CPD Council firm on requiring 60 units for nurses

Philippine nurses must earn 60 units of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as a requirement for renewal of license/Professional Identification Cards.

CPD Council of Nurses led by Board of Nursing member Glenda Arquiza as Chairperson met with nursing leaders and stakeholders for a Consultative Meeting on the Draft Operational Guidelines for Nurses at the PRC Main Building last February 23, 2017.

One of the attendees, Prince Billy Libed related online that during the meeting, Ang Nars Party-list representative Dr. Leah S. Paquiz appealed before Chairperson Arquiza to follow the minimum 45 CPD units required for nurses by the PRC Resolution No. 2016-990.

"It is high time that the Board listen to the pulse of the nurses who are the participants to get the CPD units," Paquiz suggested.

However, CPD Chairperson Glenda Arquiza answered that they have already finished deliberating it, and that the Board crafted the Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) based on the ASEAN core competency standards.

Arquiza also pointed out that "professional growth is a personal responsibility."

During one of the nursing research congress last January, Arquiza explained that the 45-unit requirement is just a minimum standard of PRC, and it is up to the discretion of each Professional Regulatory Board to add to that requirement.

Section 19 of PRC Resolution No. 2016-990 states that "Registered and licensed professionals shall complete the required [CPD] units every three (3) years as specified in Annex A (Credit Units Required per Profession) or as specified in their Professional Regulatory Law or as provided by the PRB and the Commission that may be issued."




PRC also clarified recently that the new CPD Law does not provide any exemption, even for OFWs and senior citizens.

The Commission and each Professional Regulatory Boards through their respective CPD Councils are expected to released the Implementing Rules and Regulation and Operational Guidelines this March 2017.