How to earn CPD units during COVID-19 crisis

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) would like to remind professionals that they may still receive Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units without attending mass gatherings such as lectures and seminars during this Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

CPD Act of 2016 mandates that professionals need CPD units as a requirement for renewal of their Professional Identification Cards (PIC), also known as license cards.

In a PRC Resolution No. 1240 issued May 15, 2020, PRC reiterated some ways to earn CPD units particularly during the State of Public Health Emergency such as the COVID-19 crisis.

The Commission noted that most of regions in the country are under lockdown measures such as the imposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or general community quarantine (GCQ), and stringent social distancing policy. This resulted to cancelation of scheduled offerings of CPD programs, such as
conventions, conferences and other forms of mass gatherings, which are significant means of
CPD compliance by professionals.

Thus, Continuing Professional Development-Program Management Committee (CPD-PMC) recommends to the Commission the reiteration of favorable ways of learning that can earn CPD credit units particularly during the State of Public Health Emergency.

Here are four ways of learning that earns CPD units:
I. Informal Learning. Informal Learning refers to learning that occurs in daily life and which can contribute to a qualification. Examples are:

1) Reading of books, magazine, journals, and the like that will develop leadership, management, and other skills;

2) Learning how to use cross-platform Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and instant messaging using cloud-based video conferencing tool to meet with co-workers;

3) Learning how to prepare gluten-free meals and baked products; and

4) Learning how to do urban gardening for home consumption of organic vegetables and fruits.

II. Professional Work Experience. Professional Work Experience refers to practice at workplace that is directly related to the profession. Examples are:

1) Reading of books, magazine, journals, and the like on how to improve knowledge and skills in the field of professional practice;

2) Learning how to fashion wheelchairs for pediatric patients with special needs; 3) Learning how to design homes for the elderly population;

4) Learning how to design modules for online teaching;

5) Learning ways of collecting and disseminating information to faculty and students who are studying by distance education; and

6) Providing professional consultancy services to clients.

III. Self-Directed Learning. Self-Directed Learning Activities are the learning activities such as online training, local/international seminar, non-degree courses, institution / company-sponsored training programs, and the like, which did not undergo CPD accreditation but may be awarded CPD units by the respective CPD Council. These activities are driven by one’s need and motivation to learn either through a professional activity or volunteer engagement.

i. Professional Activity refers to activity which promotes and facilitates enhancement of knowledge, skills and values as a professional.

ii. Volunteer Engagement refers to activity done under the ambit of social responsibility, which may or may not directly involve the practice of profession, but may help in the development of the professional in the social milieu.

IV. Online Learning Activities. Online Learning Activities refer to structured or unstructured learning initiatives, which make use of the internet and other web-based Information and Communication Technology solutions. (Section 3(p), Article I of the CPD Act of 2016).

Aside from these considerations, PRC is also allowing professionals to renew without full CPD compliance until December 31, 2021. Professionals who has zero or incomplete CPD requirement only need to sign an Undertaking embedded in the renewal form that they will comply in the next renewal period.

Here’s the full text of the PRC Resolution No. 1240: https://www.prc.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2020-1240ReteratingWays.pdf.

Those who are working or volunteering as a frontliner or giving essential services during the COVID-19 crisis will also get as much as 45 CPD units, the PRC said.

The move is a tribute of the Commission to the heroism of these professionals who put their health and safety at stake in the battle against the fatal disease.