DEFINITION OF LICENSE ● Registration is the recording of names of persons who

● A license is a legal document given by the have qualified under the law to practice their
government that permits a person to offer to the respective professions.
public his or her skills and knowledge in a particular
jurisdiction, where such practice would otherwise be Nurses names are recorder in a registry or registration book
unlawful without a license. which contains the following information:
● The license to practice nursing is granted by the 1. Full name of registrant;
appropriate authority to applicants or candidates 2. Number and date of registration;
who have fulfilled certain established requirements. 3. Age, sex and place of birth;
Such a license permits the nurse to practice within 4. Place of business;
the country or state and gives him/her the privilege of 5. Post office address;
representing herself/himself as a licensed nurse. 6. Name of school, college or university from which he or
● The appropriate authority to administer, implement, she graduated or in which he or she has studied;
and enforce the regulatory policies of government 7. Date of such graduation or term of study, together
with respect to the regulation and licensing of the with the time spent in the study of the profession
various professions and occupations under its elsewhere, if any; and
jurisdictions is the Professional Regulation 8. All other degrees granted to him or her from other
Commission (PRC). institutions of learning.

Need for Licensure A certificate of registration is issued by the PRC to

show such qualification.
● The primary purpose of registration is to protect the
health of the people by establishing minimum Registration Required
standards which qualified practitioners must meet.
Licensure discourages certain persons who may be Under the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, R.A. 9173,
tempted to misinterpret themselves as nurses. It is Sections 12 and 20 state that license to practice nursing shall
the most important tool for legal control and be issued to those who pass the licensure examination or by
enforcement of nursing practice. It is also used to reciprocity.
gather statistical data about nurses and nursing in
the country. REGISTRATION BY RECIPROCITY (R.A. 9173, SEC. 20)

DEFINITION OF REGISTRATION Reciprocity means mutuality in the grant and

enjoyment of privileges between persons or nations. As
applied to the professions, it is a relation established by law, 4. The applicant has resided in the Philippines for at
treaty or agreement between two countries or states, least three consecutive years as provided by R.A. 5181.
whereby each country or state grants to citizens of each
other, the privilege of being admitted to the practice of the Applicants for registration as nurses by reciprocity
profession within their respective territorial jurisdictions. shall present to the Board of Nursing a properly completed
application on the prescribed form, together with their
Reciprocity is based on the principle of “ do ut des ” respective certificates of registration as nurse granted by
which means that for a country to expect a favor from their state or country. In addition, the following shall be
another, it should be willing to give a corresponding favor. attached:
SEC. 20. Registration by Reciprocity. 4 A certificate of a. a certification from the Commission on
registration/professional license may be issued without Immigration and Deportation stating that they have
examination to nurses registered under the laws of a foreign been residents of the Philippines for at least three (3)
state or country: Provided, That the requirements for years prior to registration;
registration or licensing of nurses in said country are b. A copy of the law or petition thereof showing
substantially the same as those prescribed under this Act: reciprocal practice with the Philippines; and
c. A copy of their officially approved Bachelor of
Provided, further, That the laws of such a state or Science in Nursing curriculum.
country grant the same privileges to registered nurses of the
Philippines on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of SEC. 21. Practice Through Special/Temporary Permit. A
such foreign state or country. special/temporary permit may be issued by the Board to the
Specifically, these provisions are explained thus: following persons subject to the approval of the Commission
1. Nurses registered in the Philippines desiring to and upon payment of the prescribed fees:
practice in said foreign state or country are granted (a) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states
under its laws the same privileges as those accorded whose service are either for a fee or free if they are
to its subjects or citizens and as are enforced by internationally well-known specialists or outstanding
them. Proof of such reciprocity may be verified from experts in any branch or specialty of nursing;
the Department of Foreign Affairs; (b) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states on
2. The applicant is a nurse registered under the law of medical mission whose services shall be free in a
her/his state or country; particular hospital center or clinic; and
3. The requirements for registration or licensing of (c) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states
nurses in a foreign country where the applicant is employed by schools/colleges of nursing as
registered as nurse are substantially the same as exchange professors in a branch or specialty of
those prescribed under this Act; and nursing;
 Provided, however, That the special/temporary permit B. Requirements for Examination
shall be effective only for the duration of the project, medical
mission or employment contract. For purposes of applying for the nursing licensure
examination, the following documents are required of each
REGISTRATION BY EXAMINATION applicant:
A. Examination and Registration
1. Original transcript of records with Special Order from
SEC. 12. Licensure Examination. 4 All applicants for the Department of education, Culture and Sports
registration as a nurse and issuance of a certificate of unless he/she is a graduate of a level II accredited
registration and professional identification card to practice nursing program;
nursing shall be required to pass a written examination 2. For state colleges and universities, original transcript
which shall be given by the Board in such places and dates of records with date of graduation;
as may be designated by the Commission: Such 3. Record of actual related learning experiences for the
examination must be in accordance with and fully compliant entire Bachelor of Science in Nursing program duly
with RA No. 8981, otherwise known as the “PRC Modernization signed by the Chief Nurse of the hospital or her duly
Act of 2000.” authorized representative in addition to that of the
SEC. 13. Qualifications for Admission to the Licensure Dean of the nursing school and the clinical instructor;
Examination. In order to be admitted to the examination for 4. Actual number of operating room scrubs and
nurses, an applicant must, at the time of filing his/her deliveries assisted, signed by the Chief Nurse or her
application, establish to the satisfaction of the Board he or duly authorized representative in addition to that of
she the Dean of the nursing school and the clinical
(a) Is a citizen of the Philippines, or a citizen or subject instructor;
of a country which permits Filipino nurses to practice 5. Where applicable:
within its territorial limits on the same basis as the a. a. Birth Certificate;
subject or citizen of such country: Provided, That the b. b. Marriage Certificate;
requirements for the registration or licensing of c. c. Alien Certificate of Naturalization, and
nurses in said country are substantially the same as d. d. Clearance showing dismissal of case from
those prescribed in this Act; the Court of Prosecutors Office, if any.
(b) Is of good moral character; and
(c) Is a holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from The application form, together with the requirements,
a college or university that complies with the should be filed at the Professional Regulation Commission
standards of nursing education duly recognized by ten (10) days prior to the first day of examination.
the proper government agency. C. Fees for Examination and Registration
 Applicants for licensure and for registration shall pay The following are citizens of the Philippines as per
prescribed fees set by the Commission. Article IV Section 1-5 of the 1987 Philippines Constitution.

D. Scope of Examination Section 1.

1. Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of
SEC. 14. Scope of Examination. 4 The scope of the the adoption of the Constitution;
examination for the practice of nursing in the Philippines 2. Those who elect Philippine citizenship pursuant to the
shall be determined by the Board. The Board shall take into provisions of the Constitution of 1935.
consideration the objectives of the nursing curriculum, the
broad areas of nursing, and other related disciplines and Section 2. A female citizen of the Philippines who marries an
competencies in determining the subjects of examinations. alien shall retain her Philippine citizenship, unless by her
Since May 1994, an integrated comprehensive nursing act or omission she is deemed, under the law, to have
licensure examination has been designed to better measure renounced her citizenship.
the level of competence or proficiency rather than the
compartmentalized subject area examination. It cuts across Section 3. Philippine citizenship may be lost or reacquired in
clinical nursing areas where examinees answer questions the manner provided for by law.
that necessitate recognition and understanding of concepts,
theories, and principles as well as the skills and attitudes Section 4. A natural-born citizen is one who is a citizen of the
involved in a given test problem situation. It draws Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to
knowledge from the five broad areas of nursing - acquire or perfect the Philippine citizenship.
Fundamentals of Nursing; Maternal and Child Nursing; In jus sanguinis doctrine, the nationality of a person
Community Health Nursing; Nursing of Adolescents, Adults, is determined by the law of his descent or parentage; the
and Aged; and Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing, child follows the citizenship of his father.
including Physiology and Anatomy, Pharmacology and In jus soli doctrine, the nationality of a person is
Therapeutics, Microbiology and Diet Therapy. determined by the law of the place of his birth; the child born
The examination shall be divided into four parts in a foreign country, whatever may be the citizenship of the
organized around four major goals in nursing: promotive, father, is a citizen of that country.
preventive, curative, and rehabilitative. Naturalization is the act of adopting a foreigner and
giving him the privileges of a native citizen.

E. Citizenship Requirements F. Rating of the Nursing Licensure Examination

 OATH-TAKING OF NURSES
SEC. 15. Ratings. 4 In order to pass the examination, an
examinee must obtain a general average of at least Oath
seventy-five percent (75%) with a rating of not below sixty
percent (60%) in any subject. An examinee who obtains an
All successful candidates in the examination shall be
average rating of seventy-five percent (75%) or higher but
required to take an oath of profession before the Board or
gets a rating below sixty percent (60%) in any subject must
any government official authorized to administer oaths prior
take the examination again but only in the subject or
to entering the nursing practice.
subjects where he/she is rated below sixty percent (60%). In
order to pass the succeeding examination, an examinee
The schedule of mass oath-taking (date and place)
must obtain a rating of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in
is within fifteen days upon the release of the results of the
the subject or subjects repeated.
licensure examination, which is included in a press release
Renewal examination shall be taken within two years
by the Professional Regulation Commission.
after the last failed examination.

The professional oath includes a pledge to support

Reconsideration of Ratings. Requests for
and defend the Constitution, bear true faith and allegiance
reconsideration of ratings may be entertained only on
to the same, obey the laws, legal orders and decrees
grounds of mechanical, clerical or clear errors; or if it is
promulgated by the duly constituted authorities of the
conclusively shown that there had been malfeasance in the
Philippines and adherence to the ethical and professional
rating of papers. Such requests should be filed with the
standards of nursing.
Commission within ninety (90) days from the date of the
official release of the examination results. It is only after the
review of the test papers that the examinee shall file the The Commission, during the mass oath-taking, is
request for reconsideration in accordance with the assisted by the accredited professional organization. At this
aforecited provision. time, the nurses are included as new members of their
professional organization.

Oath of Professional Nurses

I, _______________ of _____________ hereby

solemnly swear that I will support and defend the
Constitution of the Philippines; that I will bear true faith and
allegiance to the same; that I will obey the laws, legal orders, Every practicing professional or practitioner of the
and executive orders promulgated by the duly constituted occupations regulated by the Professional Regulation
authorities of the Republic of the Philippines; and that I Commission shall pay a fee for three (3) years which shall be
impose this obligation upon myself voluntarily, without paid on the professional's birth month.
mental reservation or purpose of evasion. I further solemnly
swear that at all times and places I will adhere closely to the Should a professional fail to pay the annual
ethical and professional rules generally accepted by the registration fee on his/her birth month on the expiry year that
Nursing Profession in the Philippines, and that I will well and it is due, a surcharge of twenty percent shall be charged and
faithfully discharge to the best of my ability the duties and for each calendar year thereafter that payment has not
obligations incumbent upon a legally authorized nurse been made. It after a lapse of five continuous years from the
practitioner. So help me God. year it was last paid the annual registration fee has never
been paid, the delinquents certificate of registration shall be
Issuance of Certificate of Registration/Professional License considered suspended and the practitioner's name shall be
and Professional Identification Card dropped from the annual roster for not having been in good
standing. The professional may be reinstated only upon
A certificate of registration/professional license as a application and payment of the required fee provided for
nurse shall be issued to an applicant who passes the registration as nurse without examination. Should a
examination upon payment of the prescribed fees. Every registered nurse practitioner desire to stop practicing his/her
certificate of registration/professional license shall show the profession, he/she should inform the Board concerned in
full name of the registrant, the serial number, the signature of writing within one year from the time that he/she stopped
the Chairperson of the Commission and of the Members of practicing in order to exempt him/her from the payment of
the Board, and the official seal of the Commission. annual registration fee. Should he/she intend to resume
practice his/her name shall be reinstated in the annual
roster.
A professional identification card, duly signed by the
Chairperson of the Commission, bearing the date of
registration, license number and the date of issuance and The annual registration card, at least for the calendar
expiration thereof shall likewise be issued to every registrant year immediately preceding, shall be presented to the
upon payment of the required fees. collection agent of the Bureau of Internal Revenue when
paying his/her professional tax. The registration number,
date of issuance, and the year shown on the card shall be
ANNUAL REGISTRATION
indicated on the official receipt as evidence that the payor is
authorized by law to practice the profession.
Automatic Registration of Nurses registered professionals with a Baccalaureate Degree shall
be sixty (60) credits for three year. Any excess credits earned
All nurses whose names appear at the roster of shall not be carried over to the next three-year period except
nurses shall be automatically or ipso facto registered as for doctoral and masteral degrees.
nurses under this Act upon its effectivity.
REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF CERTIFICATES OF
Non-registration and Non-issuance of Certificates of REGISTRATION
Registration/Professional License of Special/Temporary
Permit The license to practice nursing is not a permanent or
vested right since it may be granted upon condition and it
No person convicted by final judgment of any may be held subject to conditions. If these conditions are
criminal offense involving moral turpitude or any person breached or violated, the authority that issues such may
guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct or any person revoke this license. A license cannot be revoked arbitrarily, it
declared by the court to be of unsound mind shall be can only be revoked for special causes.
registered and issued a certificate of As provided by the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 R.A.
registration/professional license or a special/temporary 9173, Section 23, the Nursing Board of the Professional
permit. Regulation Commission shall have the power to revoke or
The board shall furnish the applicant a written suspend the certificate or registration/professional license or
statement setting forth the reasons for its actions, which cancel the special/temporary permit of a nurse upon any of
shall be incorporated in the records of the Board. the following grounds:

RENEWAL OF THE NURSES LICENSE a. For any of the causes mentioned in Section 22
of RA 9173;
Every registered nurse shall renew his/her license b. For unprofessional and unethical conduct;
every three years with the Professional Regulation c. For gross incompetence or serious ignorance;
Commission on the form prescribed, not later than the due d. For malpractice or negligence in the practice
date indicated in the Professional Regulation Commission of nursing;
license card and pay the prescribed fee. e. For the use of fraud, deceit, or false statements
in obtaining a certificate of
PRC Resolution Number 20047-179 series of 2004 registration/professional license or a
entitled <Standardized Guidelines and Procedures for the temporary/special permit;
Implementation of the Continuing Professional Education f. For violation of this Act, the implementing rules
Professionals= requires that the total CPE credits for and regulations, Code of Ethics for nurses and
 Code of Technical Standards for nursing A fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos
practice, policies of the Board and the (P50,000.00) nor more than one hundred thousand pesos
Commission, or the conditions and limitations (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year
for the issuance of the temporary/special nor more than six (6) years, or both, upon the discretion of
permit; or the court, shall be imposed upon:
g. For practicing his/her profession during a. any person practicing nursing in the
his/her suspension from such practice. Philippines within the meaning of this Act:
i. (1) without a certificate of
Provided, however, That the suspension of the registration/professional license and
certificate of registration/professional license shall be for a professional identification card or
period not exceeding four (4) years. special temporary permit or without
having been declared exempt from
RE-ISSUANCE OF REVOKED CERTIFICATES examination in accordance with the
provision of this Act; or
SEC. 24. Re-issuance of Revoked Certificates and ii. (2) who uses as his/her own
Replacement of Lost Certificates. The Board may, after the certificates of registration/professional
expiration of a maximum of four (4) years from the date of license and professional identification
revocation of a certificate, for reasons of equity and justice card or special temporary permit of
and when the cause for revocation has disappeared or has another; or
been cured and corrected, upon proper application therefor iii. (3) who uses an invalid certificate of
and the payment of the required fees, issue another copy of registration/professional license, a
the certificate of registration/professional license. suspended or revoked certificate of
A new certificate of registration/professional license registration/professional license, or an
to replace the certificate that has been lost, destroyed or expired or cancelled
mutilated may be issued, subject to the rules of the Board. special/temporary permit; or
Suspension means that the nurse is not allowed to iv. (4) who gives any false evidence to the
practice temporarily until final judgment of the case against Board in order to obtain a certificate of
him or her is rendered. The license is not confiscated. registration/professional license, a
On the other hand, revocation means that the license professional identification card or
to practice is confiscated either temporarily or permanently. special permit; or
v. (5) who falsely poses or advertises as a
Prohibitions in the Practice of Nursing registered and licensed nurse or uses
any other means that tend to convey
 the impression that he/she is a property without due process of law nor shall any person be
registered and licensed nurse; or denied equal protection of the laws.
vi. (6) who appends B.S.N./R.N. (Bachelor The term ‘“ due process of law= is defined as a <law
of Science in Nursing/Registered Nurse) which means before it condemns, which proceeds upon
or any similar appendage to his/her inquiry and renders judgment only after trial=. This means
name without having been conferred that every citizen shall hold his life, liberty, property and
said degree or registration; or immunities under protection of the general rule which
vii. (7) who, as a registered and licensed governs society. Due process of law means such exercise of
nurse, abets or assists the illegal the powers of the government as the settled maxim of law
practice of a person who is not lawfully permits and sanctions. The fundamental requirement of due
qualified to practice nursing. process of law is an opportunity for hearing and defense.
b. any person or the chief executive officer of a
juridical entity who undertakes in-service FUNDAMENTALS REQUIREMENTS OF DUE PROCESS
educational programs or who conducts review
classes for both local and foreign examination Following are the fundamental requirements of due
without permit/clearance from the Board and process as provided in Article III Section 14 of the New
the Commission; or Constitution: stating that no person shall be held to answer
c. any person or employer of nurses who violate for a criminal offense without due process of law.
the minimum base pay of nurses and the The Constitutional rights of the accused are
incentives and benefits that should be enumerated as follows:
accorded them as specified in Sections 32 and
34; or 1. The accused is presumed innocent until the contrary
d. any person or the chief executive officer of a is proved;
juridical entity violating any provision of this 2. The right to free access to the courts and adequate
Act and its rules and regulations. legal assistance;
3. The right to remain silent and to have competent and
DUE PROCESS OF LAW independent counsel preferably of his/her own
choice. If he/she cannot afford the services of a
Concepts of Due Process counsel, he/she must be provided one;
4. The right to bail and protection against excessive bail;
Under the Bill of Rights provided in the Constitution of 5. The right to presumption of innocence until the
the Philippines, “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or contrary is proved;
6. The right to be heard by himself/herself and counsel;
7. The right to be informed of the nature or the cause of
the accusation against him/her;
8. The right to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial;
9. The right to meet the witness face to face;
10. The right to have a compulsory process to secure the
attention of witnesses face to face and the
production of evidence on his/her behalf;
11. The right against self-incrimination;
12. The right, when under investigation for the
commission of an offense, to remain silent and to
counsel, and to be informed of his/her right;
13. The right against the use of force, violence, threat,
intimidation or any other means which vitiates the
free will;
14. The right against cruel and usual punishment;
15. The right against excessive fines; and
16. The right against double jeopardy.