This document discusses the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) in the Philippines. ETEEAP recognizes knowledge and skills gained through non-formal and informal learning and allows individuals to earn college credits or degrees through competency-based assessments. Higher education institutions can administer assessments to determine equivalent credits. The document outlines the objectives, qualifications, procedures, roles of deputized higher education institutions, and CHED's powers in implementing the program.

1. An Evaluation of the Expanded
Tertiary Education Equivalency
and Accreditation Program
(ETEEAP)
Robert C. Venasquez
Michael S. Guese
Discussants

2. What is the ETEEAP?
The Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency
and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) is an
educational assessment scheme which recognizes
knowledge, skills, and prior learning obtained by
individuals from non-formal and informal education
experiences. By establishing equivalency
competence standards and a comprehensive
assessment system employing written test,
interview, skills demonstration and other creative
assessment methodologies, higher education
institutions may administer competency-based
evaluation.

3. A Panel of Assessors is convened to
determine the candidates’ knowledge,
skills and attitudes relevant to a
particular discipline, and a
consequently equivalent credit and
appropriate certificates and degrees
are awarded by administering higher
education institutions.

4. The mandate to implement the
program is embodied in Executive
Order 330 issued by President Fidel
V. Ramos on May 13, 1996 as an
offshoot of the recommendation of
the First Employment Summit in
September 1995.

5. Objectives:
The ETEEAP aims to achieve the
following objectives:
General:
To develop fully the system of
equivalency and accreditation in higher
education as a bridging mechanism for
the flexible entry and exchange among
the formal, non-formal and informal
systems.

6. Specific:
a. To established a mechanism for
assessment and accreditation of prior
formal, non-formal and informal learning
of individuals toward the granting of
certificates and awards in higher
education; and
b. To establish guidelines for the award
of higher education degrees to deserving
individuals.

7. General Qualifications of the
Candidates
The basic qualifications of the
candidate are the minimum criteria
for an applicant to qualify for
admission to the program. The
deputized HEIs have the prerogative
to add on to these their own
admission criteria.

8. 1. The candidate must possess a high
school diploma or the PEPT placement
equivalent to first year college.
The candidate must have graduated
from high school or obtained a PEPT
placement at first year college. This
ensures that competencies for basic
skills and functional knowledge must
have been obtained in preparation for
tertiary level education.

9. 2. The candidate must have been employed
for an aggregate of five (5) years in industry
related to the academic degree program or
discipline he is vying for.
The candidate must demonstrate
substantial experience in the field related to
the degree program. He must have
experiences in decision-making and
planning, some supervisory responsibilities,
and opportunity to function within an
organization.

10. 3. The candidate must be at least 25
years old. He/She must present a birth
certificate to support the claim.
The candidate must be mature and
responsible in order to succeed in the
rigorous process of assessment. He/She
must be able to cope with the discipline
required in the alternative learning
program should he/she opt to avail of
the competency enhancement scheme.

11. 4. The candidate must be proficient in a
branch of the discipline applied for. To
validate this, he must submit any of the
following evidences: 1) certificate of
proficiency issued by the government
regulatory body, 2) certificate of
proficiency issued by the employer(s), 3)
certificate of proficiency issued by a
licensed practitioner in the field (where
applicable), or 4) a business registration
certificate.

12. The candidate must show a
certification that he has achieved
a certain level of competence in
the discipline for which he/she
aspires a degree. Furthermore, the
HEIs shall authenticate the
documents before these are
accepted as valid certification of a
candidate’s proficiency.

13. The certificate of proficiency in some
fields can be obtained from the Technical
Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA). The Professional
Regulation Commission also gives
licensure examinations for certain
technician occupations. Presentation of
authentic certificates from any of these
two bodies shall be considered a
straightforward compliance of this
requirement.

14. 5. Ability of the candidate to submit
an accomplished ETEEAP Application
Form.
The ETEEAP Application Form is a
package of information intended to
assist the HEI faculty and staff to
determine whether the applicant is
eligible or not for the program.

15. 6. For Master’s Program:
a. Filipino, and a Bachelor’s
degree holder.
b. Has at least fifteen (15) years
work-related experience including
five years of junior managerial
experience; and
c. Must be at least thirty-five (35)
years old.

16. Procedure for Application and
Assessment of Learning
The procedures for application
and assessment of learning should
consist at a minimum, of the
following:

17. 1. The applicant secures the application form
from the CHED or from any deputized HEI, or
downloads the form from the CHED website
ched.gov.ph, submits the accomplished form,
along with the supporting evidences that
establish his/her qualifications for the program,
and pays appropriate application fees to be a
deputized higher education institution of his/her
choice.
2. The accepting HEI reviews the application,
interviews that applicant and informs him/her in
writing of the results of the review and interview.

18. 3. Upon approval of the application, the
deputized HEI requires the applicant
(candidate) to prepare and submit his/her
portfolio with the assistance of the
institution’s career counselor/adviser within
an agreed period of time. This portfolio
should include descriptions of prior
experiences in the context of learning
outcomes. The employer concerned should
certify all experiences cited by the candidate
as having been completed while in
employment.

19. 4. Upon receipt of the portfolio, the HEI convenes a
panel of assessors to conduct the evaluation. Tests or
other forms and instruments of assessments, e.g.,
interviews, actual demonstration of claimed
knowledge and skills, written examination, and others
that are appropriate to the candidate’s needs may be
used as needed.
5. After completing the evaluation, the panel of
assessors determines the amount of equivalent credit
that will be awarded to the candidate by matching the
demonstrated training of the candidate with the
learning outcomes and standards of the subject or
course for which the candidate seeks accreditation and
equivalency.

20. 6. A candidate assessed to be deficient in one
or more competency units will be required to
pursue further learning, with the assistance of
a career coordinator or adviser. In this case, a
learning contract that defines the learning
program is executed between the deputized
HEI and the candidate. Further, assessment is
conducted after the completion of the learning
program to determine the progress of the
candidate toward meeting the learning
outcomes and standards specified in the said
program; and

21. 7. After satisfying all the learning
outcomes and appropriate assessment
criteria for the course, and having
complied with the requirements
prescribed by CHED, and the
institution for completion of the
course, the candidate is awarded the
appropriate equivalency credit and/ or
degree or title.

22. List of Schools (Deputized HEIs) and
Degree Programs Offered via the ETEEAP
(As of December 2010) Source: CHED
CAR
 Baguio Central University (BCU)
 University of Baguio (UB)
 University of the Cordilleras

23. NCR
 Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU)
 De La Salle University (DLSU)
 De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
 Miriam College
 Philippine Normal University (PNU)
 Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)
 Saint Joseph’s College – Quezon City
 Technological University of the Philippines (TUP)
 University of Santo Tomas (UST)
 Philippine Women’s University (PWU)
 New Era University
 Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila

24. Region I
 Divine Word College of Laoag (DWCL)
 Lyceum Northwestern University
 Northwestern University
 Pangasinan State University (PSU)
 University of Luzon
 University of Northern Philippines (UNP)
 University of Pangasinan (UPang)
 Panpacific University North Philippines
Region II
 Cagayan Colleges Tuguegarao
 Cagayan State University (CSU)
 Isabela State University (ISU)
 PLT College
 University of Saint Louis-Tuguegarao
 Saint Ferdinand’s College
 Saint Mary’s University
 Saint Paul University – Philippines
 University of La Salette

25. Region III
Angeles University Foundation (AUF)
Central Luzon State University (CLSU)
Holy Angel University
Pamantasan ng Araullo
University of the Assumption
Pampanga Agricultural College
Region IV-A
 Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP)
 Cavite State University (CvSU)
 Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation (MSEUF)
 University of Batangas
 Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas
 Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc.

26. Region IV-B
 Palawan State University
 Holy Trinity University
Region V
Aquinas University
Ateneo de Naga University
Bicol College
Bicol University
Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (formerly
CSSAC)
Universidad de Sta. Isabel
Naga College Foundation
Sorsogon State College
University of Nueva Caceres
University of Saint Anthony

27. Region VI
 University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos
 John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University
 La Consolacion College – Bacolod City
 Philippine Normal University – Negros Occidental
 Saint Paul University – Iloilo
 Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas
 University of Iloilo
Region VII
Cebu Doctor’s University
Cebu Institute of Technology
Cebu Normal University
Silliman University
Southwestern University
University of Cebu
University of San Carlos
University of San Jose – Recoletos
University of the Visayas

28. Region VIII
Leyte Normal University
University of Eastern Philippines
Asian Development Foundation College
Region IX
Universidad de Zamboanga
Ateneo de Zamboanga University
Region X
Capitol University
Cagayan de Oro College
Mindanao University of Science and Technolology
(formerly MPSC)
Misamis Institute of Technology
MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
Xavier University

29. Region XI
University of Mindanao –Tagum
University of Southeastern Philippines
University of the Immaculate Conception
Ateneo de Davao University
Region XII
 Holy Trinity College of General Santos City
 Notre Dame of Marbel University
 Notre Dame University
 Ramon Magsaysay Memorial College
 University of Southern Mindanao
CARAGA
 Saint Joseph Institute of Technology

30. Qualification of the Higher
Education Institution Applying
for Deputation and Validity
Period of Authority

31. 1. The HEI is eligible to apply for deputation if any of
the following is met:
a. the HEI is a Center of Excellence or Center of
Development in the program/discipline to be offered
through the ETEEAP;
b. the HEI enjoys a valid autonomous or deregulated
status from the CHED;
c. its undergraduate program/discipline for offering
through the ETEEAP has at least a Level II accredited
status from any of the accrediting agencies
recognized by CHED; and/or
d. the HEI is in category A t/ A r under the CHED-
IQuAME.

32. 2. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions,
CHED may deputize HEIs/ specialized
academic program where there is no ETEEAP
deputized institution/ academic program.
3. The authority of the deputized HEI shall
be valid for a period of five (5) years.
4. After the lapse of three (3) years and the
institution has not implemented the ETEEAP,
the deputized HEI shall be notified in writing
of the withdrawal of its deputation.

33. Procedure for Deputation of
Higher Education Institution
Program

34. 1. The HEI interested to be deputized for a
specific degree program shall apply through the
CHED Regional Office with a letter of application
and commitment together with all document
requirements on institutional management
capability for the Program implementation.
2. A CHED Evaluation Team shall conduct an
evaluation visit to determine and validate the
readiness of the institution and its program for
deputation. Deputation shall be granted solely
upon approval by the Commission en banc.

35. Functions of the Deputized Higher
Education Institutions
The HEI that has been deputized
by CHED to implement ETEEAP shall
exercise full responsibility and
accountability for the quality of
ETEEAP implementation. It shall:

36. 1. develop and implement clear and explicit
institutional processes, policies and
procedures that insure the integrity and
quality of the accreditation and equivalency
program;
2. develop and establish in accord with
CHED the competency standards for the
degree program against which judgment on
accreditation and equivalency of non-formal
and informal learning will be made;

37. 3. assign and commit an office and
competent/trained staff including a focal person,
program assessors or examiners with their
respective roles and responsibilities clearly
defined to support the program in the following
areas, among others: career testing and
counseling, assessment, development of
alternative learning program for enhancing
competencies, others;
4. provide special training for staff involved in
accreditation and equivalency processes and
procedures;

38. 5. provide support services to applicants and
candidates including the provision of
competency enhancement for candidates who
fall short of the standards for the degree
sought;
6. establish a mechanism of ETEEAP
monitoring, review and evaluation;
7. conduct research on efficiency and
effectiveness of Program implementation;
8. award appropriate equivalency credit or
academic degree to successful candidates; and

39. 9. charge reasonable and applicable
fees for equivalency and accreditation
services.
10. submit to the CHEDRO and the
ETEEAP Secretariat all necessary
reports pertaining to the
implementation of the program.

40. The Powers and Functions of the
CHED
The CHED shall exercise the
powers and functions provided in
EO 330, including, but not limited
to:

41. 1. Granting authority to implement
the ETEEAP, subject to established
criteria, procedures and
documents to insure the integrity and
quality and successful
implementation of ETEEAP;

42. 2. Determine and approving the
degree programs to be opened for
ETEEAP;
3. Monitoring and evaluation of
deputized HEI; and
4. Cancelling and revoking of
authority of deputized HEIs.