IATF OKs resumption of licensure exams scheduled May to June

MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has authorized the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to administer the licensure examinations for professionals scheduled from May to June this year, Malacañang announced on Friday.

The IATF-EID gave its approval on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during the “Laging Handa” program aired over state-run PTV-4.

“Inaprubahan po ng IATF ang request ng Professional Regulation Commission na magsagawa ng licensure examinations for professionals sa Mayo at Hunyo (The IATF approved the request of the Professional Regulation Commission to conduct and administer the licensure examinations for professionals scheduled for May and June),” Roque said.

Roque said strict health protocols approved by the Department of Health should be observed during the conduct of licensure examinations.

He added that examinees from areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) are “strongly discouraged” from traveling to areas under modified GCQ (MGCQ) to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to low-risk areas.

Licensure examinations for nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, civil engineers, chemical engineers, and certified public accountants are scheduled in May, according to the official website of the PRC.

The PRC is set to hold a licensure examination for aspiring real estate appraisers on June 2, while it is scheduled to hold licensure examinations for physical therapists and occupational therapists on June 5 to 6.

Licensure examinations for naval architects and marine engineers, as well as metallurgical engineers will be held on June 6 to 9, while the licensure examination for criminologists will be conducted from June 13 to 15.

Aspiring architects are scheduled to take the licensure examination on June 25 and 27, while the licensure examination for interior designers is set on June 29 to 30 and July 1.

Originally, GCQ has been imposed in Metro Manila, Apayao, Baguio City, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Batangas, Tacloban City, Iligan City, Davao City, and Lanao del Sur for the whole month of March.

President Rodrigo Duterte, however, decided to implement additional restrictions in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from March 22 to April 4 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases.