Why Computer Engineers Do Not Have a Board Exam in the Philippines

Update: Computer Engineers have Computer Engineering Certification Exams.

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Since the computer engineering curriculum has been released in 1990’s, there are have been speculations why there is no board exam the said course is up until today. As we all know, Computer engineering is a branch of engineering that integrates electronics engineering and computer science to develop computer hardware and/or software.

Read: Why Computer Engineers Don’t Have Board Exam in the Philippines

Search Queries & History

Philippine Institute of Computer Engineers INC (PHICES) was the first official organization of computer engineers but went inactive. However, in 2008, PHICES was renamed to Institute of Computer Engineers of the Philippines (ICpEP). Today, ICpEP continues to converge professionals for excellence.

Since the foundation of these 2 institutions, there is still no news regarding the board exam of computer engineering. Also, keyword searches on google about “computer engineering board exam 2019” are high. This means that many CpE graduates are looking for board exams.

Moreover, queries about “Why Computer engineers in the Philippines do not have board exams” are prevalent. Similarly, the keywords “Reasons why computer engineers in the Philippines do not have board exams.” Likewise, the 2011 thread about the use of the title ENGR for CpEs is still predominant.

In this post, we will tackle why the Computer Engineering course, still, does not have a board exam. But first, let us read the false understanding of some students.

MYTH

Read: Why Computer Engineers Don’t Have Board Exam in the Philippines

Computer Engineering Course is Technology Dependent.

It is true that technology nowadays is changing fast. And, that the technology yesterday is different from that is now and for the next generation. For example, computer software today can be obsolete due to viruses, so updates are installed. Similarly, former technology was replaced by new ones to avoid security breaches. Likewise, your thesis of 2004 is innovated and became more powerful due to upgrades and integrations of different devices. Furthermore, CPUs and other computer peripherals continue to develop.

However, as we can read and understand, “COMPUTER ENGINEERING” does not only revolve around computers, remember the word engineering. In that case, for me, the board exam should be composed of engineering mathematics like other engineering fields. On the other hand, in the computer fields, exams should be composed of computer architecture, microprocessors,s etc.

Also, bear in mind that we have a curriculum from CHED where the BOARD could get ideas and questionnaires. Computer Engineering is technology-dependent; however, its roots and origins are all the same and standardized.

Another example is a computer set-up, its peripherals are developing and always changing, but its build is the same. It has CPU, motherboard, ram, gpu, so on and so forth.

After 10 years of Computer Engineering practice, you will get license

During the release of ICPEP certification board approval, I have read this comment that CpE graduates with more than 10 years of experience in the industry will automatically get a license. My question is that, where will it come from? PRC? Please understand that PRC won’t give us a board exam because of the reason, computer engineering course is technology dependent.

What I do know as of this writing is the implementation of Grandfathers’ Clause. According to Wikipedia, “it is a provision in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations while a new rule will apply to all future cases. Those exempt from the new rule are said to have grandfather rights.”            

For example, if you are practicing computer engineering for a long time, the certification board will require documents that will serve as the basis of the issuance of your certification without undergoing a board examination.

Read: Why Computer Engineers Don’t Have Board Exam in the Philippines

FACT

Legal Basis

In the Philippines, before the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) grants us board exams, there must be an approved/signed LAW. Like any other engineering field with board exams, they have an existing law.

Before, a bill must be introduced to the lower and upper house (Congress/ House of Representatives and the Senate). Both houses will review the bill and impose amendments before transferring it to the Office of the President of the Philippines’ signature and approval.

Today, CPE Bill has been introduced during the 7^th General Assembly of ICpEP. Also, it is being modified by the ICpEP board members and governors.

Furthermore, during the Gen assembly, I have been talking to other professionals and surprised by what I have heard. A CPE Bill was ready since 2000s, but some engineering organizations were blocking its passage.

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Certification first

Today, Computer engineers have certification exams. Moreover, to be recognized as a computer engineering professional, the fastest way is to get certified. Visit this link to get certified by the Computer Engineering Certification Bard (CpECB).

To test the ability of our CpE graduates, the ICpEP, seeks the approval of the ICpEP Certification board from the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). This Certification board is overall in charge of giving exams to CpE graduates.

As mentioned earlier, Computer Engineering Board Exam is real. It is the substitute for the board exam governed by PRC. The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the said certification is being prepared and to be presented in 2020 during the 8^th General Assembly of ICpEP.

With that, if you passed this board exam, you are a certified computer engineer. You are now capable of performing and applying computer engineering principles. The board will issue certification and Identification Card and your name will be recorded in the database of ICpEP board passers.

If you are a CpE graduate but not a member of our organization, you are not qualified to take the board exam. Additionally, you must be a fully registered member of ICpEP. So, I encourage every CpE graduate to take part in this achievement of the board through membership.

Licensure Exam or Certification Exam

Licensure and Certification are co-existent. According to nremt.org, “certification is a non-governmental/private organization that grants recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that organization.” In this case, ICpEP is the private organization that governs the board exams for computer engineers.

On the other hand, licensure is the state’s grant of legal authority, pursuant to the state’s police powers, to practice a profession within a designated scope of practice. In the Philippines, PRC oversees the issuance of licenses to other professions.

Certification and licensure are both a board examination. But, the only difference is the governing body that handles and issues IDs. Yet, they are at par with each other. And, you might ask if you can use the Engr. title if you luckily passed the exam, read this.

Reasons why no board exam as of the moment.

1. CPE Bill is being crafted and formulated again.
2. CPE Bill was blocked before by some engineering organization.