TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. No.
406
25 JUL 10 P4 35
rc:: .
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT 9173 OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002, PROVIDING FOR AN 
ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Filipino nurses are world-renowned for their competence, compassion, and 
professionalism. These qualities have long earned the trust of patients and the respect 
of medical professionals both in the Philippines and internationally. Their skill and 
dedication form the backbone of our country's healthcare system, especially in crisis 
and public health emergencies.
The Philippines is the leading source of foreign-trained nurses, with an 
estimated 25 percent of the global nursing workforce abroad coming from our shores. 
These nurses send home over $1 billion in annual remittances, reflecting their 
significant economic contribution.1 However, this global demand has also contributed 
to a continuing shortage of nurses in our hospitals and communities—a concern that 
threatens the accessibility and quality of healthcare services in the country.
It is therefore essential that we invest in high-quality nursing education, 
advanced training, and continuing professional development. The purpose is not to
1 https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/10/29/nurses-migration-shortages-pandemic-philippines-uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
1


encourage further migration, but to equip Filipino nurses to lead, innovate, and thrive 
within our own healthcare system.
The proposed measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9173, or "Philippine 
Nursing Act of 2002," by establishing an Advanced Nursing Education Program that 
will open opportunities for Filipino nurses to pursue graduate-level education and 
specialization. Through this, we aim to cultivate a new generation of nurse leaders, 
clinical experts, educators, and researchers who will elevate the standards of care in 
our hospitals, rural health units, and academic institutions.
By expanding the educational pathways for nurses, the measure affirms the 
value of the nursing profession and strengthens the delivery of healthcare services to 
the Filipino people.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is hereby earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
25 JULIO P4 35
SENATE 
S. No. 406
r<ix,i.iV£
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT 9173 OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF 2002, PROVIDING FOR AN 
ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Advanced Nursing 
Education Act of 2025".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
assume responsibility for the protection and improvement of the nursing profession 
by instituting measures that will result in relevant nursing education, humane working 
conditions, better career prospects and a dignified existence for our nurses.
Sec. 3. Section 25 of Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise known as the Philippine 
Nursing Act of 2002 is hereby amended to read as follows;
Section 25. [Nursing Education Program.—The nursing education 
program shall provide sound gcncrQl and professional foundation for 
the practice of nursing. The learning oxporioncos shall adhere strictly 
to specific requirements embodied in the prescribed curriculum as 
promulgated by the Commission on Higher Education's policies and 
standards of nursing education.] NURSING EDUCATION. -


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NURSING EDUCATION SHALL REFER TO THE FORMAL 
LEARNING AND TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE AND ART OF 
NURSING PROVIDED BY HIGHER EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS DULY RECOGNIZED AND ACCREDITED BY 
THE CHED.
THERE SHALL BE STANDARD BASIC AND GRADUATE 
PROGRAMS FOR NURSING EDUCATION WHICH SHALL BE 
ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7722, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "CHED LAW".
Sec. 4. A new Section 26 is hereby inserted after Section 25 of RA 9173, to 
read as follows:
"SECTION 26. BASIC AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS FOR 
NURSING EDUCATION. - THERE SHALL BE A BASIC 
PROGRAM FOR NURSING EDUCATION WHICH SHALL 
PROVIDE SOUND LIBERAL AND PROFESSIONAL
EDUCATION, AND SHALL EQUIP BASIC NURSING STUDENTS 
WITH THE NECESSARY COMPETENCIES FOR ENTRY-LEVEL 
SAFE AND QUALITY NURSING PRACTICE. THE CURRICULUM 
AND RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCES SHOULD INCLUDE 
ENGLISH CLINICAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS, COMMUNITY 
INTEGRATION AND IMMERSION TO ENCOURAGE MORE 
GRADUATES TO WORK IN A COMMUNITY SETTING. 
ADMISSION TO THE BASIC PROGRAM FOR NURSING 
EDUCATION SHALL REQUIRE PASSING A NATIONAL 
NURSING ADMISSION TEST (NNAT). THE CURRICULUM 
AND THE RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCES MUST BE IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL NURSING CORE 
COMPETENCY STANDARDS TO BE PROMULGATED BY THE 
BOARD AND IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE POLICIES, 
STANDARDS, AND GUIDELINES OF THE CHED.


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to
THERE SHALL ALSO BE A GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR 
NURSING EDUCATION WHICH SHALL BE A POST 
BACCALAUREATE NURSING PROGRAM, WHICH BUILDS ON 
THE EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS OF A NURSE TOWARDS 
MASTERY, EXPERTISE, AND LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE, 
RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION. SUCH PROGRAMS WILL 
DEVELOP HIGHLY SPECIALIZED SKILLS NEEDED FOR 
NURSING PRACTICE IN THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF ADVANCED 
NURSING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO; ADVANCED 
PRACTICE NURSING, AMBULATORY CARE NURSING, 
CRITICAL CARE NURSING, PALLIATIVE CARE NURSING, 
REHABILITATION NURSING, AND OTHER SPECIALIZED 
FIELDS OF ADVANCED NURSING. IT SHALL INCLUDE A 
MASTER'S DEGREE AND DOCTORATE DEGREE IN NURSING 
FOUNDED ON THE PHILOSOPHIES, AND THE SCIENTIFIC 
BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE. GRADUATE 
PROGRAMS FOR NURSING EDUCATION SHALL BE OFFERED 
ONLY IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS 
PRESCRIBED BY THE PREVAILING CHED POLICIES, 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION.
THE FACULTY-TO-STUDENT RATIO MUST BE IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD TO BE DETERMINED 
AND PRESCRIBED BY THE CHED ."
Sec. 5. Section 26 of RA 9173 is hereby renumbered to Section 27.
Sec. 6. Section 27 of RA 9173 is hereby renumbered and amended, 
read as follows:
"Section 2[7]8. Qualifications of the Faculty. — [A member of the 
faculty in a college of nursing teaching professionol courses must:


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(a) Be Q rogigtorGd nurGO in the Philippines;
(fe-) Have Qt IcQGt one (1) year of clinical practice in q field of 
spociQlizotion;
(c) Be j member of good standing in the DccrGditcd profoGGional 
erganization of nurses; ond
(d) Be □ holder of q maotcr's degree in nursinpy oducation, or other 
allied modicQl and health gcioncGS conferred by a collogG or university 
duly recognized by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. 
In addition to the aforementioned qualifications, the dean of q college 
must have q master's degree in nurDing. Hc/Ghe must hove at IcaGt
five (5) years of experience in nursing.]
(1) BASIC PROGRAM FOR NURSING EDUCATION. - A 
MEMBER OF THE FACULTY IN A COLLEGE OF NURSING 
TEACHING PROFESSIONAL COURSES:
(A) MUST BE A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE PHILIPPINES 
AND HOLDER OF A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION 
AND A CURRENT PROFESSIONAL IDENTIFICATION 
CARD ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION;
(B) MUST HAVE AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS OF NURSING 
PRACTICE;
(C) MUST BE A HOLDER OF A MASTER'S DEGREE IN 
NURSING^ CONFERRED BY A UNIVERSITY DULY 
RECOGNIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES; AND
(D) 
MUST HAVE THE APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATE OF 
NURSING PROFICIENCY, OR ITS EQUIVALENT, TO BE 
ISSUED BY THE BOARD OF NURSING.
(2) GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR NURSING EDUCATION. - A 
MEMBER OF THE FACULTY TEACHING GRADUATE 
PROFESSIONAL COURSES:
(A) MUST FOLLOW PARAGRAPHS (A) AND (B) ABOVE ON 
BASIC NURSING EDUCATION; AND


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(B) MUST BE A HOLDER OF A DOCTORAL DEGREE IN 
NURSING CONFERRED BY A UNIVERSITY DULY 
RECOGNIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES."
Sec. 7. Section 28 of RA 9173 is hereby renumbered as Section 29, and all 
succeeding sections of the same Act are hereby renumbered accordingly.
Sec. 8. Implementing Guidelines. — Within thirty (30) days after the effectivity 
of this Act, the Board and the Professional Regulatory Commission, in coordination 
with the Commission on Higher Education and other concerned government agencies, 
shall formulate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act. The implementing rules and regulations shall be published in the Official Gazette 
or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected thereby shall remain valid 
and subsisting.
Sec 10. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations and other executive issuances, which are not consistent with or contrary 
to the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or amended.
Sec. 11. Effectivity Cause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its complete publication in the Official Gazzette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,