Remedlos Abella Llml Board of Chemistry Professional Regulation Commission Manila, Phtiippines
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Licensure and Regulation of Philippine Chemists
A bill was enacted in the Philippine Congress to recognize the practice of chemistry as a professional entity, and to regulate it in accord with the needs of the country. Upon its approval, all chemists and chemical technicians had to be licensed. The bill permitted persons who had practiced chemistry for a t least five years and within three years prior t o its effective date, to be grandfathered in, i.e., to be given a License as a chemist without the qualifying examination, upon fulfillment of other requirements in accordance with the provisions therein. The writer would like to share some experiences of the Chemistry Board (the government licensing agency) on the regulation of the practice of chemistry in the Philippines as well as suoervision and control of the Philippine chemist, the main andsalient features of the licensing p;&edures and how they have worked, and present a picture of how the 23-year old Licensing Law has affected the status of Philippine professional chemists and chemical technicians, The Philippine Republic Act No. 754 knownas theChemistrv Law was enacted by the Philippine Congresr on June 18, .. 195-2. The objectives of the said enactment are as follows 1) The creation of a licensing agency called the Board of Chemistry. 2) The educational background of students of chemistry in preparation for their practice of the chemistry profession. 3) The qualifying examination (and other requirements) of chemistry graduates. 4) The regular ion or licensing ofthe sueceanful examinees and other qualified graduates of chemistry as well as those who have knsiderable experience in the practice. 5) The supervision, control, and regulation of the practice of chemistry. ~
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Enforcement of the Law For the purpose of effectively implementing the provisions of the law, a Board of Chemistry was created to act as the licensing A d regulatory agency of the government. The Board of Chemistry The Board is comoosed of a chairman and two members. appointed by the president of the Philippines, whose quali: fications are: a citizen of the country, a t least 30 years of age, with a t least a Master's degree in Chemistry2 and no less than 10 vears exnerience in chemical work. He must not be a faculty member o i a school or university where a professional chemistrv course is offered, nor have any pecuniary interest in a .. school or university. The term of office is for three years or until successors are appointed.
The Main Features of The Licensing Procedure Prior to the promulgation of the requirements, the practice of chemistry had to he defined and its scope clarified. I n conformitv with this. the reauirements were outlined and are stated in the chemistry ~a;. The updated Rules and R e d a t i o n s adopted by the Board of chemistry provide the f o l l o - k ~requirements ~ for licensure of (a) chemists and (h) chemical technicians. a) For Chemists
I) General requirements Philippine citizenship; good reputation and moral character; at least 21 years of age.
Subjects Covered in
the Board Examination Weight
1) General chemistry Fundamentals of Inorganic Chemistry; Inorganic industrial Chemirtry and Stoichemirtry. 2) Organic Chemlrtry and Related Subjects Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry; industrial Organic Chemistry. 3) Analytical Chemistry Qualitative. Quantitative and Technical Analysis. Structure Analysis: to include Instrumentation. 4) Physics Chemlrtry Fundamentals and Its industrial a~Dlications. 5) Allied Subjects Mathematics through Calculus; College Physics; Mineralogy and lndurtrial MicrobioiwY. 6) "Swcialization" Chemical rerearch; technical writ;np;shemicai jurisprudence; current events in Chemirtry.
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11) Academicrequirements College graduation. with at least a R.S.degree in chemistry of not l w than 4 years, or irsequivalent degree with at leapt 60 university units in chemistry. 111) Qualifying examination A written examination is given every six months. The scope of the examination oresentlr?consists of a h suhieds as Listed in the table; the integrated courses are listed un& the titled
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To pass the examination, a general average rating of at least 70%, but no rating less than 50%in any subject examined, is required. b) For Chemical Technicians There is no written examination required, hut a5-year experience of practical routine laboratory work, under the supervision of a licensed chemist, is instead required. An applicant need not he a holder of Bachelor of Science in chemistry or its equivalent.
The Issuance of Certificate Having met all the above requirements, and after taking the oath, a certificate is issued to the applicant showing: (1) the full name (2) a serial number (3) the signature of the Commissioner of the Professional Regulation Commission and Board Memhers-authenticated by the Seal of the Board. Our Experiences on Llcensing Procedure On the Qualifying Examination 1) Applicants for examination who are below 21 years of ago are allowed to take the examination if all the other requirements are satisfied-prouided that the certificate of registration is withheld and the candidate's name is not registered until the age of 21 is reached. 2) A grade of less than 50%in any of the six subjects disqualifies an examinee from passing. 3) A grade of "Conditioned" is given if a rating of at least 70%is obtained in at least three subjects provided there ia no disaualifvina . - - -made (less than 50%) in any other subject. In such a ease an examinee is entitled to a removal examination only in the subjects where he or she obtained below 70%.within one year from the date of the said examination.
'Chairman, Licensing Board (Board of Chemistry) 1975present. New Chemistry Law, Manila, Philippines, 1975. Wevised by Board, 1970. Volume 53,Number 12. December 1976 / 787
4) If a candidate has failed three times:'refreaher or renew courses must be taken before a fourth examination is allowed.
5) Recentlv (1975). in an amendatorv law. PhD in chemistrv holders who arenot licensed, are enitled he repiatered upon fulfillment of board requiremrnu.'Theg are given special rrrtifirares by the Profersimal Regulation Commirrion. upon recommendation of the Board. With Educators and Officials o f the Department of Education For t h e nurnose of exchaneine views a n d information o n various fa& bf chemical ed;czion such a s cnrriculum, revision and updating of courses, training of students, t h e Board of Chemistry conducts hi-yearly meetings a n d dialogues with Department of Education officials, chemistry faculty of schools all over t h e country, and t h e National Association of Chemistrv Teachers. These meetings have brought about innovations not only on t h e relationsgp between the chemical educators and hoard members, h u t in the framing of questions for the qualifying examination given by t h e Board. T h e questionnaires are reviewed by the heads of Chemistry schools; their recommendations are given due considerations by the examining board. I n t h e updating of curriculum a n d course contents, t h e full collaboration of t h e Department of Education is very noteworthy. Constant meetings with t h e officials established t h e much needed link between them and t h e Board. With Chemistry Students There is a national association of chemistry students from all schools in t h e country. A yearly dialog with t h e m a n d t h e Board members o n t h e subject matter of t h e Board examination and other relevant prohlems generally confronting the candidates for licensure, are thrashed out. This has relieved t h e usual nervous tension experienced by examinees prior t o a n d during t h e examination. The Regulation of the Practice ot Chemistry T h e s u o e ~ s i o nand control of t h e oractice of chemistrv bv chemists a n d chemical technicians is-based on the provisjons of t h e Chemistw Law, and said law lodges i n t h e Board t h e power t o regulate the chemistry profesGon. T h e significant provisions a r e 1) To adopt rules, tegulations, and standards for the practice of chemistry. These are revised and updated whenever necessary. 2) To keep a yearly official roster of: (a) chemists and chemical technicians with their respective registration numbers and dates of registration; shd (b) chemical establishments with their corresponding lists of licensed chemists and chemical technicians employed; the respective positions held; the nature of their work; and their compensation. 3) To comoel the . vearlv. reeistration of licensed chemists who are renuireh to register annuallv hefore the Board under the Professmnal Regulation Commission. Annual registmt~oncards are irwed for this. Failure t u regism for live runtinunus years, w~thcmtnotifying this Office might lead the Honrd to cancel names in the official roster of professionals. 4) To look into the conditions affecting the practice of chemistry in all parts of the country; then, to adopt measures, for the enhancement of the chemistry profession, or for the maintenance, of high professional, ethical, and technical standards. For these purposes, on site inspections or visitations are conducted of chemical establishments where registered chemists, chemical technicians, or both, are employed. 5) To license chemical establishments using chemical or phys~
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788 / Jwmal of Chemical Education
ico-chemical processes, except in schools or government laboratories which are not rendering professional services to the oublic. 61 To raaue certificates of registration to foreign chemists who qualify in the chemist liranrure ~xaminationand who have been admitted because the requirements in the countries where they come from are substantially the same as those in the Philippines. They must also have proven that Filipino chemists are allowed to ~racticechemistrv in the countries of the foreien anolicants on the same basis as their own citizens .. 7) To exempt from registration fweign chemists called in for runsultation, upon iwitatiun of the Philippine Government. 8) To prescribe or revise, in consultation u,ith the Secretary of Education and Culture, collegiate courses for the degree of Bachelor of Science in chemistry. 9) On Violations of theLaw and theRulesandRegulations: (a) Hearings are conducted to investigate violations of the Chemistry Law, apd (b) Administrative hearings are also conducted, if formal complaints against licensed chemists, chemical technicians, and chemistry establishments are filed-and to render decisions thereon. 10) The uiolations ore penalized by: (a) Suspension or revocation of the certificate of registration or establishment licenses, and (b) A fine andlor imprisonment by the proper court of justice. Conclusion The Status of our Licensed Chemists T h e following observations serve to show t h e advantages of certification or registration A. On the qualifying examination 1) Improvement of educational background. 2) School training is always updated which must come up to the standards expeded by the Board, as reflected in the examination questionnaires. 3) Serves as a means of improving the quality of new graduates. B. %the Practice of the Profession 1) Bestows professional and legal stature, resulting in public recognition and respect. 2) Government control and regulation has brought about competent practitioners. 3) Protection of the public against incompetent practitioners, because professional skills have to be continuously updated. 4) As enumerated in the scope of the practice, the work performed by chemists and chemical technicians is delineatedthus, encroachment by persons in the allied professions has been avoided, or minimized to a great extent. 5) The certifications or analyses seem to be more cautiously done. 6) The fact that s professional chemist is licensed and hence has fulfilled all reouirements therefor. assures the emolover . that hir educational hackgngund and qualificatims are adequate. 7 1 Emplr,yment Pnwrtion-the lam provider for emplu.men1 only for llcensed chemists and chemical technleinns. 'Their wages or compenaatmns are properlv runtroll~dtoo. 8 ) Mirplnred pxitnms hy employrrr for rhpmst5 and chemical teehnirrans are checked, and acted w o n hs the Roard. These. toeether with emolovment of nonlicensed Ehemists and chem. . ical technicians, may rause the revocation or cancellation of their oprration licrnsrs. 9, l.astly, the licrnscd chemist in his technical and social environments, is more self-confident, more responsible, and more secure, professionally.
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Revwd Rules and Regulations. Hoard of Chcmatry, 1975. ' Presidentla1 Dperee No. 683. MalnraAang. Manda, Philippines.
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