From CPE to CPD: PRC Releases Revised Guidelines on CPE Crediting
Since PRC took the administration of real estate practice in the Philippines, the Commission has been able to approve and release professional licenses to brokers, appraisers, consultants and assessors, and recently accredited a few thousands of salespersons, whether they are examination passers, or DTI-transferees via the "grandfather clause."The first batch of real estate professionals under PRC was registered last November 2011, thus, this three years after, which will be this November 2013, we expect that there will be practitioners coming back to PRC to, this time, RENEW their license. Likewise, after a very successful first real estate licensure examination for all three professions last 2011, those who took and passed during that time are now also preparing for the renewal beginning 2014. So does the 2012 and 2013 passers, and so on and so forth.
Now, HOW TO RENEW? Find out the steps and requirements here.
Most of us have heard about the newest resolution that PRC released last July 25, 2013 - this is PRC Resolution 2013-774: The Revised Guidelines on the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program for All Registered and Licensed Professionals. The resolution, which supposedly took effect last August 10, 2013 (15 days after publication), was a commission-wide ruling, therefore, it affects all boards, real estate service included.
These are the SALIENT FEATURES of Resolution 2013-774:
From CPE to CPD
Continuing Professional Education (CPE), which is a major requirement for one renewing their PRC license, is now changed into Continuing Professional Development, or CPD for short.
Creation of CPDC
The resolution requires every professional regulatory board (PRB) to create a Continuing Professional Development Council (CPDC), subject to approval by the Commission.
- Its main purpose is to regulate and evaluate the application and accreditation of CPD programs, providers, lecturers.
- It shall be composed of a chairperson and two members, subject to certain qualifications and limitations.
Both an individual and an SEC-registered company may apply for CPD Provider Accreditation, subject to qualifications, limitations and requirements, and valid for three (3) years and renewable for another three years, depending on the CPDC's evaluation of their performance and compliance to the Council.
CPD Programs Not Limited to Face-to-Face Seminars
While the "easiest" (or some call "traditional) way of earning CPD units is through physical attendance in classroom seminars, workshops and/or trainings provided by independent providers and local realty boards, the CPDC will now grant credit other "sources of learning", which are the following:
- Self Directed Learning - on-line trainings, local/international seminars/non-degree courses, institution/company-sponsored training programs, and the like which did not undergo CPD accreditation but may be applied for and awarded CPD units by the respective CPD Councils
- Lifelong Learning - all learning activities undertaken throughout life for the development of competencies and qualifications.
Section 20: A maximum of 15 credit units may be credited to a professional for self-directed and/or lifelong learning within the 3-year compliance period. Any excess shall not be carried over to the next 3-year period.
- Authorship - creation of a new idea/work such as technical or professional books, instructional materials, and the like.
- Invention/Patent - a technical solution to a problem in any field of human activity which is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable.
Section 20: Inventions shall be given full credit units for the compliance period.
- Post-graduate Academic Studies - master's or doctoral units/degree earned from a school, college or university, or other institutions recognized by pertinent government bodies.
- Specialty Training - a non-degree post-graduate training such as residency, externship, specialty and sub-specialty program conducted, or fellowship conferred, by an organization or society, and/or recognized by the pertinent government authority.
Section 19: Any excess credit units shall not be carried over to the next 3-year period, except credit units earned for doctoral and master's degrees or specialty trainings which shall only be credited once during the compliance period.
CPE requirement: From 60 to 45 units
Out of the 57 professions under PRC, 42 professions are required to earn 45 CPE units. All real estate professions fall under the 45-credit unit matrix, except for salespersons, which are required 30-credit units.
However, the PRBRES has "verbally" communicated that, despite the 45-credit unit revision, the real estate board is still retaining its original 60-unit requirement. While many questioned the confusion created, PRBRES reiterated that the Boards are independent of each other, and may, subject to appeal and approval by the Commission, impose their own guidelines, as long as they meet the general minimum requirements.
PRBRES has yet to release a final protocol of guidelines (they are targetting October) to clear out once and for all the questions regarding license renewal, including the use of the same CPE units for those with several real estate professions. But yes, as far as real estate is concerned, the required CPE units is still 60.
Below is the complete text of Resolution 2013-774:
