MANILA – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has pledged to strengthen quality assurance for degree programs with licensure examinations in higher education institutions (HEIs) under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration.
On Wednesday, CHED and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) signed a joint circular aimed at enforcing stricter mechanisms requiring state universities and colleges (SUCs) to secure the Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) or similar CHED-recognized national, regional, or international quality assurance certifications.
“This administration is committed to making quality assurance in licensure programs a legacy,” said CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III. “Under the Marcos administration, all degree programs, especially those with licensure exams, will meet quality standards that no previous administration has ensured.”
The circular mandates that licensure programs in all HEIs must secure COPC or other recognized certifications. It aims to enforce stringent mechanisms for monitoring compliance among SUCs and local universities and colleges (LUCs).
“Securing a COPC is a basic requirement that some SUCs and LUCs have yet to comply with,” De Vera emphasized, adding that it includes the responsibility of ensuring qualified faculty, adequate equipment, and up-to-date curricula.
De Vera also highlighted that quality assurance goes beyond opening degree programs, emphasizing the need for monitoring, corrective actions, and even closing substandard programs.
PRC Chairperson Charito Zamora assured strict enforcement of the new measures, stating that programs without COPC will be considered non-compliant. “Our regional offices will firmly implement this,” she said.
De Vera further urged SUCs and LUCs to pursue higher quality assurance levels once they have met the minimum COPC compliance. All HEIs are required to secure COPC by September 2025.
This initiative marks a significant step toward ensuring quality licensure programs and enhancing the competency of graduates.
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