-line continuing education
• Certificate Programs
- Laboratory Management University
- Leadership Institute

40
Academic Track

Masteral
- several universities now offer
Masteral in Medical Technology/Medical
Laboratory Science

Doctoral
- a PhD major in Medical Technology is now
being offered in one of the universities
(UST)
41
Master of Science in Medical
Technology / Medical Laboratory
Science

- Requires 40 units

Many schools are now currently offering

the program.

- in-house
- off-site
- on-line
42
Doctor of Philosophy in Medical
Technology / Medical Laboratory
Science Major in:

Clinical Laboratory Management

Clinical Chemistry
Clinical Microbiology
Clinical Parasitology
Clinical Immunology
Molecular Diagnostics

- Requires 57 units 43
 
Key messages
The landscape for medical technology has changed significantly in
recent years as a result of new technology, emerging markets,
changes in the global disease burden, and increasingly complex
working environment – these changes have prompted the
emergence of innovative models and approaches in medical
technology.
“Nowadays, Being an average is no longer enough,
we should always bring something extra”

You will be required to have not only a

license as a medical technologist (RMT) but
also a certification in a chosen field of
interest(specialization) because you are
expected to assume new roles and
responsibilities as the field of healthcare
changes globally.

46
The health care community will require greater
numbers of medical technologists to aid in the
achievement of better health care through
diversification and specialization.

47
 As Medical Technologists
in a globalized world…

Have you realized our expanding roles in the

healthcare system ?

Have you thought of the increasing demand for

competence and credentials?

Have you reassessed the need for expertise and

specialization?

Have you considered the competition you are facing?

48
The answer lies on US!

49
Thank you…