PH Exam & Career Glossary
Plain-English explanations of the PHL terms that come up when you're reviewing for board exams, applying for government work, or sorting out post-graduation finances.
81 terms across 6 categories.
Exam Systems
PRC, CSC, university entrance, government eligibility exam systems and how they work.
AFPSAT
AFP Service Aptitude Test — the written test for enlisted applicants and officer candidates of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Board Exam
PRC-administered licensure exam required to practice a regulated profession in the Philippines.
CPALE (CPA Licensure Exam)
PRC board exam required to become a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines.
CSC (Civil Service Commission)
The Philippine government agency in charge of the civil service — it runs the Civil Service Exam and sets rules for government hiring.
CSE Professional
Career Service Exam — Professional level. Gives eligibility for first- and second-level government posts that don't need a license.
CSE Sub-Professional
Career Service Exam — Subprofessional level. Gives eligibility for first-level (clerical) government posts.
Engineering Boards (CELE, ECE, REE, ME)
PRC licensure exams for the engineering professions — Civil, Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical and others.
FSOE (Foreign Service Officer Exam)
The multi-stage exam for entry into the Philippine Foreign Service.
IELTS
International English Language Testing System — an English proficiency test for study, work and migration abroad.
LET (Licensure Exam for Teachers)
PRC board exam required to teach in the Philippines — Elementary or Secondary level.
NAPOLCOM PNPE
The National Police Commission's PNP Entrance Examination — the eligibility exam for appointment as Patrolman/Patrolwoman.
NCLEX
The licensure exam for nurses in the United States and Canada, run by NCSBN.
NLE (Nurse Licensure Exam)
PRC board exam required to practice nursing in the Philippines.
PRC (Professional Regulation Commission)
The Philippine government agency that runs the licensure (board) exams and licenses professionals in the regulated professions.
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language — an English proficiency test by ETS, widely used for university admission.
UPCAT
University of the Philippines College Admission Test — the admission test for the UP system.
Scoring & Grading
How PHL exams compute scores — GWA, percentile ranks, weighted averages, cutoffs.
Cum Laude / Latin Honors
Latin honors awarded at graduation based on your GWA — Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude.
Exam Rating
The final score that decides if you pass — each PRC board has its own rule (often a 75% general average with subject floors; 70% for engineering), and the Civil Service Exam passes at a general rating of 80.00.
GWA (General Weighted Average)
The average of your grades weighted by units — used for admissions, scholarships and Latin honors.
PRC Board Exam Results
How PRC releases board exam results — the list of passers, your rating, and what to do after you pass.
PRC Topnotcher List
The PRC's published list of the top-ranked examinees for each board exam.
Topnotcher
A board exam passer who ranks in the top 10 nationwide, as published by the PRC with the results.
UPG (University Predicted Grade)
UP's admission score, combining your UPCAT result with your Grades 8–11 grades.
Credentials & Licensure
Professional licences, certifications, board passing, and what each credential opens.
Barangay Clearance
A certificate from your barangay confirming you're a resident with no derogatory record there — often required for jobs and permits.
CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage)
PSA certificate showing you have no marriage on record — needed when applying for a marriage license.
CPD (Continuing Professional Development)
Continuing education that licensed professionals complete under PRC rules, linked to renewing the PRC license every 3 years.
CSC Eligibility
The civil service qualification needed for most permanent government posts — earned through the CSE, a PRC board or bar exam (RA 1080), or other CSC-recognized routes.
NBI Clearance
National Bureau of Investigation clearance showing whether you have a derogatory record — a common requirement for jobs, visas and OFW deployment.
Philippine Passport
DFA-issued travel document required for international travel and OFW deployment.
PRC ID
A PRC ID is the Professional Identification Card the PRC issues to licensed professionals in the Philippines — valid for 3 years and needed to practice your profession.
PRC ID Renewal
Renewing your PRC ID every 3 years to keep your professional license active.
PRC Special Temporary Permit
A PRC permit that lets a foreign professional practice in the Philippines for a limited time and purpose.
Professional License
The PRC registration and license that let you practice a regulated profession; the PRC ID is renewed every 3 years.
PSA Birth Certificate
Official birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority — needed for most government applications.
PSA Marriage Certificate
Official marriage certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority — needed for spouse benefits, name changes and immigration.
RA 1080
The law that makes passing a PRC board exam or the bar count as civil service eligibility — no separate Civil Service Exam needed.
RA 1080 Eligibility
Civil service eligibility that comes with passing a PRC board exam or the bar, under RA 1080.
Career & Government
Civil service careers, salary grades, ranks, and government employment terms.
Barangay Justice (Lupon)
The Katarungang Pambarangay — community dispute settlement handled by the barangay's Lupon Tagapamayapa.
Big 4 (PHL Accounting Firms)
The Philippine member firms of the four global accounting networks — SGV (EY), Isla Lipana (PwC), R.G. Manabat (KPMG) and Navarro Amper (Deloitte).
COMELEC
Commission on Elections — runs Philippine elections and voter registration.
DepEd
Department of Education — runs Philippine public basic education (K to 12) and employs public school teachers.
DepEd Teacher Rank Progression
The DepEd career ladder — Teacher I–VII, Master Teacher I–V, and School Principal I–IV.
DFA
Department of Foreign Affairs — passport issuance, foreign service, embassy administration.
OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker)
A Filipino working abroad — a large part of the Philippine economy through remittances.
OWWA
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration — services for OFWs and their families.
PHL Date Format Standards
Philippine forms use different date formats — always follow the format printed on the form.
POEA / DMW
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, now part of the Department of Migrant Workers — regulates OFW recruitment and deployment.
Principal Track (DepEd)
DepEd's school-administration career line — School Principal I to IV (SG 19–22).
Private School Teacher Career
How careers work for private school teachers — ranks, pay and benefits are set by each school.
ROTC
Reserve Officers' Training Corps — military training for college students, one of the NSTP options.
Salary Grade (SG)
The standard pay scale for civilian Philippine government employees, from SG 1 to SG 33.
Education Pathways
Senior High strands, college tracks, K-12 system, scholarship programmes.
ABM Undergraduate Programmes
Accountancy, business and management degree programs — BS Accountancy, BSBA, Entrepreneurship and more.
CHED
Commission on Higher Education — sets policies and standards for Philippine colleges and universities.
DepEd Vouchers (SHS)
DepEd's Senior High School Voucher Program — a subsidy for SHS students in participating private schools and non-DepEd public schools.
DOST-SEI Scholarship
Government scholarship for undergraduate study in priority science and technology courses, run by DOST's Science Education Institute.
HUMSS Undergraduate Programmes
Humanities and social sciences degree programs — education, communication, psychology, social work, pre-law and more.
K-12 Curriculum
DepEd's curriculum framework for Kindergarten through Grade 12.
K-12 Programme
The Philippine basic education structure: Kindergarten plus 12 years (6 elementary, 4 junior high, 2 senior high).
NSTP (National Service Training Program)
Required civic training for college students under RA 9163 — students choose ROTC, CWTS or LTS.
OJT (On-the-Job Training)
The supervised internship many Philippine college programs require before graduation.
PHL Scholarship Programmes
Government and private programs that fund college for qualifying Filipino students.
PMA
Philippine Military Academy — the AFP's academy for officer cadets, in Baguio City.
PNPA
Philippine National Police Academy — the academy for PNP, BFP and BJMP officer cadets, in Silang, Cavite.
RA 10931 (Free College Tuition)
Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (2017) — free tuition and miscellaneous fees at state and local universities and colleges.
Senior High School Strand
Specialization in Philippine Senior High School (Grades 11–12) — STEM, HUMSS, ABM, GAS, TVL and others, now being replaced by the Strengthened SHS tracks.
STEM Undergraduate Programmes
Science, technology, engineering and math degree programs in the Philippines.
TES (Tertiary Education Subsidy)
A grant under RA 10931 to help eligible college students with education-related costs.
TESDA
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority — runs technical-vocational training and National Certificate assessments.
TOR (Transcript of Records)
The official record of your college courses, grades and degree status — needed for board exams, jobs and study abroad.
Financial & Tax
Tax IDs, contributions, retirement accounts, financial planning terms for Filipino professionals.
13th Month Pay
Required year-end pay for rank-and-file private employees, equal to 1/12 of basic salary earned in the year (PD 851).
BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue)
The national tax agency under the Department of Finance.
GSIS
Government Service Insurance System — social insurance and pension for government employees.
Pag-IBIG (HDMF)
Government savings fund (Home Development Mutual Fund) offering housing and short-term loans and the MP2 savings program.
PERA (Personal Equity and Retirement Account)
Voluntary, tax-advantaged retirement savings account under RA 9505.
PhilHealth
The national health insurance program — every Filipino is a member under the Universal Health Care Act.
PHL Pension Systems
Government retirement income — SSS for the private sector, GSIS for government employees.
Self-Employed Tax
Tax options for self-employed Filipinos and professionals — the 8% income tax option or graduated rates plus percentage tax.
SSS (Social Security System)
Social insurance for private-sector workers, the self-employed, voluntary members and OFWs — pension, sickness, maternity, disability and death benefits.
TIN (Tax Identification Number)
BIR-issued tax identification required for all income earners in PHL.
TIN vs VAT-Registered
Every taxpayer needs a TIN; VAT registration is an extra requirement for businesses whose gross sales exceed ₱3 million a year.
VAT (Value-Added Tax)
12% tax on goods and services in PHL, paid by consumers, collected by businesses for BIR.