The Civil Service Commission (CSC) said Thursday, March 11, that those who passed bar and licensure board examinations “are automatically considered civil service eligibles” under the law, and that their eligibility is one of the qualifications for appointment in career service positions.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Citing Republic Act No. 1080, as amended or "An Act Declaring the Bar and Board Examinations as Civil Service Examinations”, the commission said the passers of the bar examination conducted by the Supreme Court (SC) and licensure board examinations conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) no longer have to file an application for the grant of civil service eligibility with the CSC.
R.A. 1080, as amended provides that “the bar examinations and the examinations given by the various boards of examiners of the Government are declared as civil service examinations”.
"Thus, pursuant to the said law, passers of the bar examination conducted by the Supreme Court (SC) and licensure board examinations conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) are automatically considered as civil service eligibles,” it said in a statement.
"Since 2014, this now includes marine deck and engine officers licensed by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), as the examination, licensing, and certification system for said positions was transferred from the PRC to MARINA by virtue of Republic Act No. 10635.”
The commission also noted that passers of the Shari’a Bar Examinations are also considered as civil service eligibles.
However, it stressed that the “Bar/Board Eligibility is appropriate and required for appointment to government positions the duties of which constitute the practice of profession.”
"This means that appointees to positions such as Attorney, Nurse, or Accountant in government are required to have the appropriate professional license,” it said.
The commission said licensed professionals may also work in the government, even not in the practice of their profession.
"For the Bar/Board Eligibility resulting from passing an examination requiring completion of a bachelor’s degree, such eligibility shall be considered appropriate for appointment to positions for which the examination was given, as well as to other first and second level positions in government that are not covered by special laws nor require other special eligibilities or licenses,” it said.
"On the other hand, for the Bar/Board Eligibility resulting from passing an examination requiring less than four years of college studies, such eligibility shall be considered appropriate for appointment to positions for which the examination was given, as well as to other first level positions in government that are not covered by special laws nor require other special eligibilities or licenses,” it further explained.
The commission noted that eligibility resulting from the 13th Shari’a Bar Examinations held in January 2014 shall also be considered an eligibility appropriate for appointment to first and second level positions.
It said those who passed the Shari’a Bar Examinations held prior to the 13th Shari’a Bar Examinations shall be considered as appropriate for appointment to first level positions.
Citing its 2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions, as amended, the CSC said "holders of Bar/Board Eligibility shall be exempt from the master’s degree requirement for division chief and executive/managerial positions in the second level, the duties and responsibilities of which involve practice of profession or belong to the same occupational group or functionally related positions as those regulated by bar or board laws.”
The commission said lawyers and doctors specifically are considered exempt from the master’s degree requirement for division chief or executive/managerial positions that do not involve the practice of profession or belong to the same occupational group or functionally related positions as those regulated by bar or board laws.
"Licensed professionals need not go to the CSC to obtain a copy of civil service eligibility. A valid professional license or copy of the Certificate of Registration/Competency or Report of Rating, as applicable, that was issued by SC, PRC, or MARINA may be used as proof of eligibility.”
Noting that eligibility is just one of the qualifications for appointment, the commission reminded appointees to career service positions to meet the education, training, experience, eligibility, and competency requirements prescribed in the Qualification Standards.