12th Session of the Regional Committee on the Recognition of
Qualifications in Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific in conjunction
with the Regional Workshop on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications
PHILIPPINE QUALIFICATIONS
FRAMEWORK (PQF)
BY
DR ETHEL AGNES P. VALENZUELA
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Historical Notes
• 1997 – call for PQF by APEC HRD
• 2001 – draft prepared by the three education
bodies (DepED, TESDA and CHED)
• 2002-2011 – PQF workshops (UNESCO, APEC and
ASEAN platforms with education agencies)
• 2012 – PQF was signed into law- Executive Order
No 83 s 2012 called the Institutionalization of the
Philippine Qualifications Framework was signed
by President Benigno S. Aquino III on the 1st day
of October, 2012 which took effect upon its
publication.
What is Philippine Qualifications
Framework?
• It is a national policy that describes the levels of
educational qualifications and sets the standards for
qualification outcomes.
• A quality assured national system for development,
recognition and award of qualifications based on standards
of knowledge, skills, and values acquired in different ways
and methods by learners and workers of a certain country.
• It is competency-based on standards of knowledge, skills
and values acquired in different ways and methods by
learners and workers of a certain country
• Qualifications refers to package of competencies describing
a particular function or job role existing in an economic
sector. It covers the work activities required to undertake a
particular job role.
Objectives of PQF
• To establish national standards and level of outcomes
of education and training skills competencies
• To support the development and maintenance of
pathways and equivalencies which provide access to
qualifications and assist people to move easily and
readily between the different Education and Training
(E&T)
• To align the PQF with international qualifications
framework of the value and comparability of learners
and workers through increased recognition of the value
and comparability of Philippine qualifications.
Benefits of PQF (For Individuals)
• Encourages lifelong learning allowing the
person to start at the level that suits him and
then build up his qualifications as his needs
and interests develop and change over time.
• Certificates and licenses recognizes by
government
Benefits of the PQF (Employer)
• Assures that standards and qualifications are
consistent to job requirements/demand
• Provides common understanding on
standards, qualifications and levels
Benefits the PQF (E&T Providers)
• Ensures transparency in training provision,
conformance to standards and preciseness
and accountability for learning outcomes
• Provides common understanding of policies
and guidelines on credit transfers, articulation,
portability, bridges pathways and recognition
of prior learning
Benefits for Authorities
• Provides the standards, taxonomy, and
typology of qualifications as bases for granting
approvals to providers and stakeholders
• Harmonizes qualifications in E&T across
Philippines
PQF
Eight-Level Qualification Descriptors
Level and
Knowledge, skills Application
qualification type and values
Degree of
Independence
1 National
Certificate
In condition
where there is
very close
support, guidance
or supervision;
minimum
judgement or
discretion is
needed.
Knowledge and
skills are manual
or concrete or
practical and/or
operational in
focus
Applied in
activities that are
set in a limited
range if highly
familiar and
predictable
contexts; involve
straightforward,
routine issues
which are
addressed by
following set
rules, guidelines
or procedures
Eight-Level Qualification Descriptors
Level and
Knowledge, skills Application
qualification type and values
Degree of
Independence
2
In condition
where there is
substantial
support, guidance
or supervision;
minimum
judgement or
discretion is
needed.
National
Certificate II
Knowledge and
skills that are
manual, practical
and/or
operational in
focus with a
variety of options
Applied in
activities that are
set in a range of
familiar and
predictable
contexts; involve
routine issues
which are
identified and
assessed by
selecting from
and following a
number of set
rules, guidelines
or procedures
Eight-Level Qualification Descriptors
Level and
qualification type
Knowledge, skills
and values
Application
Degree of
Independence
3
Knowledge and
skills that are a
balance of
theoretical and/or
technical and
practical. Work
involves
understanding the
work process,
contributing to
problem solving,
and making
decisions to
determine process,
equipment, and
materials to be used
Applied in activities
that are set in a
context with some
unfamiliar or
unpredictable
aspects; involve
routine and nonroutine issues which
are identified and
addressed by
interpreting and/or
applying established
guidelines or
procedures with
some variations,
Application at this
level may involve
individual
responsibility or
autonomy, and/or
may involve some
responsibility for
others. Participation
in teams including
team or group
coordination may
be involved.
National Certificate
III
Eight-Level Qualification Descriptors
Level and
qualification type
Knowledge, skills
and values
Application
Degree of
Independence
4
Knowledge and
skills that are mainly
theoretical and/or
abstract with
significant depth in
one or more areas;
contributing to
technical solutions
of a non-routine or
contingency nature;
evaluation and
analysis of current
practices and
development of
new criteria and
procedures
Applied in activities
that are set in a
range of contexts,
most of which
involve a number of
unfamiliar and/or
unpredictable
aspects; involve
largely non-routine
issues which are
addressed using
guidelines or
procedures which
require
interpretation
and/or adaption.
Work involves some
leadership and
guidance when
organizing activities
of self and others.
National Certificate
IV
Eight-Level Qualification Descriptors
Level and
qualification
type
Knowledge, skills and
values
Application
Degree of
Independence
5
Knowledge and skills that
are mainly theoretical
and/or abstract with
significant depth in some
areas together with wideranging
Applied in activities
that are supervisory,
complex and nonroutine which require
an extensive
interpretation and/or
adaptation/innovation
In conditions where
there is broad
guidance and
direction, where
judgement is required
in planning and
selecting appropriate
equipment, services
and techniques for
self and others.
Undertake work
involving participation
in the development of
strategic initiatives, as
well as personal
responsibility
Diploma
Eight-Level Qualification Descriptors
Level and
qualification
type
Knowledge, skills and
values
Application
Degree of
Independence
5
Knowledge and skills that
are mainly theoretical
and/or abstract with
significant depth in some
areas together with wideranging
Applied in activities
that are supervisory,
complex and nonroutine which require
an extensive
interpretation and/or
adaptation/innovation
In conditions where
there is broad
guidance and
direction, where
judgement is required
in planning and
selecting appropriate
equipment, services
and techniques for
self and others.
Undertake work
involving participation
in the development of
strategic initiatives, as
well as personal
responsibility
Diploma
Eight-Level Qualification Descriptors
Level and
qualification
type
Knowledge, skills and
values
Application
Degree of
Independence
5
Knowledge and skills that are
mainly theoretical and/or
abstract with significant depth
in some areas together with
wide-ranging knowledge
applications across a broad
range of technical and/or
management requirements,
evaluation and coordination
Applied in activities that
are supervisory, complex
and non-routine which
require an extensive
interpretation and/or
adaptation/innovation
In conditions where
there is broad guidance
and direction, where
judgement is required in
planning and selecting
appropriate equipment,
services and techniques
for self and others.
Undertake work
involving participation in
the development of
strategic initiatives, as
well as personal
responsibility and
autonomy in performing
complex technical
operations or organizing
others
Diploma
Eight-Level Qualification Descriptors
Level and
qualification
type
Knowledge, skills and
values
Application
Degree of
Independence
6
Graduates at this level
have broad and coherent
knowledge and skills in
their field of study for
professional , creative work
and lifelong learning
Application in
professional/creative
work or research in a
specialized field of
discipline and/or for
further study
Independence and/or
in teams of related
field with minimal
supervision
Graduates at this level
have advanced knowledge
and skills in a specialized or
a multi-disciplinary field of
study for professional
practice, creative work,
self-directed research
and/or lifelong learning.
Applied in
professional /creative
work or research that
requires self-direction
and/or leadership in a
specialized or multidisciplinary
professional
work/research.
Independence that
involves exercise of
leadership and
initiative in individual
work or in teams of
multidisciplinary field.
Baccalaureate
Degree
7
Post
Baccalaureate
Degree
Eight-Level Qualification Descriptors
Level and
qualification
type
Knowledge, skills and
values
Application
Degree of
Independence
8
Graduates at this level
have highly advanced
systematic knowledge
and skills in a highly
specialized and/or
complex multidisciplinary field of
learning for complex
research, creative work
and/or professional
practice and leadership
for the advancement
of learning.
Applied for
professional
leadership for
innovation,
research and/or
leadership in a
specialized or
multi-disciplinary
field.
Independent
and/or in teams of
multi-disciplinary
field and more
complex setting
the demands
leadership for
creativity and
strategic value
added. Significant
level of expertisebased autonomy
and accountability
Degree and
Post-Doctoral
Programs
PQF Coordinating Committee
• Chairman:
– Department of Education (DepED) Secretary
(Minister of Education)
• Members:
– Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
– Technical Skills and Development Authority
(TESDA)
– Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
– Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
Other Imperatives from No 83 s 2012
• Participation of the Industry Sector- Industry
sector representatives shall be consulted and
tapped in detailing the application of PQF.
• Alignment of learning standards- DepED, TESDA
and CHED to make detailed descriptors of each
qualification level based on competency
standards of training regulations
• Review of licensure examinations- CHED and PRC
to review the framework and contents of
licensure examinations of each profession