LEARNING MATERIAL 03: Basic Laws of the Professionalization of Teaching

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO 1006

PROVIDING FOR THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF TEACHERS, REGULATING THEIR PRACTICE IN THE

PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, the Constitution provides that “All educational institutions shall be under the
supervision of; and subject to regulation by, the State”, and requires that “the State shall
establish and maintain a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to
the goals of national development”;

WHEREAS, in the pursuit on these objectives, the Department of Education and Culture has
adopted ways and means of overseeing all the educational institutions in the country;

WHEREAS, this supervisory function of the DEC has been primarily beamed towards insuring that
the educational institutions inculcate in the studentry love of the country, teach the duties of
citizenship, and develop moral character, personal discipline, and scientific, technological and
vocational efficiency;

WHEREAS, to implement these objectives, the institutions have relied upon their teachers whose
direct and continuing interaction with the young people and the children make them potent
forces for the development of proper attitudes among the citizenry;

WHEREAS, this accounts for the tremendous growth of the teaching population, comprising in
the civil service sector alone more than 300,000 teachers deployed all over the country;

WHEREAS, to insure that in the immediacy and urgency of teacher recruitment qualitative
requirements are not overlooked, it has become necessary to regulate the teaching profession;

WHEREAS, although teaching requires a number of years of collegiate study, it is the only course
that it is not yet considered a profession;

WHEREAS, in recognition of the vital role of teachers in nation-building and as an incentive to

raise the morale of teachers, it is imperative that they be considered as professionals and
teaching be recognized as a profession.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers
vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order:

Section 1. Title. This Decree shall be known as the Decree Professionalizing Teaching.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared a policy that teacher education shall be
given primary concern and attention by the government and shall be of the highest quality,
and strongly oriented to Philippine conditions and to the needs and aspirations of the Filipino
people even as it seeks enrichment from adoptable ideas and practices of other people.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Decree, the following shall be construed as follows:

(a) Teaching refers to the profession primarily concerned with the classroom instruction, at the
elementary and secondary levels, in accordance with the curriculum prescribed by National
Board of Education, whether on part-time or full-time basis in the public or private schools.

(b) Teachers refers to all persons engaged in teaching at the elementary and secondary levels,
whether on a full-time or part-time basis, including guidance counselors, school librarians,
industrial arts or vocational teachers and all other persons performing supervisory and/or
administrative functions in all schools in the aforesaid levels and legally qualified to practice
teaching under this Decree.

(c) Board refers to the National Board for Teachers duly constituted under this Decree.

Section 4. Creation of the National Board for Teachers. There is hereby created a National
Board for Teachers, hereinafter called the Board, to be composed of the following:
1) Secretary of Education and Culture
Co-Chairman
2) Chairman, Civil Service Commission
3) Commissioner, Professional Regulations Commission

4) Two members representing the private sector to be Member

appointed by the President

Section 5. Powers and Duties. The Board shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) Appoint a set of examiners for every examination who will determine and prepare the
contents of the Board examination for teachers, hereinafter referred to as examination, in the
elementary and secondary levels of instruction, to be held at least once a year;

(b) Determine and fix the places and dates of examination, appoint supervisors and room
examiners from among the employees of the Government who shall be entitled to a daily
allowance to be fixed by the Board for every examination day actually attended, use the
buildings and facilities of public and private schools for examination purposes, approve
applications to take examination, and approve the release of examination results;

(c) Look from time to time into the conditions affecting the practice of the teaching profession,
adopt such measures as may be deemed proper for the enhancement of said profession,
and/or maintenance of the professional standards and ethics;

(d) Issue, suspend, revoke, replace or reissue Professional Teachers Certificate, and administer
oaths;

(e) Appoint, subject to the provisions of existing laws, such officials and employees as are
necessary in the effective performance of its functions and responsibilities, prescribe their duties
and fix their compensation;

(f) Prescribe and collect examination and other fees as it may deem proper; and

(g) Promulgate rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers, functions and duties as
may be necessary to carry into effect the purposes of this Decree.

Section 6. Qualification requirements for examination 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) Except those who have been engaged in teaching as herein defined for at least five years
in schools in the Philippines not organized exclusively for nationals of a foreign country at the
time of the effectivity of this Decree, the applicant must be a citizen of the Philippines;

(b) That he is of good moral character;

(c) That he is free from any physical and/or mental defect which will incapacitate him to render
efficient service; and

(d) That he possesses the following minimum educational qualifications:

1) For teachers in the kindergarten and elementary grades, Bachelor’s degree in Elementary
Education (B.S.E.Ed.) or its equivalent;

2) For teachers of the secondary schools, Bachelor’s degree in Education or its equivalent with
a major and minor, or a Bachelor’s degree in Arts or Sciences with at least eighteen units in
professional education; and

3) For teachers of secondary vocational and two-year technical courses, Bachelor’s degree in
the field of specialization with at least eighteen units in professional education.

All applications shall be filed with an office or offices designated by the Board, preferably the
offices of the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Education and Culture.
These offices shall screen and approve such applications and issue the corresponding permits
to take the examination to qualify applicants.

Section 7. Appointment of examiners. The Board shall appoint a set of examiners for every
examination who are recognized authority in teacher education, and their names shall not be
disclosed until after the release of the results of the examination. They shall each receive as
compensation the sum of not less than P5.00 for each examinee as may be determined by the
Board but in no case shall each examiner receive more than P18,000 per examination. Any
examiner who is in the service of the Government shall receive the compensation herein
provided in addition to his salary.

Section 8. Scope of the examination. The examination shall consist of written tests, the scope of
which shall be determined by the Board, taking into consideration the teaching plan of the
schools legally constituted in the Philippines.

Section 9. Ratings in the examination. In order that a candidate may be deemed to have
successfully passed the examinations, he must have obtained a general average of at least 70
per cent in all subjects, with no rating below 50 per cent in any subject.

Section 10. Report of the results of the examination. The examiners shall report the ratings
obtained by each candidate to the Board within 150 days after the last day of the examination,
unless extended by the latter.

Section 11. Issuance of Certificates. Teachers who have passed examinations given by the Civil
Service Commission or jointly by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Education
and Culture shall be considered as having passed the board examinations for teachers. The
Board may consider their certificates of rating as certificates of eligibility or issue an entirely new
certificate upon registration of the teacher and payment of the corresponding fees.

This provision shall likewise apply to those teachers who have permanent appointment under
the Magna Carta For Public School Teachers and all others who may be qualified for registration
as professional teachers under this Decree.

Section 12. Registration. The Civil Service Commission shall, as an arm of the Board, register
holders of Professional Teacher Certificate which registration shall evidence that the registrant
is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Professional Teacher until and unless the certificate
is suspended or canceled by the Board for just cause.

Section 13. Reissuance of revoked certificates and replacement of lost certificates. The Board
may, for reason of equity and justice, and upon proper application therefor, issue another copy,
original or duplicate, upon payment of the required fee, of a certificate which has been
revoked. A new certificate to replace a lost, destroyed or mutilated certificate may be issued
subject to the rules of the Board.

Section 14. Registration by reciprocity. The Civil Service Commission shall, upon approval of the
Board, effect the registration, without examination, of a teacher validly registered under the
laws of any foreign state or country; Provided, That the requirements for registration in said
foreign state or country are substantially the same as those required and contemplated by this
Decree, and the laws of such foreign state or country allow citizens of the Philippines to practice
the profession on the same basis and grant the same privileges as the citizens or subjects of
such foreign state or country; Provided finally, That the applicant shall submit competent and
conclusive documentary evidence, confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, showing
that his country’s existing laws permit citizens of the Philippines to practice teaching profession
under the rules and regulations governing citizens thereof.

Section 15. Prohibition. Three years after the effectiveness of this Decree, no person shall
engage in teaching and/or act as a teacher as defined in this Decree, whether in the public or
private elementary or secondary school, unless he is holder of a Professional Teacher Certificate
or is considered a Professional Teacher under this Decree.

Section 16. Penal Provision. Any person who shall practice the teaching without a valid
Professional Teacher Certificate, or any person presenting as his or her own the certificate of
another, or any person giving any false or forged evidence in order to obtain a Professional
Teacher Certificate or admission to an examination, or any person assuming himself as a
registered professional teacher or any person violating any provision of this Decree shall be
penalized by a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos nor more than Five Thousand Pesos
with subsidiary imprisonment or to suffer an imprisonment of not less than six months nor more
than two years, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court.

Section 17. Repealing Clause. All Acts, Decrees, Executive Orders, Administrative Orders, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 18. Separability Clause. In case any provision of this Decree or any portion thereof is
declared unconstitutional by a competent court, other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

Section 19. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect January 1, 1977.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of September, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen
hundred and seventy-six.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) JACOBO C. CLAVE

Presidential Executive Assistant

Source: Malacañang Records Office

 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7836
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
TITLE
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Teachers
Professionalization Act of 1994."
Sec. 2. 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.
Sec. 3. Objectives. — This Act has the herein objectives:
(a) The promotion, development and professionalization of teachers and the teaching
profession; and;
(b) The supervision and regulation of the licensure examination.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
(a) "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.
(b) "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.
(c) "Board" — refers to the Board for Professional Teachers duly established and constituted
under this Act.
(d) "Commission" — refers to the Professional Regulation Commission.

ARTICLE II
BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS
Sec. 5. Creation and Composition of the Board. — 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 recommendees shall be chosen from
the list of nominees selected by the accredited association of teachers, who duly possess all the
qualifications prescribed in Section 8 of this Act.
The chairman and the voice-chairman of the Board shall be appointed from these five (5)
members by the President: Provided that 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.
Sec. 6. Duties and Function of the Board. — The Board shall have the following duties and functions:
(a)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;
(b) 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;
(c) Issue, suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration for the practice of the teaching
profession;
(d) Prescribe and collect examination and other fees as it may deem proper;
(e) Prescribe and/or adopt a code of ethical and professional standards for the practice
of the teaching profession. Such ethical standards, rules and regulations to take effect
sixty (60) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general
circulation;
(f) Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act;
(g) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and practice of professional teachers
in the Philippines;
(h) Adopt an official seal of the Board;
(i) 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;
(j) 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;
(k) 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;
and
(l) 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.
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: Provided, That 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. Vacancies shall
be served for the unexpired term only. No person who has served for two (2) consecutive terms shall be
eligible for reappointment. Appointment to fill an unexpired term shall be considered an appointment to
a complete term. The chairman or any member shall take his oath of office prior to the performance of
his duties.
Sec. 8. Qualification of Board Members. — Each Board member must at the time of his
appointment:
(a) Be a citizen and resident of the Philippines;
(b) 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;
(c) 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;
(d) 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;
(e) 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
(f) 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.
Provided, however, that, the membership to the Board shall be evenly distributed to cover
all levels of education, including equitable representation of the different fields of specialization.
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, 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.
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. — 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. 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, except as otherwise allowed under this Act.
Sec. 14. Scope of Examination. — The examinations for the elementary and secondary school
teachers shall be separate. 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.
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) A citizen of the Philippines or an alien whose country has reciprocity with the Philippines in the
practice of the teaching profession;
(b) At least eighteen (18) years of age;
(c) In good health and of good reputation with high moral values;
(d) Has not been convicted by final judgment by a court for an offense involving moral turpitude;
(e) A graduate of a school, college or university recognized by the government and possesses
the minimum educational qualifications, as follows:
(1) For teachers in preschool, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education (BECED)
or its equivalent;
(2) For teachers in the elementary grades, a bachelor's degree in elementary education
(BSEED) or its equivalent;
(3) For teachers in the secondary grades, a bachelor's degree in education or its
equivalent with a major and minor, or a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences with
at least ten (10) units in professional education; and
(4) For teachers of vocational and two-year technical courses, a bachelor's degree in the
field of specialization or its equivalent, with at least eighteen (18) units in professional
education.
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 bearing the full
name of the registrant with serial number and date of issuance signed by the chairman of the Commission
and the chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the Board, stamped with the official seal, as
evidence that the person named therein is entitled to practice the profession with all the rights and
privileges appurtenant thereto. The certificate shall remain in full force and effect until withdrawn,
suspended and/or revoked in accordance with law. A professional license signed by the chairman of
the Commission and bearing the registration number and date of issuance thereof and the month of
expiry or renewability shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the annual registration fees
for three (3) consecutive years. This license shall serve as evidence that the licensee can lawfully practice
his profession until the expiration of its validity.
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. — 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. In taking this examination, no fee shall be required.
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.
Failure of any permanent teacher to pass the merit examination shall not, however, be used as a ground
for his/her dismissal or demotion.
Sec. 21. Incentives. — Teachers who pass the merit examination shall:
(a) Be awarded a diploma of merit by the Board;
(b) Earn merit points for purposes of promotion in salary or to a higher position or grade level;
(c) Be placed in the priority list for government scholarship; and
(d) 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.
Sec. 22. 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. Upon registration with the Board,
every professional teacher shall be encouraged to become a member of the integrated national
organization. Those who have been registered with the Board but are not members of the said integrated
organization shall be allowed to register as members of the said integrated organization within three (3)
years after the effectivity of this Act. Membership in the integrated organization shall not be a bar to
membership in other associations of the teaching profession. The professional teachers shall receive the
benefits and privileges appurtenant to their membership in the said integrated and accredited
organization of professional teachers 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, after
due notice and hearing, to suspend or revoke the certificate of registration of any registrant, to reprimand
or to cancel the temporary/special permit of a holder thereof who is exempt from registration, for any of
the following causes:
(a) Conviction for any criminal offense by a court of competent jurisdiction;
(b) Immoral, unprofessional or dishonorable conduct;
(c) Declaration by a court of competent jurisdiction for being mentally unsound or insane;
(d) Malpractice, gross incompetence, gross negligence or serious ignorance of the practice of
the teaching profession;
(e) The use of or perpetration of any fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate of registration,
professional license or special/temporary permit;
(f) Chronic inebriety or habitual use of drugs;
(g) Violation of any of the provisions of this Act, the rules and regulations and other policies of
the Board and the Commission, and the code of ethical and professional standards for
professional teachers; and
(h) Unjustified or willful failure to attend seminars, workshops, conferences and the like or the
continuing education program prescribed by the Board and the Commission. The decision
of the Board to revoke or 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 or of the denial of the motion 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 or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges
provided under this Act; unless the country or state of which he is a subject permits Filipino professional
teachers to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as subjects or citizens of said country or
state: Provided, that the requirements of certification of teachers with said foreign state or country are
substantially the same as those required and contemplated under this Act: Provided, further, That the
laws of such state or country grant the same privilege to Filipino professional teachers on the same basis
as the subject or citizens of such foreign country or state.
Sec. 25. Roster of Professional Teachers. — A roster of professional teachers containing the names
and addresses of professional teachers, date of registration or issuance of certificate, and other data
which in the opinion of the Board may appear pertinent shall be maintained. Copies of the roster shall
be provided by the Commission to the Board, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and the
integrated and accredited organization of professional teachers.
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, whether in the preschool,
elementary or secondary level, unless he is a duly registered professional teacher, and a holder of a valid
certificate of registration and a valid professional license or a holder of a valid special/temporary permit.
Upon approval of the application and payment of the prescribed fees, the certificate of registration and
professional license as a professional teacher shall be issued without examination as required in this Act
to a qualified applicant, who at the time of the approval of this Act, is:
(a) A holder of a certificate of eligibility as a teacher issued by the Civil Service Commission and
the Department of Education, Culture and Sports; or
(b) A registered professional teacher with the National Board for Teachers under the Department
of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) pursuant to Presidential Decree No.1006 or
(c) Not qualified under paragraphs one and two but with any of the following qualifications. To
wit:
(1) An elementary or secondary teacher for five (5) years in good standing and a holder of
Bachelor of Science in Education or its equivalent; or
(2) An elementary or secondary teacher for three (3) years in good standing and a holder
of a master's degree in education or its equivalent. Provided, That they shall be given
two (2) years from the organization of the Board for professional teachers within which
to register and be included in the roster of professional teachers:
Provided, further, That those incumbent teachers who are not qualified to register without
examination under this Act or who, albeit qualified, were unable to register within the two-year
period shall be issued a five-year temporary or special permit from the time the Board is organized
within which to register after passing the examination and complying with the requirements
provided this Act and be included in the roster of professional teachers: Provided, furthermore,
That those who have failed the licensure examination for professional teachers shall be eligible as
para-teachers and as such, shall be issued by the Board a special or temporary permit, and shall
be assigned by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) to schools as it may
determine under the circumstances.
ARTICLE IV
PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION
Sec. 27. Inhibition Against the Practice of the Teaching Profession. — Except as otherwise allowed
under this Act, 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. — The following shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Five
thousand pesos (P5,000.00) nor more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or imprisonment of nor
less than six (6) months nor more than five (5) years, or both, at the discretion of the court:
(a) Any person who practices the teaching profession in the Philippines without being certified
in accordance with the provisions of this Act;
(b) Any person who represents or attempts to use as his own certificate of registration that of
another;
(c) Any person who gives any false, or fraudulent evidence of any kind to the Board or any
member thereof in obtaining a certificate of registration as teacher;
(d) Any person who impersonates any registrant of the same or different name;
(e) Any person who uses a revoked or suspended certificate of registration;
(f) Any person who, in connection with his name, otherwise assumes, uses or advertises any title
or description tending to convey or conveys the impression that he is a teacher without
holding a valid certificate; and
(g) Any person who violates or who abets the violation of any of the provisions of this Act. The
penalty of fine or imprisonment or both, as provided in this section, shall also apply to any
school official who shall cause or be responsible for the commission of any of the above
enumerated acts.
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.
The Board shall submit to both Committees on Education, Arts, and Culture; and the Committees on Civil
Service and Professional Regulation of the Senate and House of Representatives, copies of the
implementing rules and guidelines within thirty (30) days after its promulgation. Any violation of this section
shall render the official/s concerned liable under Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the "Code
of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees" and other pertinent administrative
and/or penal laws.
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.
Provided, however, That the Professional Board Examination for Teachers (PBET) shall still be
administered by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.
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 or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: December 16, 1994

[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9293]

AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN SECS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SEVENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX
(R.A. NO. 7836), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PHILIPPINE TEACHERS PROFESSIONALIZATION ACT OF 1994”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 15, (e) (3) of Republic Act No. 7836 is hereby amended as follows:

“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:

“(e) A graduate of a school, college or university recognized by the government and possesses the
minimum educational qualifications, as follows:

(1) For teachers in preschool, a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education (BECED) or its equivalent;

(2) For teachers in the elementary grades, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education (BSEED) or its
equivalent;

(3) For teachers in the secondary grades, a bachelor’s degree in education or its equivalent with a major
and minor, or a bachelor degree in arts and sciences with at least eighteen (18) units in professional
education; and

(4) For teachers of vocational and two-year technical courses, a bachelor’s degree in the field of
specialization or its equivalent, with at least eighteen (18) units in professional education.”

SEC 2. Section 26 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 26. Registration and Exception. – No person shall engage in teaching and/or act as a professional
teacher as defined in this Act, whether in the preschool, elementary or secondary level, unless the person
is a duly registered professional teacher, and a holder of a valid certificate of registration and a valid
professional license or a holder of a valid special/temporary permit.

Upon approval of the application and payment of the prescribed fees, the certificate of registration and
professional license as a professional teacher shall be issued without examination as required in this Act
to a qualified applicant, who is:

(a) A holder of a certificate of eligibility as a teacher issued by the Civil Service Commission and the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports; or

(b) A registered professional teacher with the National Board for Teachers under the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1006.

Professional teachers who have not practiced their profession for the past five (5) years shall take at least
twelve (12) units of education courses, consisting of at least six (6) units of pedagogy and six (6) units of
content courses, or the equivalent training and number of hours, to be chosen from a list of courses to
be provided by the Board and the Department of Education, before they can be allowed to practice
their profession in the country.

Those who have failed the licensure examination for professional teachers, with a rating of not lower than
five percentage points from the passing general average rating, shall be eligible as para-teachers upon
issuance by the Board of a two-year special permit, renewable for a non-extendible period of two (2)
years. The para-teachers shall be assigned to areas where there is a shortage or absence of a professional
teacher, as identified and provided by the Department of Education and the Autonomous Region for
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) education department to the Board for professional teachers and to the
Commission. The special permit shall indicate the area of assignment of the para-teacher.

A special permit may also be issued by the Board to a person who has excelled and gained international
recognition and is a widely acknowledged expert in his or her respective field of specialization.”

SEC 3. Section 31 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 31. Transitory Provision. – Special permits, with a validity of three (3) and five (5) years, issued to
para-teachers by the Board for Professional Teachers before the effectivity of this Act shall be allowed to
expire based on the period granted therein: Provided, That only special permits with a validity of three
(3) years may be renewed upon expiration for a non-extendible period of two (2) years.”

SEC 4. References to the term “Department of Education, Culture and Sports”, in section 4 (a) and section
25, and the term “DECS” in section 20, of the same Act, are hereby amended to read as “Department
of Education” and “DepEd”, respectively.

SEC 5. 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 6. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, circulars, administrative orders, rules and regulations, and
other issuances which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC 7. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect upon approval.

Approved,

(Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA JR.

Speaker of the House (Sgd.) FRANKLIN M. DRILON
of Representatives President of the Senate

This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2698 and House Bill No. 5411 was finally passed by the
Senate and the House of Representatives on February 6, 2004 and February 7, 2004, respectively.

(Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO

Secretary General (Sgd.) OSCAR G. YABES
House of Representatives Secretary of the Senate

Approved: APR 21 2004

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Philippines