Aspiring professional may take online licensure examinations this year, according to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
In an online interview with PTV, PRC Chairman Teofilo S. Pilando, Jr. they plan to push through with the pilot test of the scheme during the last quarter of 2021 with professional with “small boards.”
“These are boards with 1,000 or less examinees so it will be manageable,” Pilando said.
Aside from the size of examinees, another factor for being included in the pilot is the kind of exams they will take, which could be easily translated to an online platform, as well as addressing privacy and security issues.
He noted professions that might be included in online exams are metallurgy engineering and naval architecture.
“They were receptive with the idea of online examination immediately,” Pilando told BusinessMirror in a phone interview.
“Hopefully we could pilot the online exam in the last quarter of the year,” he added.
Reduced cost
PRC is eyeing online test to ensure the safety of licensure exam takers as well as cut cost in conducting such tests during the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Pilando noted they are spending thrice their usual cost to conduct exams during the pandemic since they have to comply with minimum health standards such social distancing.
Because of lockdowns last year, the PRC was able to conduct 11 licensure exams, taken by 212,000 examinees.
This was significantly lower than 83 examinations with 660,000 participants in 2019.
To make up for the cancelled tests in 2020, Pilando said they will be conducting 101 licensure exams this year.
“If all of these exams will push through, we might need to request for additional budget,” Pilando said.