You’ve come to the right spot if you want to hear more about what it takes to pass the Physician Licensure Board Exam.
In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about the board exam, from the prerequisites to the schedule. That being said, if you’re interested and want to learn more, continue reading.
Contents
What is a Physician?
A physician, medical practitioner, medical doctor, or generally a doctor, is a medical professional who promotes, maintains, or restores health through the research, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of illness, disability, and other physical and mental impairments.
Physicians can specialize their work by focusing on certain illness categories, patient groups, and therapeutic strategies, or they can take on the task of providing ongoing and systematic medical services to people, families, and populations, which is known as a general practice.
The medical practice involves a thorough understanding of academic sciences such as anatomy and physiology, fundamental disorders and their treatment—the science of medicine—as well as a reasonable level of expertise in its applied practice—the art or craft of medicine.
What is the Philippine Physician Licensure Exam?
The Professional Regulation Committee (PRC) is the official government body in charge of all licensing exams in the country, with the exception of the Philippine bar examination. It is in charge of conducting the Physician Licensure Examinations as a norm.
To take the Physician Licensure Exams, applicants must meet the following requirements in the next section as they vary per candidate.
There are mandatory criteria for qualifying candidates and soon-to-be professionals to take the licensing exam in order to maintain the reputation of the practice.
Physician Licensure Exam Requirements
Those who have enrolled as a Medical Student in a Medical School recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), can undergo a Preliminary Examination of the Physician Board Examinations. To take this, the applicant must present the following requirements:
- Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) issued Birth Certificate
- Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) Marriage Contract (for married female applicants)
- Transcript of Record (TOR)
- Good Moral Character from the Dean of College of Medicine
Medicine graduates from a Medical School recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), can undergo a Final Examination of the Physician Board Examinations. To take this, the applicant must present the following requirements:
- Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) issued Birth Certificate
- Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) Marriage Contract (for married female applicants)
- Two (2) Certificates of Good Moral Character from any two (2) of the following:
- Medical School where he/she graduated from
- Hospital / Institution where he/she completed his/her internship
- Indigenous Community/Parish where he/she belongs
- Transcript of Records (TOR)
- Diploma of MD Degree or its equivalent; and
- Certificate of Post Graduate Internship issued by a hospital accredited by the Association of Philippine Medical College (APMC).
Medical graduates from Foreign Medical School recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), can undergo a Final Examination of the Physician Board Examinations. To take this, the applicant must present the following requirements:
- PSA Birth Certificate;
- PSA Marriage Contract (for married female applicants);
- Two (2) Certificates of Good Moral Character from any of the following:
- Medical School where he/she graduated from (current status)
- Hospital / Institution where he/she completed his/her internship
- Previous employment
- Parish Priest
- International Police
- Barangay
- Diploma of MD Degree or equivalent;
- Original or authenticated copy of the TOR or equivalent document of the course for the licensure examination issued by the institution of higher learning where the applicant graduated;
- Certificate of Equivalency issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) stating that the course taken by the applicant is equivalent to the Doctor of Medicine course offered in Philippine Schools of Medicine; and
- Certificate of Post Graduate Internship issued by a hospital accredited by the Association of Philippine Medical College (APMC) or Certificate of Equivalency issued by CHED.
- An examinee who fails for the third (3rd) time shall be required to submit Certificate of Completion of a refresher course in a recognized medical school or college and current two (2) certificates of Good Moral Character from the Medical School where he/she graduated from and Hospital/Institution where he/she completed his/her internship before he/she shall be allowed to take the examinations.
Licensure Exam for Physician Registration Procedure
The PRC LERIS web portal offers an easy interactive process for each license examination, making scheduling an appointment very easy for any applicant. The PRC highly urges all graduates to check their online applications before submitting their paperwork to every provincial or PRC satellite office.
If you are unable to register due to operational confusion, our step-by-step approach will help you arrange your registration; meanwhile, if you are already comfortable with the procedure, head to the PRC LERIS website for immediate registration.
Physician Licensure Exam Coverage
Listed below are the Physician Licensure Exam subjects you’ll need to study prior to taking the exam.
Preliminary Examination
- Anatomy and Histology
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology and Parasitology
Final Examination
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics
- Pathology
- Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics and Nutrition
- Surgery and Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Rhinology
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- Legal Medicine, Ethics and Medical Jurisprudence
Complete Examination
- Anatomy and Histology
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology and Parasitology
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics
- Pathology
- Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics and Nutrition
- Surgery and Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology and Rhinology
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health
- Legal Medicine, Ethics and Medical Jurisprudence
Physician Licensure Exam Schedule in 2021
Physician licensure board examinations are normally conducted at least twice a year, according to the Professional Regulation Commission.
This calendar lists the dates for all licensure examinations. Based on the calendar, the filing of applications for the next exam will be open on June 11, 2021, while the deadline will be on August 11, 2021. The Physician Licensure Exam will be held on September 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2021.
Due to the seriousness of the pandemic, if you have any reservations or concerns about the licensure examination, you can also visit the official Commission website on a regular basis for the most up-to-date news and advice.