Professionalizing the professions
Definitions of profession abound but I will stick to www.businessdictionary. com’s, “Occupation, practice or vocation requiring mastery of a complex set of knowledge and skills through formal education and/or practical experience. Every organized profession (accounting, law, medicine, etc. is governed by its respective professional body.”
We can trace the beginnings of concept of professions to the guilds, a medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power.
They decided who could enter into the practice of their crafts and policed their ranks to ensure that the services rendered met strict standards and protected the reputation of their crafts.
Today’s professions (accounting, law, medicine, engineering, etc.) have their organizations, membership of which is predicated on passing and being granted a license by a government body.
In the case of the Philippines, the governing body is the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) which was created with the signing of Presidential Decree No. 223 on June 22, 1973 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It has quasi-judicial powers (investigates cases against erring examinees and professionals.
Its decisions have the force and effect of the decisions of a court of law, with the same level of authority as a Regional Trial Court, quasi-legislative powers formulates rules and policies on professional regulation.
When published in 5h3 official gazette, these rules have the force and effect of law. and executive powers (administer, implements, and enforces the regulatory policies of the national government, including the maintenance of the professional and occupational standards and ethics and the enforcement of the rules and regulations relative thereto).
There are 28 accredited professional organizations with valid accreditation as of March 10, 2017 as listed in the PRC website. Among them are the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, United Architects of the Philippines, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Nurses Association and the Philippine Guidance and Counselling Association.
In partnership, the PRC and these accredited professional organizations focus on continuing professional development (CPD) and upholding the high ethical standards of the professions.
It is in these two areas where some concerns have been raised. Improvements are needed if we are to level up the professions.
The PRC accredits CPD providers for thirty-eight (38) professions – accountancy, aeronautical engineering, agricultural engineering, architecture, chemical engineering, chemist, civil engineering, c r i m i n o l o g y, c u s t o m s b r o k e r s , dentistry, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, environmental planning, geodetic engineering, guidance and counselling, interior design, landscape architecture, librarians, master plumbing, mechanical engineering, medical technology, medicine, midwifery, naval architecture, nursing, nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, professional teachers, psychology, radiologic technology, real estate, respiratory therapy, sanitary engineering, social work and veterinary medicine.
These providers need to be evaluated in their ability to deliver up-to-date professional knowledge, competence in running the programs (otherwise we will have certificate mills), their locations (especially for professionals in the countryside who may have to travel far distances to enrol) and their pricing (may be too exorbitant given the compensation of some professionals, i.e. CPAs in teaching).
PRC may want to consider accrediting schools to be the CPD providers given their reach and building faculty capability.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has issued new curriculum for these professions. Noteworthy is the inclusion of updated specializations and a shift form On-the-Job Training to Internships.
The professional organizations could help by ensuring their members are open to more student interns and support them not just by providing relevant work experience but also appropriate financial support.
They can also be more involved in materials development as well as provide industry immersion opportunities to the faculty.
In the area of ethical standards, it would greatly help the Philippine economy if the professional organizations actively encourage their members to pay the right taxes and follow the laws of land. Professionals are role models and they should take the lead in being model citizens.
These will really mean professionalizing the professions.
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