An Act Requiring the Registration of Medical Technologists, Defining Their Practice, and for Other

Purposes
Republic Act No. 5527
Congress of the Philippines
21 June 1969

Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969

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

Section 1. Title. — This Act may be also cited as the Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969.

(a) “Medical Technology”.— An auxiliary branch of laboratory medicine which deals with the
examination by various chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic and other medical laboratory procedures or
technic which will aid the physician in the diagnosis, study and treatment of disease and in the
promotion of health in general.

(b) “Pathologist”.— A duly registered physician who is specially trained in methods of laboratory

medicine, of the gross and microscopic study and interpretation of tissues, secretions and excretions of
the human body and its functions in order to diagnose disease, follows its course, determine the
effectivity of treatment, ascertain cause of death and advance medicine by means of research.

(c) “Medical Technologist”. — A person who engages in the work of medical technology under the
supervision of a pathologist or licensed physician authorized by the department of health in places
where there is no pathologist and who having passed a prescribed course (Bachelor of Science in
Medical Technology/Bachelor of Science in Hygiene) of training and examination is registered under the
provision of this Act.

(d) “Medical Technician”.— A person who not being a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Medical
Technology/Bachelor of Science in Hygiene, but having passed the corresponding civil service
examination, performs the work of medical technology under the supervision of a registered medical
technologist and/or qualified pathologist.

(e) “Accredited Medical Technology Training Laboratory”. — A clinical laboratory, office, agency, clinic,
hospital sanitarium duly approved by the Department of Health or its authorized agency.

(f) “Recognized School of Medical Technology”.— Any school, college or university which offers a course
in Medical Technology approved by the Department of Education in accordance with the requirements
under this Act, upon recommendation of the council of medical technology education.

(h) “Board”. — The Board of Examiners for Medical Technology established under this Act.

Section 3. Council of Medical Technology Education, Its Composition.— There is hereby established a

Council of Medical Technology Education, hereafter referred to as Council, which shall be composed of
the Secretary of Education or Director of Private Education as Chairman, the Director of the Bureau of
Research and Laboratories of the Department of Health as Vice-Chairman, and the Chairman and two
members of the Board of Medical Technology, the dean of the Institute of Hygiene of the University of
the Philippines, a representative of the deans or heads of the private schools of medical technology, and
the presidents of the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists and the Philippine Society of
Pathologists, as members.

Section 4. Compensation and Traveling Expenses of Council Members. — The chairman and members of
the Council shall be entitled to a twenty-five pesos per diem for every meeting actually
attended: Provided, That the number of meetings authorized with a per diem shall not exceed two in a
month: And Provided, further, That officials receiving regular salaries from the Government shall not
receive per diem. In addition the chairman and members of the council shall be entitled to traveling
expenses in connection with their official duties.

Section 5. Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education. — The functions of the Council
shall be:

(a) To recommend the minimum required curriculum for the course of medical technology.

(b) To determine and prescribe the number of students to be allowed to take up the medical technology
course in each school, taking into account the student-instructor ratio and the availability of facilities for
instruction.

(c) To approve medical technology schools meeting the requirements and recommend closure of those
found to be substandard.

(d) To require all medical technology schools to submit an annual report, including the total number of
students and instructors, a list of facilities available for instruction, a list of their recent graduates and
new admissions, on or before the month of June.

(e) To inspect, when necessary, the different medical technology schools in the country in order to
determine whether a high standard of education is maintained in said institutions.

(f) To certify for admission into an undergraduate internship students who have satisfactorily completed
three years of the medical technology course or its equivalent and to collect from said students the
amount of five pesos each which money accrue to the operating fund of the council.

(g) Formulate and recommend approval of refresher course for applicants who shall have failed the
Board Examination for the third time.

(h) To promulgate and prescribe and enforce necessary rules and regulations for the proper
implementation of the foregoing functions.

Section 6. Minimum Required Course. — The medical technology course shall be at least four years,
including a 12-month satisfactory internship in accredited laboratories, and shall include the following
subjects:

English Biochemistry

Spanish Gross Anatomy

Social Science Histology

 General Zoology Physiology

Botany Clinical Parasitology

Mathematics General Pathology

College Physics Microbiology

General Statistics
Chemistry

Qualitative Clinical Laboratory Methods including hematology, serology, blood banking, clinical microscopy,
Chemistry applied microbiology, and parasitology, histopathologic techniques, and cyto-technology)

Quantitative
Chemistry

The Council is hereby authorized, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Education to change,
remove from or add to the subjects listed above as the needs and demands of progress in the science of
medical technology may require.

Section 7. Board of Examiners for Medical Technology.— There is hereby created a Board of Examiners
for Medical Technology which shall hereafter be referred to as the Board composed of a chairman who
is a pathologist appointed by the President of the Philippines from a list submitted by the Philippine
Society of Pathologists and two members who are registered medical technologists appointed by the
President of the Philippines from among a list submitted by the Philippine Association of Medical
Technologists each one to serve a term of three years: Provided, That the first Board to be created one
member who shall act as chairman shall serve for three years, one member for two years and the third
member for one year: And Provided, Further, That the first members of the Board of Examiners for
Medical Technology shall be issued a certificate of registration as Medical Technologist without prior
examination in accordance with the provisions of this Act. No member shall be allowed more than one
reappointment. The President of the Philippines shall fill the vacancy that may occur but the appointee
shall serve only the unexpired term of the incapacitated member.

Section 8. Qualifications of Examiners.— No person shall be appointed a member of the Board of

Examiners for Medical Technology unless he or she (1) is a Filipino citizen; (2) is of good moral character;
(3) is a qualified pathologist or duly registered medical technologist of the Philippines with the degree of
Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology/Bachelor of Science in Hygiene; (4) has been in the practice
of laboratory medicine or medical technology for at least ten years prior to his appointment, and (5) is
not a member of the faculty of any medical technology school, or have any pecuniary interest, direct or
indirect, in such institution: Provided, However, That for the first three years following the approval of
this Act, the requirement mentioned in number four (4) shall be reduced to five years.

Section 9. Executive Officer of the Board. — The Commissioner of Civil Service shall be the Executive
Officer of the Board, and shall conduct the examinations given by it. The Secretary of the Board
Examiners appointed in accordance with Section ten of Act Numbered Four Thousand Seven, as
amended, shall also be the Secretary of the Board. He shall keep a register of all persons to whom
certificates of registration have been granted.

Section 10. Compensation of Members of the Board of Examiners for Medical Technology. — Each
member of the Board shall receive a sum of ten pesos for each applicant examined and five pesos for
each applicant granted a certificate of registration without examination.

Section 11. Functions and Duties of the Board. — The Board is vested with authority and required,
conformably, with the provisions of this Act, to:

(a) Administer the provisions of this Act;

(b) Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act;

(c) Issue, suspend and revoke certificates of registration for the practice of medical technology;

(d) Look into conditions affecting the practice of medical technology in the Philippines and, whenever
necessary, adopt such measures as may be deemed proper for the maintenance of good ethics and
standards in the practice of medical technology;

(e) Investigate such violations of this Act or of the rules and regulations issued thereunder as may come
to the jurisdiction of the Board and, for this purpose issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to
secure appearance of witnesses and promulgations of documents in connection with charges presented
to the Board; and

(f) Draft such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act: Provided,
that the same shall be issued only after the approval of the President of the Philippines.

Section 12. Removal of Board Members. — Any member of the Board may be removed by the President
of the Philippines for neglect of duty, incompetency, malpractice or unprofessional, unethical, immoral
or dishonorable conduct after having been given opportunity to defend himself in a proper
administrative investigation; Provided, That during the process of investigation, the President shall have
the power to suspend such member under investigation and appoint a temporary member in his place.

Section 13. Accreditation of Schools of Medical Technology and of Training Laboratories. — Department

of Education shall approve schools of medical technology in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
The Department of Health or its authorized agency shall upon recommendation of the Council of
Medical Technology Education approve laboratories for accreditation as training laboratories for
Medical Technology students or postgraduate trainees upon satisfactory evidence that said laboratories
possess qualified personnel and properly equipped to carry out laboratory procedures commonly
required in the following fields: bacteriology, serology, parasitology, hematology, and biochemistry, and
that the scope of activities of said laboratory offer sufficient training in said laboratory procedures.
Section 14. Inhibition against the Practice of Medical Technology. — No person shall practice or offer to
practice medical technology as defined in this Act without having previously obtained a valid certificate
of registration from the Board provided that registration shall not be required of the following:

(a) Duly registered physicians.

(b) Medical technologists from other countries called in for consultation or as visiting or exchange
professors to colleges or universities: Provided, that they are only practicing the said function.

(c) Medical technologists in the service of the United States Armed Forces stationed in the Philippines
rendering services as such for members of the said forces only.

Section 15. Examination. — Except as otherwise specifically allowed under the provisions of this Act, all
applicants for registration as medical technologists shall be required to undergo a written examination
which shall be given by the Board annually in the greater Manila area, Cebu and Davao during the month
of August or September on such days and places as the Board may designate. Written notices of such
examination shall be published in at least three newspapers of national circulation by the Secretary of
the Board at least thirty days prior to the date of examination.

Section 16. Qualification for Examination. — Every applicant for examination under this Act, shall, prior
to the date thereof, furnish the Board satisfactory proof that he or she:

(a) Is in good health and is of good moral character;

(b) Has completed a course of at least four years leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science in
Medical Technology or Bachelor of Science in Hygiene conferred by a recognized school, college or
university in accordance with this Act and all other persons having graduated from other paramedical
professions who are actually performing medical technology for the last five years prior to the
enactment of this Act provided they meet the minimum requirements mentioned in Section Six
exceeding one year undergraduate internship or practical training.

Section 17. Scope of Coverage & Examination. — The examination question shall cover the following
subjects with their respective relative weights:

Clinical Chemistry 20%

Microbiology and Parasitology 20%

Hematology 20%

Blood Banking and Serology 0%

Clinical Microscopy (Urinalysis and other body fluids) 10%

Histopathologic Technique 10%

The Board shall prepare the schedule of subjects for examination and to submit the same to the
Commissioner of Civil Service for publication at least four months before the date of examination. The
Board shall compute the general average of each examinee according to the abovementioned relative
weights of the subjects: Provided, However, that the Board may change, add to or remove from the list
of subjects or weights above, as progress in the science of medical technology may require, subject to
the prior approval of the council.

Section 18. Report of Rating. — The Board shall, within one hundred and twenty days after the date of
completion of the examination, report the result thereof to the Commissioner of Civil Service, who shall
submit such result to the President of the Philippines for approval.

Section 19. Ratings in the Examination. — In order to pass the examination, a candidate must obtain a
general average of at least seventy-five per cent in the written test, with no rating below fifty per cent in
any of the major subjects: Provided, that the candidate has not failed in at least sixty per cent of the
subjects computed according to their relative weights. No further examination will be given an applicant
who has not qualified after three examinations, unless and until he shall have completed 12 months
refresher course in an accredited medical technology school or 12-month postgraduate training in an
accredited laboratory:

Provided, That graduate of paramedical professions other than Bachelor of Science in Medical
Technology/Bachelor of Science in Hygiene admitted to an examination under the provisions of this Act
shall not be given further examinations after his failure to qualify for the third time.

Section 20. Oath taking. — All successful examinees shall be required to take a professional oath before
the Board or before any person authorized to administer oaths prior to entering upon the practice of
medical technology in the Philippines.

Section 21. Issuance of Certificate of Registration. — Every applicant who has satisfactorily passed the
required examination, shall be issued a certificate of registration as Medical Technologist: Provided, That
no such certificate shall be issued to any successful applicant who has not attained the age of twenty-
one years. All certificates shall be signed by all the members of the Board and attested by its Secretary.
The duly registered medical technologist shall be required to display his certificate of registration in the
place where he works. Upon application filed after the approval of this Act not later than ninety days
after the Board shall have been fully constituted, the Board shall issue a certificate of registration
without examination to persons who have been graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Hygiene and/or
Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology in duly recognized schools of medical technology in the
Philippines or foreign countries who have been in the practice of medical technology for at least three
years at the time of the passage of this Act in laboratories in the Philippines or in foreign countries duly
accredited by the Bureau of Research and Laboratories, Department of Health, and also to all other
persons having graduated from other paramedical professions who are already civil service eligible by
authority of the other Boards of profession and who are actually performing medical technology
practice for the last five years prior to the enactment of this Act.

Section 22. Fees. — The Board shall charge each applicant for examination and registration the sum of
fifty pesos and for each certificate of registration issued without prior examination in accordance with
the provisions of this Act the sum of twenty five pesos; for issuance of a new certificate to replace
certificate lost, destroyed or mutilated, the Board shall charge the sum of ten pesos. All such fees shall
be paid to the disbursing officer of the Civil Service Commission who shall pay from the receipts thereof,
all authorized expenses of the Board including the compensation of each member.

Section 23. Refusal to Issue Certificate. — The Board shall refuse to issue a certificate of registration to
any person convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of any guilty of immoral or dishonorable
conduct, or of unsound mind, or incurable communicable disease, and in such case shall give to the
applicant a written statement setting forth the reason for its action, which statement shall be
incorporated in the record of the Board.

Section 24. Administrative Investigation-Revocation or Suspension of Certificates. — Administrative

investigations shall be conducted by at least two members of the Board with one legal officer sitting
during the investigation. The existing rules of evidence shall be observed during all administrative
proceedings, the respondents shall be entitled to be represented by counsel or be heard in person, to
have a speedy and public hearing, to confront and cross-examine witnesses against him or her, and to all
other rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Board may, after giving proper notice and hearing to the party concerned reprimand an erring
medical technologist or revoke or suspend his certificate of registration for the causes mentioned in the
next preceding section or for causes enumerated in section twenty-nine (29) of this Act, or for
unprofessional conduct, malpractice, incompetency, or serious ignorance or gross negligence in the
practice of medical technology.

No penalty of revocation shall be imposed unless there is a unanimous vote of all the three members of
the Board. The Board may, by majority vote, impose the penalty of reprimand or suspension, the latter
however not to exceed two years.

When the penalty of suspension or revocation is imposed by the Board the medical technologist shall be
required to surrender his certificate of registration within thirty days after the decision becomes final,
under the pain of perpetual disqualification from the practice of medical technology in the Philippines
for inexcusable failure to do so. The suspension shall run from the date of such surrender.

Section 25. Appeal. — The revocation or suspension of a certificate made by the Board shall be subject
to appeal to the Civil Service Commissioner whose decision shall become final thirty days after its
promulgation, unless the respondent within the same period has appealed to the office of the President
of the Philippines.

Section 26. Reinstatement, Reissue or Replacement of Certificates. — The Board may, upon application
and for reason deemed proper and sufficient, reissue any revoked registration certificate. The
suspension of a certificate of registration shall be automatically lifted upon the expiration of the period
of suspension and said certificate shall be re-issued to the medical technologist concerned upon request
without prejudice to further actions by the Board for violation of the provisions of this Act or conditions
imposed by the Board upon the medical technologist during the period of suspension.

Section 27. Foreign Reciprocity. — No foreigner shall be admitted to examination, or be given a

certificate of registration or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges under this Act, unless the
country or state which he is a subject or a citizen permits Filipino Medical Technologists to practice
within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of said country or state.
Section 28. Roster of Medical Technologists. — (a) A roster of Medical Technologists shall be prepared
annually by the Secretary of the Board, commencing on the year following that in which the Act shall
become effective. The roster shall contain the name, address and citizenship of each registered Medical
Technologist, date of registration or issuance of certificate, and other data which in the opinion of the
Board are pertinent. The roster shall be open to public inspection, and copies thereof shall be mailed to
each person included therein, placed on file in the Office of the President, furnished all Department
Heads and all agencies, offices and instrumentalities of the Department of Health and to such other
offices, private or governmental, and to the public upon request.

(b) Any medical technologist, even if duly registered, who shall practice medical technology in the
Philippines without the necessary supervision of a qualified pathologist or physician authorized by the
Department of Health;

(c) Any medical technologist, who shall knowingly make a fraudulent laboratory report;

(d) Any duly registered medical technologist who shall refuse or fail, after due warning by the Board to
display his certificate or registration in the place where he works;

(e) Any person presenting or attempting to use as his own, the certificate of registration of another;

(f) Any person who shall give any false or fraudulent evidence of any kind to the Board member thereof
in obtaining as certificate of registration a Medical Technologist;

(g) Any person who shall impersonate any registrant of like or the same name;

(h) Any person who shall attempt to use a revoked or suspended certificate of registration;

(i) Any person who shall in connection with his name or otherwise, assume use or advertise any title or
description tending to convey the impression that he is a Medical Technologist without holding a valid
certificate of registration;

(j) Any person who shall violate any provision of this Act; or

(k) Any person or corporate body who shall violate the rules and regulations of Board or orders
promulgated by it after having been duly approved and issued by the President of the Philippines upon
recommendation of the Commissioner of Civil Service for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of
this Act.

Section 29. Penal Provisions. — Without prejudice to the provision of the Medical Act of 1959 as
amended, pertaining to illegal practice of Medicine, the following shall be punished by a fine of not less
than two thousand pesos nor more than five thousand pesos, or imprisonment for not less than six
months nor more than two years, or both in the discretion of the court:

(a) Any person who shall practice Medical Technology in the Philippines without being registered or
exempted from registration in accordance with the provisions of the Act;

(b) Any medical technologist, even if duly registered, who shall practice medical technology in the
Philippines without the necessary supervision of a qualified pathologist or physician authorized by the
Department of Health;

(c) Any medical technologist who shall knowingly made a fraudulent laboratory report;
(d) Any duly registered medical technologist who shall refuse or fail, after due warning by the Board to
display his certificate of registration in the place where he works;

(e) Any person presenting or attempting to use as his own, the certificate of registration of another;

(f) Any person who shall give any false or fraudulent device of any kind to the Board of any member
thereof obtaining a certificate of registration as Medical Technologist;

(g) Any person who shall impersonate any registrant of a fake or the same name;

(h) Any person who shall attempt to use a revoked or suspended certificate of registration;

(i) Any person who shall in connection with his name otherwise, assume, use or advertise any title or
description tending to convey the impression that he is a Medical Technologist without holding a valid
certificate of registration;

(j) Any person who shall violate any provision of this Act; or

(k) Any person or corporate body who shall violate the rules and regulations of Board or orders
promulgated by it after having been duly approved and issued by the President of the Philippines upon
recommendation of the Commissioner of Civil Service for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of
this Act.

Section 30. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision to any
person or circumstance is declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Act
or of the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such
declaration.

Section 31. Repealing Clause. — All Acts, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed: Provided, However, That nothing in this
Act shall be construed as repealing or amending any portion of the Medical Act of 1959 (R.A. 2382, as
amended by R.A. 4224), the Clinical Laboratory Act of 1966 (R.A. 4688), and the Blood Banking Law of
1956 (R.A. 1517).

Section 32. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

History

The Professional Regulation Commission was first created as a national government agency by
Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 223 dated June 22, 1973, signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos,
mandated to enforce the laws regulating the various professions. It was previously called the Office of
the Board of Examiners, which was created by Republic Act No. 546 on June 17, 1950, under the aegis of
the Civil Service Commission.
The PRC became operational on January 4, 1974. The office was attached to the Office of the President
for general direction and coordination. On December 9, 1974, the Implementing Rules and Regulations
of P.D. No. 223 were promulgated, paving the way for standardization of rules and procedures for the
thirty-three (33) professions then under the CSC.

On December 5, 2000, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada signed Republic Act No. 8981 otherwise known
as the PRC Modernization Act of 2000. The Implementing Rules and Regulations were adopted on
February 15, 2001 through PRC Resolution No. 1 series of 2001. With the passing of RA 8981, the
Commission exercises three functions: 1) executive functions; 2) quasi-legislative functions; and 3) quasi-
judicial functions. It had also set its new thrusts and priorities such as customer-focused service,
modernization through full computerization and re-structuring, integrity of licensure examinations, good
governance, protection and promotion of Filipino professionals and support to national development
priorities.

In fulfillment of its legal mandate, the PRC performs two important functions, which are: 1) to conduct
and administer licensure examinations to aspiring professionals, and 2) to regulate and supervise the
practice of the professions exercised in partnership with the forty-three (43) Professional Regulatory
Boards (PRBs) in the fields of health, business, education, social sciences, engineering and technology.
The PRBs govern their respective professions’ practice and ethical standards and accredit the
professional organization representing the professionals.

On September 11, 2006, as supplemented by Executive Order No. 565-A, PRC was attached to the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for administrative supervision and control. Being an
attached agency of the DOLE, the PRC works closely to the mandate of its mother agency.

The PRC serves more than 4.3 million professionals from 43 various regulated professions and the
hundreds of thousands of aspiring professionals who take the licensure examinations every year. Thus,
PRC stakeholders include the professionals, would-be professionals, accredited professional
organizations, foreign professionals seeking temporary permit to practice their professions in the
country, schools and academe, and other government agencies.

To better carry out its mandate and in order to implement the PRC Modernization Act, the PRC was
given approval by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on April 20, 2013 to implement a
reorganization of its organizational structure.

On June 8, 2016, the new Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern (OSSP) pursuant to Republic Act
(RA) No. 8981 was approved by DBM. The Notice of Organization, Staffing and Compensation Action
(NOSCA) formalizing the approved OSSP of PRC Central Office, effective not earlier than June 8, 2016,
has been transmitted by DBM on October 10, 2016.

Further, the Office of the President, through the Executive Secretary, issued a Memorandum on May 16,
2017 on the approval of the creation of PRC new offices/services: Regional Offices in NCR & Regions I, III,
IV-B, XII and XIII, Legal Service, International Affairs Office, Information and Communications Technology
Service, and Planning, Management and Financial Service. The NOSCA formalizing the approved OSSP of
the approved new offices and positions and the reclassification of key positions was issued by DBM on
August 2, 2017.

PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION TIMELINE

June 17, 1950 Civil Service Commission (CSC).

June 22, 1973 Professional Regulation Commission was created by Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 223,
signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Under P.D. No. 223, PRC was created as a three-man
agency attached to the Office of The President for general direction and coordination.

January 4, 1974 PRC became operational with the assumption of the first Commissioner, Architect Eric C.
Nubla.

June 14, 1974 Proclamation No. 1276 was issued declaring June 22 to 29, 1974 as "Professional
Consciousness Week."

December 9, 1974 The Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. No. 223 was promulgated.

1975 Computerization of the database of registered professionals started with the assistance of the
National Computer Center.

October 11, 1975 Presidential Decree No. 839 was issued placing the PRC under the general
direction and coordination of the CSC.

August 1976 PRC entered into agreement with the Civil Service Commission to register all board
examination passers as civil service eligible pursuant to R.A. 1080, as amended.

1977 PRC started issuing registration cards valid for 3 years pursuant to Letter of Instruction No. 567.

Proclamation No. 1646 was issued declaring June 22-29 of every year as "Professional Consciousness
Week."

June 4, 1987 President Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 118 declaring June 16 to 22 of
every year as Professional Regulation Week.

1991 The Commission had developed its first Test Questions Databank System. Partially-computerized
licensure examinations started with the physician licensure examinations in August, followed by
partially-computerized licensure examinations for midwives, accountants, medical technologists, and
nurses
President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order No. 496 instituting procedures and criteria for the
selection and recommendation of nominees to vacant positions in the Professional Regulatory Boards.

1992 The Commission implemented the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for all professions
and resumed the conferment of “Outstanding Professional of the Year” awards, which was discontinued
from 1986 to 1991, and started conferring the “Outstanding Accredited Professional of the Year Award”.

1993 PRC returned to the Office of the President as an attached agency.

September 20, 1994 President Fidel V. Ramos issued E.O. No. 200 which institutionalized the full
computerization for all licensure examinations.

December 16, 1994 Republic Act No. 7836 ("Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act") was
enacted, transferring the regulation of the teaching profession from CSC to PRC.

July 25, 1995 President Fidel Ramos issued E.O. No. 266 which institutionalized CPE and made it
mandatory for the renewal of professional licenses.

1996 Decentralization of agency operations began with the full operations of regional offices in the
cities of Baguio and Cebu, Legaspi, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Coordinating Council for Services approved the Mutual
Recognition Agreement proposal of the PRC.

June 18, 1996 First Conference of Professionals was held in Manila Hotel.

1997 The CPE was fully implemented for all professions with the issuance of Executive Order No. 266.

1998 PRC formally adopted its Vision and Mission and its first Commission Strategic Plan.

Creation of PRC regional offices in Iloilo, Zamboanga, Tacloban and Tuguegarao.

September 3, 1999 PRC was formally awarded the ISO 9002 Certification by the Anglo-Japanese-
American Environmental Quality and Safety Certification for licensing of Marine Deck and Engineer
Officers

December 5, 2000 Republic Act No. 8981 or the PRC Modernization Act was enacted by President
Joseph Ejercito Estrada

June 23, 2003 Good governance among the professions was launched with the signing of Executive
Order No. 220 ("Directing the Adoption of the Code of Good Governance for the Professions in the
Philippines")

September 11, 2006 PRC was attached to the Department of Labor and Employment pursuant to
Executive Order No. 565.

October 9, 2006 Executive Order No. 565-A was issued, delegating the Presidential power of
control over the PRC to the DOLE Secretary.

2008 The PRC Hymn was adopted.

2009 PRC and the CHED signed a Memorandum of Agreement to monitor the performance of schools.
January 15-16, 2009 The Commission adopted its new vision, mission and core values to reflect its
mandate and aspirations.

2010 The PRC and CHED issued a circular requiring State and local universities and colleges to secure
an authority from CHED to operate board programs and for PRC not to admit applicants for licensure
examinations effective January 2011 from educational institutions which failed to comply.

2011 The Commission introduced the remote transmission of test packages to three (3) pilot regional
offices in Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao, and eventually adopted in all the 10 regional offices of PRC
nationwide.

2012 The Commission launched the Online Application System (OAS) an Online Registration System
(ORS) which computerized the ID renewal process, reducing the process cycle time from the previous
two months to seven (7) days.

Commission, SM Malls and Bureau of Treasury signed a Memorandum for the Professional ID Renewal
Center at the Malls.

October 2, 2012 Proclamation No. 487 was issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III declaring
the third week of October every year as “Philippine Professionals Competitiveness Week” in recognition
of the important role that the Filipino professionals play in nation building and development.

October 18-19, 2012 The Commission in collaboration with the Philippine Association of Professional
Regulatory Boards, Inc. (PAPRB) held the First Professional Summit at the Manila Hotel

July 25, 2013 The revised Continuing Professional Development Guidelines were issued through
Resolution No. 2013-774 Resolution No. 2013-774 dated July 25, 2013.

June 17, 2014 PRC Resolution 2014-841 was issued adopting the Official Medallion, Trinket and Sash
for the Eric C. Nubla Excellence Awardee of the Year. The Eric Nubla Excellence Award intends to accord
distinct honor to a professional who surpassed the qualification standard based on the criteria set forth
to be an outstanding professional

November 15, 2014 Republic Act No. 10635 was issued transferring the Maritime Profession to the
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

July 21, 2016 The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) bill lapsed into law on July 21, 2016.

The CPD Law or Republic Act No. 10912 – An Act Mandating and Strengthening the Continuing
Professional Development Program for all Regulated Professions, Creating the Continuing Professional
Development Council, and Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for other Purposes shall take effect on
August 16, 2016
REPUBLIC ACT No. 4688

An Act Regulating the Operation and Maintenance of Clinical Laboratories and Requiring the
Registration of the Same with the Department of Health, Providing Penalty for the Violation Thereof,
and for Other Purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1. Any person, firm or corporation, operating and maintaining a clinical laboratory in which body
fluids, tissues, secretions, excretions and radioactivity from beings or animals are analyzed for the
determination of the presence of pathologic organisms, processes and/or conditions in the persons or
animals from which they were obtained, shall register and secure a license annually at the office of the
Secretary of Health: Provided, That government hospital laboratories doing routine or minimum
laboratory examinations shall be exempt from the provisions of this section if their services are
extensions of government regional or central laboratories.1avvphi1

Section 2. It shall be unlawful for any person to be professionally in-charge of a registered clinical
laboratory unless he is a licensed physician duly qualified in laboratory medicine and authorized by the
Secretary of Health, such authorization to be renewed annually.

No license shall be granted or renewed by the Secretary of Health for the operation and maintenance of
a clinical laboratory unless such laboratory is under the administration, direction and supervision of an
authorized physician, as provided for in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3. The Secretary of Health, through the Bureau of Research and Laboratories shall be charged
with the responsibility of strictly enforcing the provisions of this Act and shall be authorized to issue
such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out its provisions.

Section 4. Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provisions of this Act or the rules and
regulations issued thereunder by the Secretary of Health shall be punished with imprisonment for not
less than one month but not more than one year, or by a fine of not less than one thousand pesos nor
more than five thousand pesos, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

Section 5. If any section or part of this Act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, the judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof.

Section 6. The sum of fifty thousand pesos, or so mush thereof as may be necessary, is hereby
authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to
carry into effect the provisions of this Act.

Section 7. All Acts or parts of Acts which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed.

Section 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 18, 1966.

 Republic Act 4688
A.O 59 S. 2001
Clinical Laboratory Law

R.A 4688

AN ACT REGULATING THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CLINICAL

LABORATORIES AND REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION OF THE SAME WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, PROVIDING PENALTY FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

A.O 59 S. 2001
Rules and regulations governing the establishment, operation and maintenance of clinical
laboratories in the Philippines

Section 1 Title :
  Rules and regulations governing the establishment, operation and maintenance of clinical
laboratories in the Philippines

Section 2 Authority
Rules and regulations are issued to implement R.A 4688; Clinical Laboratory consistent E.O
102 s. 1999: Redirecting the functions and operations of DOH. The DOH, through the
Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (BHFS) in the Health Regulation Cluster, shall
exercise the regulatory functions under these rules and regulations.

Section 3 Purpose
To protect and promote health of people by ensuring availability of clinical laboratory that
are PROPERLY MANAGED with adequate resources, with effective and efficient
performance through compliance with quality standards.

Section 4 Scope
Regulations shall apply to all entities performing the activities and functions of clinical lab
which shall include the examination and analysis of any or all samples of human and other
related tissues, fluids, secretions, excretions, radioactive of other materials form the human
body for the determination of the existence of pathogenic organisms, pathologic
processes/conditions in the person from whom such samples are obtained.
 Regulations DO NOT INCLUDE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY during lab examinations
limited to acid fast bacilli microscopy, malaria screening and cervical cancer screening,
provided their services are declared as extension of a licensed government clinical
laboratory.

Section 5 Classification of Laboratories

By Function:

1. Clinical Pathology- includes Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology,

Parasitology, Mycology, Clinical Microscopy, Immunology
and    Serology, Immunohematology, Blood Banking, Lab Endocrinology, Toxicology and
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and other similar disciplines.
2. Anatomic Pathology-  Includes Serological Pathology, Immunohispathology,
Cytology , Autopsy and Forensic Pathology
By Institutional Character:

1. Hospital-Based-  a laboratory the operates within the hospital

2. Non- Hospital- Based-  a laboratory that operates on its own
By Service Capabilities

1. Primary- provides minimum  capabilities such as:

                Routine Hematology (CBC), Routine Urinalysis, Routine Fecalysis, Blood Typing-
Hospital based, Quantitative platelet determination- hospital-based

2.      Secondary- provides the services capabilities of the primary lab and the
following:

                Routine Clinical Chemistry- includes Blood Glucose Substance Concentration, BUN,

BUA, Blood Creatine Concentration, and Blood Total Cholesterol Concentration

3. Tertiary- provides the service capabilities of the secondary plus the folowing:

                                 Special Chemistry, Special hematology, serology and Microbiology

Section 6 Policies

An approved permit to construct and design lay-out of a clinical laboratory shall be secured
from BHFS prior to submission of an application for a Petition to Operate.

No clinical laboratory shall be constructed unless plans have been approved and
construction permit issued by the BHFS.

A clinical laboratory shall operate with a valid license issued by BHFS/CHD, based on
compliance with the minimum licensing requirements (annex A)

The clinical laboratory shall be organized and managed to provide effective and efficient
laboratory services.

The clinical laboratory shall provide adequate and appropriate safety practices for its
personnel and clientele.

Section 7 Requirements and Procedures for Application of Permit to Construct and

License to Operate.

1. Application for Permit to Construct: The following are the documents   required:

•                       Letter of Application to the Director of BHFS

•                       Four (4) sets of Site Development Plans and floor Plans                 approved by
an architect and/or engineer.

•                       DTI/SEC Registration (for private clinical laboratory)

2. Application for new license: A duly notarized application form              “Petition to

Establish, Operate, and Maintain a clinical                   Laboratory” (Annex B), shall       be filed
by the owner or his duly               authorized representative at the BHFS.

3. Application for renewal of license: A duly notarized application

form                “Application for Renewal of License to Establish, Operate and Maintain
 a clinical Laboratory” (Annex C), shall be filed by the    owner or his duly authorized
representative at the respective              CHD

Renewal of License:

                                Application for renewal of license shall be filed within 90 days before the
expiry date of the license described as follows:

Region

Schedule of Application for renewal of license

NCR

January to March

1, 2, 3 and CAR

February to April

4, 5 and 6

March to May

7, 8 and 9

April to June

10, 11, 12, CARAGA and ARMM

May to July

4 Permit and License Fees:

                 A non-refundable license fee shall be charged for application for

permit to construct, and for license to operate a government                              and private
clinical laboratory.
                 A non-refundable fee shall be charged for application for renewal of
license to operate.
                 All fees shall be paid to the cashier of the BHFS/CHD.
                 All fees shall follow the current prescribed schedules of fees of the
DOH.
5 Penalties:

                A penalty of one thousand pesos (P1, 000.00) for late renewal shall be charged in
addition to the renewal fee for all categories if the application is filed during the next two
(2) months after expiry date.

                An application received more than two (2) months after expiry date shall be
fined one hundred pesos (P100.00) for each month thereafter in addition to the p1,
000.00 penalty.

6. Inspection:

•                       Each license shall make available to the Director of the BHFS/CHD or his duly
authorized representative(s) at any reasonable time, the premises and facilities where the
laboratory examinations are being performed for inspection.

•                       Each license shall make available to the Director of the BHFS/CHD or his
duly authorized representative(s) all pertinent records.

•                       Clinical laboratories shall be inspected every two (2) years or as necessary.

7. Monitoring:
              All Clinical laboratories shall be monitored regularly and records shall be made
available to determine compliance with these rules and regulations.

                The Director of the BHFS/CHD or his authorized representative(s) shall be allowed

to monitor the clinical laboratory at any given time.

                All clinical laboratories shall make available to the Director of the BHFS or his duly
authorized representative(s) records for monitoring.
8 Issuance of License:

                The license shall be issued by the Director of the CHD or his authorized
representative, if the application is found to be meritorious.

9. Terms and Conditions of License:

•                       The license is granted upon compliance with the licensing requirements.

•                       The license is non-transferable.

•                       The owner or authorized representative of any clinical laboratory desiring

to transfer a licensed clinical laboratory to another location shall                          inform the
CHD in writing at least 15 days before actual transfer.

•                       The laboratory in its new location shall be subject to re-inspection and shall
comply with the licensing requirements.

•                       An extension laboratory shall have a separate license.

•                       Any change affecting the substantial conditions of the license to operate a

•                                       laboratory shall be reported within 15 days in writing by the

person(s) concerned, to the BHFS/CHD for notation and approval.                                Failure
to do so will cause the revocation of the license of the                             clinical laboratory.

•                       The clinical laboratory license must be placed in a conspicuous

location/area within the laboratory.

Section 8 Violations
1. The License to operate a clinical laboratory shall be suspended or revoked by                the
Secretary of Health upon violation of R.A. 4688 or the Rules and Regulations issued in
pursuance thereto.

2. The following acts committed by the Owner, President, Managers, Board off
Trustees/Director, Pathologist or its personnel are    considered violations.
                A. Operation of a clinical laboratory without a certified pathologist or without a
registered medical technologist.

                B. Change of ownership, location, and head of laboratory or personnel without

informing the BHFS and/or the CHD.

                C. Refusal to allow inspection of the clinical laboratory by the person(s) authorized
by the BHFS during reasonable                                 hours

                D. Gross negligence.

                E. Any act or omission detrimental to the public

3.  The Provincial, City and Municipal Health Officers are authorized to report to the CHD
and BHFS the   existence of unlicensed clinical laboratories or any     private party
performing laboratory examinations            without proper license and/or violations to
these            rules & regulations.

Section 9 Investigation of Charges or Complaints

The BHFS/CHD or his duly authorized representative(s) shall investigate the complaint and
verify if the laboratory concerned or any of its personnel is guilty of the charges.

1. If upon investigation, any person is found violating the provisions of R.A. 4688, or any of
these rules and regulations, the BHFS/CHD or his duly authorized representative(s) shall
suspend, cancel or revoke for a determined period of time the license, as well as the
authority of the offending person(S), without prejudice to taking the case to judicial
authority for criminal action.

2. Any person who operates a clinical laboratory without the proper license from the
Department of Health shall upon conviction be subject to imprisonment for not less than 1
month but not more than 1 year or a fine of not less than P1, 000.00 and not more than P5,
000.00 or both at the discretion of the court. Provided, however, that if the offender is a
firm a corporation, the Managing Head and/or owner/s thereof shall be liable to the
penalty imprisoned herein.
3.  Any clinical laboratory operating without a valid license or whose license has                
been revoked/cancelled shall be summarily closed upon order issued by                 the
BHFS.CHD or his duly authorized representative. The BHFS/CHD        may seek the
assistance of the law enforcement agency to enforce the          closure of any clinical
laboratory.

Section 10  Modification and Revocation of License

A license maybe revoked, suspended or modified in full or in part for any material false
statement by the applicant, or as shown by the record of inspection or for a violation of, or
failure to comply any of the terms and conditions and provisions of these rules and
regulations.

No license shall be modified, suspended or revoked unless prior notice has been made and
the corresponding investigation conducted except in cases of willful, or repeated violations
hereof, or where public health interest or safety requires otherwise.

Section 11 Repealing Clause

These rules and regulation shall supersede ail other previous official issuances hereof.

Section 12 Publication of List of Licensed Clinical Laboratories:

A list of licensed clinical laboratories shall be published annually in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Section 13 Effectivity
These rules and regulations shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official
Gazettte, or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Technical Standards and Minimum Requirements

STAFFING

The Clinical Laboratory shall be managed by a licensed physician certified by the Philippine
Board of Pathology.

                *In areas where pathologists are not available, a physician with a three (3) months
training on clinical laboratory medicine, quality control and laboratory management, may
manage a primary/secondary category clinical laboratories. The BHFS shall certify such
training.

The clinical laboratory shall employ qualified and adequately trained personnel. Work
assignment shall be consistent with the qualification of the concerned personnel.

                *A clinical laboratory shall have sufficient number of registered medical               
technologists proportional to the workload and shall be available at all times during hours
of laboratory operation. For the hospital-based clinical laboratory, there shall be at least
one registered medical technologist per shift to cover the               laboratory operation.

There shall be staff development and appropriate continuing education program available
at all levels of organization to upgrade the knowledge, attitudes and skill of staff.

PHYSICAL FACILITIES

1. The clinical laboratory shall be well-ventilated, adequately lighted, clean and safe.

2.      The working space shall be sufficient to accommodate its activities and allow for
smooth and coordinated work flow.

3. There shall be an adequate water supply.

3. The working space for all categories of clinical laboratories (both hospital and non-
hospital-based) shall have at least the following measurements:

Category

Space in sq. m.

Primary

10

Secondary

20
Tertiary (to include a separate, enclosed and adequately ventilated room for Microbiology)

60

EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENTS      

There shall be provisions for sufficient number and types of appropriate

equipment/instruments in order to undertake all the activities and laboratory
examinations. Their equipment shall comply with safety requirements.

PRIMARY CATEGORY

SECONDARY CATEGORY

TERTIARY CATEGORY

Clinical centrifuge

All those in Primary Category plus the following:

All those in Secondary Category plus the following:

Hemacytometer

Refrigerator

Incubator

Micro hematocrit centrifuge

Photometer or its equivalent

Balance, trip/analytical

Microscope with oil immersion objective

Water bath or its equivalent

Rotator

Hemoglobin meter or its equivalent

Time or its equivalent

Serofuge or its equivalent

Differential blood cell counter or its equivalent

Autoclave

Drying oven

Biosafety cabinet or its equivalent

                For other laboratory examinations being performed, the appropriate equipment

necessary for performing such procedures shall be made available

GLASSWARES/REAGENT/SUPPLIES

                All categories of clinical laboratories shall provide adequate and appropriate glass
wares, reagents and supplies necessary to undertake the required services.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

                There shall be provisions for adequate and efficient disposal of waste following
guidelines of the Department of Health and the local government.

QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM

Internal Quality Control Program

                -There shall be a documented, continuous competency assessment program for all

laboratory personnel
                 -The program shall provide appropriate and standard laboratory methods, reagent
and supplies and equipment.

                -There shall be a program for the proper maintenance and monitoring of all
equipment.

                The program shall provide for the use of quality control reference materials.

External Quality Control Program

                -All clinical laboratories shall participate in an External Quality Assurance Program

given by designated    National Reference Laboratory and/or other recognized                
reference laboratories.

                -A satisfactory performance rating given by a National Reference Laboratory  shall

be one of the criteria               for the renewal of license.

                -Any refusal to participate in an External Quality Assurance Program given by the

designated National    Reference Laboratories shall be one of the bases for
suspension/revocation of the license of the laboratory

REPORTING
                Laboratory requests shall be constructed as consultation between the requesting
physician and the pathologist of the laboratory and as such laboratory results shall be
released accordingly:

1. All laboratory reports on various examinations of specimens shall bear the name of
the registered medical technologist and the pathologist and duly singed by both.
2.   No person in the clinical laboratory shall issue a report, orally or in writing, whole or
portions, thereof without a directive from the pathologist or his authorized associate to the
requesting physician or his authorized representative except in emergency cases when the
results may be released as authorized by the pathologist.

Recording
There shall be a system of accurate recording to ensure quality results.
1. There shall be an adequate and effective system of recording requests and reports of
all specimens submitted and examined.
2. There shall be provisions for filing, storage and accession of all reports.
3. All laboratory records shall be kept on file for at least one (1) year.
                *Records of anatomic and forensic pathology shall be kept permanently in the
laboratory

LABORATORY FEES
The laboratory and professional fees to be charged for a laboratory examination shall be at
the prevailing rates.

1. The rates shall be within the range of the usual fees   prevailing at the time and the
particular place, taking into consideration the cost of testing and quality control of various
laboratory procedures.

2. Professional services rendered to the patient in the performance of special procedures or

examinations shall be charged separately and not included in the laboratory fee/s.

Requirements for Registration/Operation of Clinical Laboratories

1. For private laboratories: Certificate of registration of business name from the

Department of trade and Industry and certificate from the Security and Exchange
Commission (if Corporation).
2. Certificate/s from the Philippine Board of Pathology
3. PRC Board certificate of Medical technologists
4. A notarized statement that the applicant has complied with all
business                requirements under existing laws or ordinances in the locality where the
laboratory Is located
5. Location Map
6. Floor Diagram