Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

49

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
RATIONALIZING THE RENEWAL PERIODS OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES
AND ENHANCING ACCESS TO CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
(CPD) PROGRAMS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

At present, all professional licenses issued by the Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC) are subject to a uniform renewal period of three (3) years. This standard applies across
the board, regardless of whether a profession is highly dynamic—like medicine or information
technology—or more consistent in terms of standards and practice, such as teaching or library
science.

This one-size-fits-all model imposes unnecessary financial and administrative burdens
on professionals, especially those in professions with relatively slow-changing practice
environments. It also strains the PRC’s resources, which must process millions of routine
renewals instead of focusing its regulatory efforts on professions where public risk is higher or
the pace of innovation more rapid.

This bill proposes to introduce differentiated renewal periods by categorizing
professions as follows:

‘© Dynamic Professions - Those subject to frequent changes in technology, regulation,
or practice standards. These will retain a five-year license renewal cycle.

Established Professions ~ Those with mature, slower-evolving professional standards.
These will shift to a ten-year renewal period.

The bill also institutionalizes a mandatory five-year ethical screening for all
professionals prior to renewal, regardless of category. This ensures continued professional
integrity without imposing unnecessary regulatory burden.

For reference, several jurisdictions already implement extended professional license
validity:

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1) Canada — Aircraft Maintenance Engineers hold licenses valid for ten (10) years, with
work recency requirements.

2) New Zealand — Teachers may receive certification valid for up to ten (10) years, subject
to performance and conduct reviews.

3) Germany — Medical doctors are issued lifelong licenses, subject to CPD and
disciplinary review.

4) Switzerland ~ Architects and engineers hold indefinite registry-based licenses, with
professional audits.

5) United States — Certain state-regulated professions, such as nurses and real estate
appraisers, have renewal cycles extending up to ten (10) years in select states.

Moreover, in recognition of the fact that some CPD requirements serve a clear public
interest - such as those for public school teachers or uniformed personnel — the bill mandates
that government provide CPD programs free of charge or subsidized in such cases.

Projected Benefits

> For Professionals: A licensed teacher currently spends P1,500-P2,500 on renewal and
P3,000-P5,000 on CPD every three years. Under this bill, they will spend that once every
ten years, representing personal savings of over P10,000 per decade.

> For Government: The PRC will experience reduced administrative load from low-risk
professions, allowing it to focus on higher-risk areas and better enforcement.

> For the Regulatory System: Tailored renewal periods improve the relevance and faimess
of professional regulation, while ethical oversight is retained across the board.

In a time where both professionals and regulatory agencies are under pressure to do
more with less, this bill offers a fiscally responsible, equity-sensitive reform grounded in the
Constitution’s directive to support science, education, and national development.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 49

Introduced by Representative RAYMOND ADRIAN SALCEDA

AN ACT
RATIONALIZING THE RENEWAL PERIODS OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES
AND ENHANCING ACCESS TO CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
(CPD) PROGRAMS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Professional License
Rationalization and CPD Access Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the vital role of professionals in
national development, as enshrined in Article II, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution, which
mandates the State to give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and
sports to foster patriotism and accelerate social progress. It is therefore the policy of the State
to ensure that professional regulation is dynamic, responsive to technological change, and
mindful of the varying pace of innovation across professions. It also recognizes the burden of
compliance with regulatory requirements and commits to making lifelong professional
education accessible and affordable for all.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(a) Commission refers to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC);

(b) Dynamic Profession refers to a profession characterized by rapid, frequent, or
significant changes in standards of practice, scientific or technological advancement, or
statutory or regulatory framework;

(c) Established Profession refers to a profession characterized by slow-changing
standards of practice, and relatively lower impact from new technologies, regulations, or

scientific developments;

(4) Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) refers to the specific regulatory board under

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the PRC governing a particular profession;

(c) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to the inculcation of advanced
knowledge, skills, and ethical values in a post-licensure context, in accordance with Republic
Act No. 10912.

SEC. 4. Classification of Professions. ~ Within six (6) months from the effectivity of
this Act, the Commission, in consultation with the relevant Professional Regulatory Boards
and stakeholders, shall issue a Resolution reclassifying all regulated professions into:

(a) Category A (Dynamic Professions) — subject to a license renewal period of every
five (5) years. These include, but are not limited to: physicians, nurses, pharmacists, medical
technologists, information technology professionals, and licensed electronics engineers.

(b) Category B (Established Professions) ~ subject to a license renewal period of every
ten (10) years. These include, but are not limited to: licensed teachers, criminologists,
librarians, guidance counselors, and real estate service professionals.

To ensure the integrity, objectivity, and long-term sustainability of this classification
system, a high-level oversight body shall be created, composed of representatives from the
Commission, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and the
Civil Service Commission (CSC), and at least two academic experts in regulatory policy or
professional ethics. This body shall exercise quasi-legislative powers over the periodic
reclassification of regulated professions, including but not limited to the issuance of rules,
conduct of technical hearings, and adoption of sectoral advisories.

The classification shall be guided by the following criteria:

(1) Frequency and magnitude of changes in professional knowledge, technology, and
applicable laws;

(2) Degree of risk to public health, safety, or welfare in case of practitioner
obsolescence;

(3) International licensing and continuing education trends; and

(4) Impact on national development priorities and innovation sensitivity.

SEC. 5. Renewal Periods. — All professional licenses issued by the Commission shall
conform to the following schedules:

(a) Professionals classified under Category A (Dynamic Professions) shall renew their
licenses every five (5) years.

(b) Professionals classified under Category B (Established Professions) shall renew
their licenses every ten (10) years: Provided, that all licensees shall continue to comply with
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements as may be determined by their
respective PRBs in accordance with Republic Act No. 10912 and other applicable laws.

In addition to CPD compliance, all licensees shall undergo a regular ethical review

every five (5) years, regardless of classification. This review shall include verification of any
pending or unresolved administrative or ethical cases, and shall be conducted by the

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Commission in coordination with the relevant Professional Regulatory Boards. The findings
of this review shall be considered in the approval of license renewals.

SEC. 6. Access to Affordable and Inclusive CPD. — The State shall endeavor to promote
affordable and inclusive access to Continuing Professional Development. To this end:

(a) Local Government Units (LGUs) shall be encouraged and accredited by the
Commission to provide CPD programs relevant to local needs;

(b) National government agencies shall be directed to offer CPD programs for their
professional employees, including in-house trainings that may be credited toward CPD
compliance;

(c) Government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), state universities and
colleges (SUCs), and other public institutions shall be empowered to deliver CPD programs
aligned with their institutional mandates;

(d) The Commission shall maintain a publicly accessible and regularly updated list of
free or low-cost CPD offerings, including online modules, open-access lectures, and agency-
led training; and

(e) Where Continuing Professional Development is deemed to be in the direct interest
of the State — such as for members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), teachers under the
Department of Education (DepEd), and other similarly situated public sector professionals —
CPD programs shall be provided free of charge by government agencies, or subsidized if
conducted by accredited private providers.

The Commission shall issue implementing rules to facilitate these measures in
consultation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and other relevant agencies. to facilitate these
measures in consultation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and other relevant agencies.

SEC. 7. Adjustment Mechanism. — The Commission may reclassify a profession from
Category B to Category A, or vice versa, upon the recommendation of the respective
Professional Regulatory Board and after due public consultation. Such reclassification shall
take effect no earlier than one (1) year after publication in at least two newspapers of general
circulation and posting on the official website of the Commission.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Commission shall promulgate the
necessary implementing rules and regulations (IRR) within sixty (60) days from the effectivity
of this Act.

SEC. 9. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
‘Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Commission. Thereafter, such
sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional
or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

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SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — The following laws, rules, and regulations are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly:

(a) Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8981 (PRC Modemization Act of 2000), insofar as it
provides for a uniform license validity period of three (3) years for all professions;

(b) Section 10 of Republic Act No. 8981, insofar as it prescribes the renewal and
registration schedule inconsistent with differentiated validity periods based on profession type;

(c) Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10912 (Continuing Professional Development Act of
2016), insofar as it implies uniformity in the validity period for professional licenses;

(d) Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10912, insofar as it defines the CPD compliance
framework tied to a triennial license renewal cycle;

(e) Rule II, Section 3 of the 2019 Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act
No. 10912, insofar as it references a fixed three-year license validity;

(f) PRC Resolution No. 2016-990, Series of 2016, particularly provisions inconsistent
with the differentiated renewal periods provided in this Act;

(g) Any subsequent PRC administrative orders, resolutions, or circulars prescribing
uniform license durations for all professionals;

(h) All other laws, decrees, executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative rules,
or regulations inconsistent with this Act.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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