TACLOBAN CITY-At least P9 million is in the pipeline for the Professional Regulation Commission Regional Office 8 (PRC-8) to fund its computerization of licensure examination by the third quarter of 2025.
PRC-8 Regional Armond M. Englis said the office is currently in the procurement process for the venue for their Computer-Based Licensure Examination (CBLE) while the internet infrastructure will follow soon.
This particular modality of licensure examination involves the examinees’ use of fully computerized facilities such as laptops in a virtual private network (VPN) and in a securely proctored venue to ensure the integrity and credibility of the examination administered.
Resorting to the utilization of ICT infrastructure in the conduct of the CBLE will not only yield efficient, systematic and fast results but could prove to be a better option saving time, space and resources particularly with logistics, and in mobilizing, administering and consummating the licensure examinations being held, Englis said.
Further, Englis added,fixing it in appropriate venue for the conduct of the CBLE will no longer require rental and use of classrooms in various private and public schools therefore avoiding interruption of classes.
However, the CBLE will still be conducted simultaneously with the pen and paper examinations, prioritizing first licensure examinations with fewer examinees, the PRC-8 regional head said.
The CBLE is part of PRC’s modernization efforts which will replace the traditional paper-and-pencil test. With CBLE, the examinees can now type their answers on a computer, allowing for faster processing and enabling results to be released on the final day of the examination period.
Since the passage of the PRC Modernization Act of 2000, the agency has steadily moved towards digitalization to improve its services for professionals and aspiring professionals nationwide.
In 2024 alone, PRC-8 tested 21,435 examinees. Among the licensure examinations conducted in the region in the past three years include professional teachers, criminologists, medical technologists, nurses, architects, civil engineers, real estate brokers/appraisers, master plumbers, physicians, fisheries professionals, geodetic engineers, mechanical engineers, pharmacists, agricultural and biosystems engineers, midwives, agriculturists and radiologic technologists.
(ACR/PIA Eastern Visayas)
