DOLE: More than 9 thousand retakers of nursing exam passed

Monday, August 27, 2007
Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo D. Brion announced on Monday that 9,198 of those who took the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-initiated voluntary retake examination of Tests III and V of the June 2006 nursing examination hurdled the retake.

The number of passers represents 68.96% of the 13,338 who took the retake last June 11, 2007 which was held simultaneous with the regular nursing examination.

The list of passers can be accessed through the DOLE website at http://www.dole.gov.ph or at http://www.specialnursingreview.dole.gov.ph.

While more than 30% of those who took the retake failed in the exam, Brion clarified that they could still practice their profession as licensed nurses except in the US following the policy issued by the United States’ Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) limiting the issuance of VisaScreen Certificates only to Filipino 2006 nursing board passers who took and passed a re-take of the nursing licensure tests particularly Tests 3 and 5.

It can be recalled that to address the problem on the employability of the affected Filipino nurses in the United States, Brion took the initiative of offering the voluntary re-take of Test 3 and 5 of the June 2006 Nursing Exam in coordination with the Board of Nursing (BON).

During the exam retake last June, four lawyers hired by the CGFNS observed the conduct of the tests at testing centers in Manila, Baguio City, Cebu, and Davao.

Brion said that the retake exam is a one-time opportunity since it is merely an accommodation for those took the leakage-tainted June 2006 licensure exam.

“Those licensed retakers last June but failed cannot take another retake exam in December,” Brion said. “But let us not forget that this is just in compliance with the policy of the US. Those already licensed under the 2006 exam but failed to pass the retake can still practice their profession because they are already licensed nurses — but not in the US.”

There were 17,000 nursing graduates passed the June 2006 licensure exam. With almost 14,000 already took the retake, Brion said that the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) expects 3,000 more to take the retake exam in December.

Brion said that as in the June 2007 retake exam, there will be another round of special review classes by the nursing schools to start in October 2007.

“Enrollment in the review is free and registration will start in mid-September,” he said.

In the July 2007 retake exam, 11,172 examinees registered for the special review classes but only 8,284 actually attended the review classes. Some 2,066 retake examinees did not enrol for the special review classes at all.
Meanwhile, Brion said that the Office of the DOLE Secretary located at the 7th Floor, DOLE Building, Muralla corner General Luna Streets, Intramuros, Manila shall start issuing Certificates to successful examinees starting on September 3, 2007, from 9am – 12n and 1:30pm – 4:30pm, upon presentation of the examinee’s PRC License. The examinees are advised to strictly follow the schedules for the release of individual Certificates.
Those residing outside of Metro Manila who wish to claim their Certificates via the DOLE Regional Offices are advised to register with the Regional Office nearest their place of residence/work. The DOLE Central Office shall transmit (in batches) the Certificates within 3 days from receipt of notice from the Regional Office concerned.
In either instance, all proxy claimants / representatives are required to present an authorization letter and a photocopy of the examinee’s PRC License (original license must be presented).
The schedules are as follows:
September 3, 2007 AALA – ANGELES
September 4, 2007 ANGELO – BARCELON
September 5, 2007 BARCELONA – BUMIDANG
September 6, 2007 BUNAGAN – CASTILLO
September 7, 2007 CASTILLON – CUARTEROS
September 10, 2007 CUASAY – DIMAANO
September 11, 2007 DIMACALE – FABROS
September 12, 2007 FACTO – GIDOC
September 13, 2007 GIL – JIMENEZ
September 14, 2007 JIMERA – LLENA
September 17, 2007 LLENES – MARCELO
September 18, 2007 MARCIA – NAVARRIS
September 19, 2007 NAVARRO – PACHO
September 20, 2007 PANDAN – RACELIS
September 21, 2007 RACHO – SABLES
September 24, 2007 SABUD – SOMEJO
September 25, 2007 SOMOROSTRO – TOMAS
September 26, 2007 TOMBOC – VILLEGAS
September 27, 2007 VILLENA – ZUÑIGA

Source: Information and Publication Service