MANILA, Philippines – (Updated January 14) The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces the postponement of several board exam this 2022 due to the unpredictable situation and continued restrictions brought by the pandemic.
In November last year, PRC released the schedule for 90 licensure exams for 2022 under PRC Resolution No. 1439 Series of 2021.
READ: PRC releases 2022 board exam schedule
But a day before the Practical Phase of the Board Licensure Examination for Dentists (BLED), supposedly scheduled on January 6-11, 2022, PRC announced the postponement of exams.
The agency cited the sudden change in the alert level classification of the NCR to Alert Level 3 could result to possible (intrazonal and interzonal) movement restrictions on the part of some of the examinees.
POSTPONED: January 2022 Dentist board exam Practical Phase in Manila
In 2021, there were 48 examinations rescheduled in the same year, while there were 12 that were rescheduled in 2022.
Due to the surge of infections in January 2022, there is fear that some of the board examinations may also be cancelled or postponed.
Also scheduled for January 2022 are the licensure exams for Real Estate Consultants, Optometrists, Medical Technologists (Medtech), Architects, Professional Teachers (LET) and Sanitary Engineers.
Here’s the updated list of postponed/cancelled board exams and new schedule for 2022 (follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more updates):
| Name of Examination | Original Schedule | New Schedule | Application Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentist Practical Exam in Manila | January 6-11, 2022 | March 1-4 and 8-11, 2022 | January 6, 2022 to January 19, 2022 |
| Optimetrist Practical Exam in Manila (Batch 2) | January 17-21 and 24-26 2022 | January 24-28, 2022 and January 31-February 4, 2022 |
NOTE: This page will be updated as soon as more announcements from PRC come in.
Shift to computerized board exams
PRC is already considering for the shift to computerized licensure exam to address concerns of professionals on postponement and cancellation of exams amidst the health emergency crisis.
Late last year, the agency successfully conducted the Computer-Based Licensure Examination (CBLE) for the Geology profession.
“Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic which has posted unprecedented challenges in the country’s licensure examination system, the PRC primarily through its Information and Communications Technology Service and Licensure Office developed its in-house CBLE system compliant with current technical and security requirements of specific professional regulatory laws and stakeholders,” PRC said.
With a specific schedule and venue, the three-day CBLE was conducted in Manila among one hundred forty-two (142) examinees that reported.
PRC said that other CBLEs with this feature are also scheduled in the first quarter of 2022.
“CBLEs “on-demand”, that is, at any venue and at any time, are also being contemplated, depending on the applicable rules, acceptable technology, and available resources for the profession.
The CBLE seeks to further enhance the efficiency and integrity in the administration of the licensure examinations for competent and competitive professionals needed by the services sector in the country and overseas,” the agency added.
PRC discussed the plans for computerized board exam during the Senate hearing on 2021 national budget of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in October 2020.
“We are looking at more technology-based examination. We are preparing for that,” PRC Chairman Teofilo Pilando Jr. said.
Meanwhile, senatorial candidate Dr. Carl Balita, who holds three professional licenses and is known for his review centers all over the country, urged the PRC to expedite the digitalization of board exams.
“It has been almost two years and PRC’s best effort had been postponing examination, which is very frustrating to aspiring professionals and their families,” said Balita.
— The Summit Express