Number of Pinoy professionals up

MANILA, Philippines – More college graduates are taking licensure examinations in order to practice their professions.

Data from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)’s Current Labor Statistics showed that the number of examinees for licensure examinations went up to 444,628 in 2014 from 379,584 in 2013 and 401,827 in 2012.

The number of board passers also grew to 178,615 in 2014 from only 153,073 in 2013 and 172,400 in 2012.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) attributed the growth in the number of licensure examinees to the increased demand for highly skilled and professional workers locally and abroad.

The high demand for professionals resulted in the setting up of more professional boards.

From 20, there are now 43 professional boards under the supervision of the PRC.

Among those who want to become licensed professionals, medical technologists posted the highest passing rate of 79.6 percent, while certified public accountants (CPAs) registered the lowest passing rate of only 31 percent in 2014.

PRC has also observed an increasing trend in the number of graduates and passers in licensure examinations in previously identified “unsubscribed” professions like doctors, medical technologist, veterinarians and chemical engineers.

A few years ago, the PRC reported a severe shortage of certain professionals in the country as students prefer to take up popular courses like nursing.

According to the PRC then, the country was facing possible extinction of licensed miners mainly because only few schools are offering the course and even fewer students were choosing to enroll. –Mayen Jaymalin, The Philippine Star