Republic of the Philippines

Congress of the Philippines

Metro Manila

Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-fifth

day of July, nineteen hundred and ninety-four.

[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7920]

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MORE RESPONSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE REGULATION FOR THE
PRACTICE, LICENSING, AND REGISTRATION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS AND ELECTRICIANS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

ARTICLE I

TITLE AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

SECTION 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “New Electrical Engineering Law.”

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(a) “Practice of electrical engineering” a person is deemed to be in the practice of electrical engineering when
he renders or offers to render professional electrical engineering service in the form of:

(1) Consultation, investigation, valuation and management of services requiring electrical engineering
knowledge;

(2) Design and preparation of plans, specifications and estimates for electric power systems, power plants,
power distribution systems including power transformers, transmission lines and network protection,
switchgear, building wiring electrical machines, equipment and others;

(3) Supervision of erection, installation, testing and commissioning of power plants, substations, transmission
lines, industrial plants and others;

(4) Supervision of operation and maintenance of electrical equipment in power plants, industrial plants,
watercrafts, electric locomotives and others;

(5) Supervision of the manufacture and repair of electrical equipment including switchboards, transformers,
generators, motors, apparatus and others;

(6) Teaching of electrical engineering professional subjects; and

(7) Taking charge of the sale and distribution of electrical equipment and systems requiring engineering
calculations or applications of engineering data.

(b) “Electric supply equipment” is any equipment which produces, modifies, regulates, or controls the supply of
electric energy.

(c) “Electric plant” is an establishment or a system for the production and modification of electric energy.

(d) “Power plant design” refers to planning, specifying, coordinating layouting of electrical equipment in power
plants, substations and the like.

(e) “Substation” is any building, room or separate place which houses or encloses electric supply equipment
connected to transmission or distribution lines and the interior of which is accessible, as a rule, only to properly
qualified persons.
(f) “Electrical system design” refers to the choice of electrical systems, including planning and detailing of
requirements for protection, control, monitoring, coordination and interlocking of electrical systems among
others.

(g) “Voltage” is the highest effective potential difference between any two conductors of the circuit concerned
expressed in volts.

(h) “Kva” refers to the installed capacity of an alternating current (A.C.) electric plant or supply equipment, or
the connected load of industrial plants, commercial establishments, institutional buildings expressed in kilovolt-
amperes.

(i) “Kw” refers to the installed capacity of a direct current (D.C) electric plant on board watercraft expressed in
kilowatts.

(j) “Utilization equipment” refers to energy-consuming equipment including motors, heaters, furnaces, light
sources and other devices which utilize electric energy, for any purpose.

(k) “Industrial plant or factory” refers to manufacturing assembly plants, including engineering shops, shipyards
or other business endeavors where electrical machinery and equipment are installed.

(l) “Commercial establishments” are department stores, supermarkets, shopping malls, office buildings, hotels,
theaters, stadiums, condominiums, convention centers, restaurant and the like, used for business or profit.

(m) “Institutional buildings” are school buildings, hospitals, museums, display centers, government buildings
and the like.

(n) “Watercraft” is any waterborne unit which is designed and built to have an electric plant.

(o) “Electric locomotive” refers to the power plant mounted on wheels as used in the railroad transportation
industry.

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

SEC. 3. Composition of the Board. – The Board of Electrical Engineering, hereinafter referred to as the Board,
shall be created as a collegial body under the general supervision and administrative control of the Professional
Regulations Commission, hereinafter called as the Commission, composed of a chairman and two (2) members
to be appointed by the President of the Philippines from among the recommendees of the Commissioner of the
Professional Regulations Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commissioner, who were chosen from the
nominees of the integrated and accredited association of electrical engineers and of other registered associations
of electrical engineers and allied fields.

SEC. 4. Powers and Duties of the Board. – The Board shall exercise executive/administrative or quasi-
legislative (rule-making) or quasi-judicial (investigative) powers in carrying out the provisions of this Act. It
shall be vested with the following specific powers, functions, duties and responsibilities:

(a) Supervise and regulate the practice of electrical engineering in the Philippines;

(b) Determine and evaluate the qualifications of the applicants for registration with or without licensure
examinations and for special permits;

(c) Prepare the examination questions in accordance with Section 19 hereof or modifications thereof; prescribe
the syllabi of the subjects and their relative weights for the licensure examinations; formulate or adopt test
questions and deposit them in a test question bank; draw the test questions at random through process of
computerization; conduct the examination; correct and rate the examination papers manually or through process
of computerization; and submit the examination results to the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC)
within the period provided for by the rules of the Commission;

(d) Prescribe, amend or revise the requirements for professional electrical engineers and subjects in the
licensure examination for registered electrical engineers and registered master electricians and their relative
weights, subject to the approval of the Commission;
(e) Register successful applicants for professional electrical engineers and applicants who have passed the
licensure examinations for registered electrical engineers or registered master electricians and issue the
corresponding certificates of registration and professional licenses;

(f) Issue special permits to individual foreign electrical engineers and electricians for specific projects and for a
specific duration of time;

(g) Look into the conditions affecting the practice of the electrical engineering profession, adopt measures for
the enhancement of the profession and the maintenance of high professional, technical, and ethical standards
and conduct ocular inspection of places where registrants practice their profession, such as, but not limited to:
electric plants, substations, industrial plants or factories, commercial establishments, institutional buildings,
watercrafts, electric locomotives, engineering offices, repair shops and similar places to determine and enforce
compliance with this Act. The Board shall authorize the duly integrated and accredited electrical engineering
association and other registered electrical engineering associations to render assistance in this function;

(h) Promulgate rules and regulations including a code of ethics, administrative policies, orders and issuances to
carry out the provisions of this Act;

(i) Investigate violations of the Act and the rules and regulations, code of ethics, administrative policies, orders
and issuances promulgated by the Board. The rules on administrative investigation promulgated by the
Commission shall govern in such investigation;

(j) Issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, to secure the attendance of respondents or witnesses or the
production of documents at and relative to the investigation conducted by the Board;

(k) Delegate the investigation of the case to the chairman, a member of the Board or a Professional Regulations
Commission attorney (PRC attorney). If the case concerns strictly the practice of the profession, the
investigation shall be presided by the chairman or a member of the Board with the assistance of a PRC attorney;

(l) Render decision, order or resolution on preliminary investigation or inquiry, on undocketed cases and on
docketed administrative cases against examinees or registrants which shall become final and executory unless
appealed with the Commission within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the copy thereof. The decision of the
Commission may be appealed to the Court of Appeals in accordance with the procedure provided in the Rules
of Court;

(m) After due notice and hearing, cancel examination papers and/or bar any examinee from future examination;
refuse or defer his registration; reprimand the registrant with stern warning; suspend him from the practice of
his profession; revoke his certificate of registration; delist his name from the roll of professional electrical
engineers, registered electrical engineers, and registered master electricians for continuous non-payment of
annual registration fees and non-compliance with the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements;
reinstate or reenroll his name in the said roll, reissue or return his certificate of registration. A decision of
suspension, revocation of the certificate of registration, or delisting from the roll by the Board as provided
herein, may be appealed initially to the Commission within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof. The decision
of the Commission may be appealed to the Court of Appeals in accordance with the procedure provided in the
Rules of Court.

(n) Administer oaths in connection with the administration, implementation, or enforcement of this Act;

(o) Submit an annual report on the proceedings and accomplishments during the year and on recommendations
of the Board to the Commission after the close of each fiscal year;

(p) Prosecute or institute criminal action against any violator of the Act and/or the rules and regulations of the
Board;

(q) Adopt an official seal;

(r) coordinate with the Commission and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) in
prescribing, amending and/or revising the courses;

(s) Prescribe guidelines and criteria on the CPE program for professional electrical engineers, registered
electrical engineers and registered master electricians and renew their professional licenses after compliance
with the CPE requirements;
(t) Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to implement effectively this Act. The policies,
resolutions, rules and regulations, orders or decisions issued or promulgated by the Board shall be subject to the
review and approval by the commission; however, the Board’s decisions, resolution or orders which are not
interlocutory, rendered in an administrative case, shall be subject to review only if on appeal.

SEC. 5. Qualifications of Board Members. – Each Board member must, at the time of his appointment:

(a) Be a natural born Filipino citizen and a resident of the Philippines for at least five (5) consecutive years;

(b) Be at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of proven integrity with high moral values in his personal as well as
his professional conduct;

(c) Be a person with no final conviction by the court of an offense involving moral turpitude;

(d) Be a holder of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from a university, school,
college, academy or institute duly constituted, recognized and accredited by the Philippine government;

(e) Be a professional electrical engineer with a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license
duly qualified to practice electrical engineering in the Philippines;

(f) Have practiced electrical engineering for a period of not less than ten (10) years prior to his appointment,
with a sworn statement as such; and

(g) Not be an official nor a member of the faculty of, nor have a pecuniary interest in, any university, college,
school or institution conferring a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering for at least three (3) years prior to
his appointment, and is not connected with a review center or with any group or association where review
classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure examinations are offered or conducted at the time of his
appointment.

SEC. 6. Term of Office. – The members of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years from the
date of appointment or until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. They may, however, be
reappointed for a second term. Each member shall qualify by taking an oath of office before entering upon the
performance of his duties.

Vacancies in the Board shall be filled by the President from the list of recommendees by the Commissioner who
were chosen from the list of nominees submitted by the integrated and accredited association for the unexpired
term only.

SEC. 7. Removal of Board Members. – Any member of the Board may be removed by the President of the
Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner for neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice,
commission or tolerance of irregularities in the examinations, or for unprofessional, unethical, or dishonorable
conduct, after having been given the opportunity to defend himself in a proper administrative investigation.

SEC. 8. Compensation of Chairman and the Board Members. – The chairman and members of the Board shall
receive a monthly compensation of no less than twelve thousand pesos (P12,000.00): Provided, That the
chairman shall receive a monthly compensation of ten percent (10%) more: Provided, further, That such
compensation shall be increased or modified pursuant to the General Appropriations Act of the year: Provided,
furthermore, That they shall receive other benefits that may be provided for by law.

SEC. 9. Executive Officer of the Board. – The Commissioner shall be the executive officer of the Board and
shall conduct the examination given by the Board and shall designate any subordinate officer of the
Commission to act as secretary and custodian of all records including all examination papers and minutes of the
deliberations of the Board.

ARTICLE III

EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

SEC. 10. Examination Required. – All applicants for registration for the practice of electrical engineering in
the Philippines shall be required to pass a technical examination as hereafter provided except as otherwise
specifically allowed under this Act.
SEC. 11. Registration and License Required. – A valid certificate of registration and a valid professional
license from the Commission are required before any person is allowed to practice electrical engineering in the
Philippines except as otherwise allowed under this Act.

SEC. 12. Examination Fees. – All applicants for oral examinations for professional electrical engineer and
written examinations for registered electrical engineer and registered master electrician shall be subject to
payment of fees prescribed by the Commission: Provided, That ninety percent (90%) of the fees is to be treated
as a special fund for the programs, projects and activities of the Commission and the remaining ten percent
(10%) shall be set aside as a trust fund for the establishment and maintenance of the center for continuing
education and research.

SEC. 13. Registration Fees, License Fees and Fines. – All applicants for registration and license to practice as
professional electrical engineer, and registered master electrician, shall be subject to the payment of registration
fees, license fees, and fines in case of violation of the pertinent rules and regulations for the amounts prescribed
by the Board and approved by the Commission: Provided, That fifty percent (50%) from these collections are to
be treated as a special fund for programs, projects and activities of the commission and the other fifty percent
(50%) shall be set up in a separate special fund for the supervisory and regulatory functions of the Board.

SEC. 14. Exemption from Examination and Registration. – (a) Examination and registration shall not be
required of foreign electrical engineers, erection/commissioning/guarantee engineers employed as technical
consultants by the Philippine government or by private firms, for which the pertinent professional society
certifies that no qualified Filipino professional is available, or of foreign electrical installers for the erection and
installation of a special project or for any other specialized work, subject to the following conditions:

(i) That the abovementioned foreign professionals are legally qualified to practice their profession in their own
country in which the requirements and qualifications for obtaining a license or certificate of registration are not
lower than those specified in this Act;

(ii) That the scope of work to be performed by said foreign professionals shall be limited only to the particular
work for which they were contracted;

(iii) That prior to commencing work, the foreign professional shall secure a special permit from the
Commission;

(iv) That said foreign professional shall not engage in private practice on their own account;

(v) That for every foreign professional contracted pursuant to this section, one Filipino understudy who is
registered under the provisions of this Act shall be employed by the private firm utilizing the services of such
foreign professional for at least the duration of the alien expert’s tenure with said firm; and

(vi) That the exemption herein granted shall be good only for six(6) months, renewable for another six (6)
months at the discretion of the Board: Provided, That in case the foreign professional ceases to be employed in
accordance with this section and engages in an occupation requiring registration as electrical engineer such
professional must be registered under the provisions of this Act.

(b) No registration with the Board shall be required of the following:

(i) Engineering students, apprentices and other persons employed or acting as subordinates of, or undergoing
training under a person holding a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license under this Act;

(ii) Persons in charge of or supervising the operation, tending and maintenance of an electric generating set for
private use employing voltages not exceeding two hundred fifty volts (250 V) and capacity not exceeding fifty
kilovolt amperes (50 kva): Provided, that the owner or operator shall be required to have the electric generating
set periodically inspected at intervals of not more than one (1) year by a professional electrical engineer, a
registered electrical engineer on a national, city, provincial or municipal government authority exercising legal
jurisdiction over electrical installations.

SEC. 15. Holding of Examinations. – Examinations for the practice of electrical engineering in the Philippines
should be given twice a year in the City of Manila and other places on dates that the Board may recommend for
determination of scheduling. The Board shall schedule interview/oral examination of every applicant for
registration as professional electrical engineer only at the office of the Commission.
To qualified applicants for examination, notice of admission shall be issued not later than ten (10) days prior to
the first day of examination.

SEC. 16. Qualifications of Applicant for Registration as Professional Electrical Engineer. – Any person
applying for registration as professional electrical engineer shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board that on
or before the date of registration, he possesses the following qualifications:

(a) He is a citizen of the Philippines;

(b) He is of good reputation with high moral values;

(c) He has not been finally convicted by the court of an offense involving moral turpitude;

(d) He is a holder of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electric Engineering (BSEE) from a university,
school, college, academy or institute duly constituted, recognized and accredited by the Philippine government;
and

(e) He is a registered electrical engineer with valid certificate of registration and professional license and with
four (4) years or more of active practice reckoned from the date of his registration as a registered electrical
engineer.

SEC. 17. Qualifications of Applicants for Registered Electrical Engineer Examination. – Any person
applying for admission to the registered electrical engineering examination, as herein provided, shall establish
to the satisfaction of the Board that, on or before the date of the examination, he possesses the following
qualifications:

(a) He is a citizen of the Philippines;

(b) He is at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

(c) He is of good reputation with high moral values;

(d) He has not been finally convicted by the court of an offense involving moral turpitude; and

(e) He is a holder of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from a university,
school, college, academy or institute duly constituted, recognized and accredited by the Philippine government.

SEC. 18. Qualifications of Applicants for Registered Master Electrician Examination. – Any person applying
for admission to the registered master electrician examinations, as herein provided, shall establish to the
satisfaction of the Board that, on or before the date of the examination, he possesses the following
qualifications:

(a) He is a citizen of the Philippines;

(b) He is at least eighteen (18) years of age;

(c) He is of good reputation with high moral values;

(d) He has not been finally convicted by the court of an offense involving moral turpitude; and

(e) He has any of the following technical backgrounds:

(1) Has completed at least three (3) years of a five-year Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE)
program or a three-year course in electrical engineering technology from an engineering school recognized by
the Philippine government and, in addition, has a subsequent specific record of one (1) year practice in
electrical wiring and installation, operation and maintenance of utilization devices and equipment; or

(2) Has graduated from a two-year electrician’s course of instruction from a vocational or trade school
recognized by the Philippine government and, in addition, has at least two (2) years of apprenticeship after
completion of the course of instruction on electrical installation, operation and maintenance of utilization
devices and equipment; or
(3) Has completed a one-year electrician’s course of instruction from a vocational school recognized by the
Philippine government and, in addition, has at least three (3) years of apprenticeship after completion of the
course of instruction on electrical installation, operation and maintenance of utilization devices and equipment;
or

(4) Has completed a four-year high school education or its equivalent and, in addition, has subsequent specific
record of at least five (5) years of apprenticeship in electric wiring, installation, operation and maintenance of
utilization devices and equipment.

SEC. 19. Scope of Examination. – As a prerequisite for registration as professional electrical engineer,
registered electrical engineer and registered master electrician, the applicant shall comply with the following
requirements:

(a) Professional electrical engineer:

For the purpose of confirming the service record and clarifying the technical report submitted by the applicant
for registration as a professional electrical engineer, an oral examination or interview shall be conducted on the
following documents to be submitted to the Board:

(1) Certified experience record from the date applicant took oath as a registered electrical engineer indicating
the inclusive dates, companies worked for, description of specific responsibilities, significant accomplishments
as well as the name and position of immediate supervisors;

(2) Technical paper covering an evaluation, an analysis, a study or a critical discussion of an electrical
engineering project or subject, on one or several technical aspects such as: design, construction, installation,
commissioning, testing, operation, maintenance, repair, research and the like. The technical paper shall be
supported by engineering principles and data. Published or unpublished scientific paper or treatise on electrical
engineering theories and applications may be considered as complying with the requirement;

(3) Three (3) certifications signed by three (3) professional electrical engineers to the effect that the experience
record submitted by the applicant is factual and that the technical paper submitted was actually prepared by the
applicant.

The applicant must obtain passing marks on the experience record and on the technical report in order to qualify
for registration as a professional electrical engineer.

(b) Registered electrical engineer:

The applicant shall pass a written examination on different subjects or group of subjects as follows:

(1) Mathematics, such as: algebra, trigonometry, analytic geometry, differential calculus, integral calculus,
differential equations, complex numbers, probability and statistics, advanced engineering mathematics
including matrices, power series, Fourier analysis, Laplace transforms, and others. The weight is twenty-five
percent (25%).

(2) Engineering sciences and allied subjects, such as general chemistry, college physics, computer fundamentals
and programming, engineering materials, engineering mechanics, fluid mechanics, strength of materials,
thermodynamics, electrical engineering law, engineering economics, engineering management, contracts and
specifications, code of professional ethics, Philippine Electrical Code, Parts 1 and 2 and others. The weight is
thirty percent (30%).

(3) Electrical engineering professional subjects, such as: electrical circuits, electronic theory and circuits energy
conversion, power transmission and distribution, instrumentation and measurement, circuit and line protection,
control systems, principles of communication, electrical machines, electrical equipment, components and
devices, electric systems, power plant, electronic power equipment, illumination, building wiring and others.
The weight is forty-five percent (45%).

The passing general weighted average rating shall be seventy percent (70%) with no grade below fifty percent
(50%) in any group of subjects listed above.
The examination questions on the foregoing subjects shall cover only basic theories and principles, and shall
exclude questions based on experience and trade practices. The number of questions shall be such that the
examination can be finished in three (3) consecutive eight-hour days.

(c) Registered master electrician:

The applicant shall pass a written examination on the different subjects or group of subjects as follows:

(1) Technical subjects:

– Ohm’s Law: Calculations for resistance, current, voltage and power for direct current and alternating current
circuits.

– Electrical machines: Description and operating principles of motors, generators and transformers.

– Control equipment: Description and function of fuses, overload relays, safety switches, magnetic switches,
circuit breakers, star-delta motor starters, transformer-type motor starters, D.C. motor starters.

– Electrical components: Description of resistors, capacitors, inductors and semi-conductors.

– Maintenance and repair: Description of the procedures in the maintenance of electrical machinery.

– Test equipment: Types and uses of measuring instruments.

– Electrical engineering law provisions pertaining to registered master electrician.

– Other related subjects as may be prescribed by the Board.

(2) Philippine Electrical Code, Parts 1 and 2:

– General requirements for installation of electric wiring and equipment.

– Approved wiring methods.

– Types of wiring materials and wiring devices.

– Installation of switchboard and panel boards.

– Installation in hazardous locations.

– Wiring diagrams of different types of motor starters with motor protection.

– Drawing symbols and wiring plants.

– Other related subjects as may be prescribed by the Board.

The number of test questions shall be such that the examinations can be finished in one (1) eight-hour day.

The relative weights shall be fifty percent (50%) for technical subjects and fifty percent (50%) for Philippine
Electrical Code.

The passing general average rating shall be seventy percent (70%) with no grade below fifty percent (50%) in
any subject.

SEC. 20. Report of Ratings. – The Board of Electrical Engineering shall, within one hundred fifty (150) days
after the date of completion of the examinations, report the ratings obtained by each candidate to the
Commission.

SEC. 21. Reexamination of Failed Subjects. – An applicant shall be allowed to retake, any number of times,
only the subject/s in which he has obtained a grade below fifty percent (50%). When he shall obtained an
average grade of seventy percent (70%) in the subject/s repeated, he shall be considered to have passed his
licensure examination.
SEC. 22. Oath. – All successful candidates in the examination shall be required to take a professional oath
before the Board or any government official authorized to administer oaths prior to entering upon the practice of
professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer, and registered master electrician.

SEC. 23. Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional Licenses. – The registration of professional
electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer or registered master electrician commences from the date his
name is entered in the roll of registrants or licensees for his profession. Every registrant who has satisfactorily
met all the requirements specified in this Act, upon payment of the registration fee, shall be issued a certificate
of registration as a professional electrical engineer, a registered electrical engineer or a registered master
electrician that shows the full name of the registrant and with serial number, signed by the Commissioner and
by the chairman and members of the Board, stamped with the official seal, as evidence that the person named
therein is entitled to practice the profession with all rights and privileges appurtenant thereto. The certificate
shall remain in full force and effect until withdrawn, suspended, or revoked in accordance with law.

A professional license signed by the commissioner and bearing the registration number and date of issuance
thereof and bearing the registration number and date of issuance thereof and the month of expiry or renewability
shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the annual registration fees for three (3) consecutive
years and has complied with the requirements of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE), unless
exempted therefrom. This license will serve as evidence that the licensee can lawfully practice his profession
until the expiration of its validity.

SEC. 24. Continuing Professional Education Program. – The CPE guidelines shall be prescribed and
promulgated by the Board subject to the approval of the Commission, after consultation with the integrated and
accredited electrical engineering associations, other associations of the electrical engineering profession, and
other concerned sectors. The Board shall incorporate in the said guidelines the creation of a CPE council that
shall be composed of officers coming from the Board, the Commission, the integrated and accredited electrical
associations, and other concerned sectors. It shall be vested with the functions, duties and responsibilities to
implement the guidelines and shall have the juridical personality that is distinct and separate from and
independent of the Board, the Commission, the integrated and accredited electrical engineering association, and
other associations of the electrical engineering profession.

SEC. 25. Integration of the Electrical Engineering Professions. – The electrical engineering professions shall
be integrated into one national organization which shall be recognized by the Board as the one and only
integrated and accredited association of professional electrical engineers, registered electrical engineers and
registered master electricians. Every professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer and
registered master electrician upon registration with the Board as such, shall ipso facto, become a member of the
integrated national organization. Those who have been registered with the Board but are not members of the
said organization at the time of the effectivity of this Act, shall be allowed to register as members of the said
integrated organization within three (3) years after the effectivity of this Act. Membership in the integrated
organization shall not be a bar to membership in the other associations of the electrical engineering profession.

The professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer, and registered master electrician shall
receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant to this listed membership in the duty integrated and accredited
electrical engineering association only upon payment of the required membership fees and dues.

SEC. 26. Seal of Professional Electrical Engineer. – All licensed professional electrical engineers may obtain
a seal of a design prescribed by the Board bearing the registrant’s name, the certificate number and the legend
“Professional Electrical Engineer.” Plans, specifications, reports and other professional documents prepared by
or executed under the immediate supervision of and issued by a licensee, shall be stamped on every sheet with
said seal when filed with government authorities or when submitted or used professionally: Provided, however,
That it is unlawful for anyone to stamp or seal any document with said seal after the registrant’s name has been
delisted from the roster of professional electrical engineers or after the validity of his professional license has
expired.

The registrant shall be allowed again to use his seal or stamp in the documents he prepares, signs or issues only
after he is reinstated to the practice of his profession and reissued a new professional license.

SEC. 27. Indication of Registration/Professional License Number. – The professional electrical engineer,
registered electrical engineer, or registered master electrician shall be required to indicate his
registration/professional license number, the date registered, and the date of its expiry in the documents he
signs, uses or issues in connection with the practice of his profession.
SEC. 28. Refusal to Issue Certificates. – The Board of electrical engineering shall not issue a certificate of
registration to any person convicted by the court of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude or to any
person guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct or to any person of unsound mind. In the event of refusal to
issue certificates for any reason, the Board shall give the applicant a written statement setting forth the reasons
for such action, which statement shall be incorporated in the records of the Board.

After no less than a year from the finality of the Board’s decision, the Board, out of equity and justice, may
recommend to the Commission the issuance of the certificate of registration to the applicant.

SEC. 29. Revocation of Certificates of Registration and Suspension from the Practice of the Profession. –
The Board shall have the power, upon proper notice and hearing, to revoke any certificate of registration of any
registrant, to suspend him from the practice of his profession or to reprimand him for any cause specified in the
preceding section, or for the use of, perpetration of any fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate of registration,
or for gross negligence or incompetence or for unprofessional or dishonorable conduct; for violation of this Act,
the rules and regulations and other policies of the Board and the Code of Professional Ethics.

It shall be sufficient ground for the revocation of a certificate issued to a person under this Act, and his
suspension from the practice of his profession for unprofessional or dishonorable conduct, if:

(a) Being a professional electrical engineer, he has signed and affixed his seal on any plan, design, technical
reports, valuation, estimate, specification or other similar document or work not prepared by him or not
executed under his immediate supervision;

(b) He has represented himself as having taken charge of or supervised: any electrical construction or
installation; operation, tending and maintenance of any electric plant; manufacture or repair of electrical
equipment, teaching of electrical engineering subjects; sale or distribution of any electric supply or utilization
equipment requiring engineering calculations or application of engineering principles and data, without actually
having done so.

The decision of the board shall be final and executory unless it is appealed by the respondent to the Commission
within fifteen (15) days from the receipt of such decision. The Board’s or Commission’s decision is appealable
by the respondent to the Court of Appeals in accordance with the procedure provided under the Rules of Court.

Any person, firm, association or corporation may file charges in accordance with the provisions of this section
against any licensee, or the Board may, on its own initiative (motu propio) investigate and/or take cognizance of
acts and practices constituting cause for suspension or revocation of the certificate of registration by proper
resolution or order, such charges shall be in writing and shall be sworn to by the person making them and shall
be filed with the Board.

The rules and regulations of the Commission on administrative investigation shall govern the procedure and
conduct of administrative investigation before the Board.

The respondent shall have the right to a speedy and public hearing and to confront and cross-examine witnesses
against him.

SEC. 30. Re-issuance of Revoked Certificates and Replacement of Lost Certificates. – Subject to the approval
of the Commission, the Board may, after the expiration of one (1) year from the date of revocation of a
certificate, for reasons it may deem sufficient, entertain an application for a new certificate in the same manner
as application for an original one. It may exempt the applicant from the necessity of undergoing an examination.

A new certificate of registration to replace any certificate that has been lost, destroyed or mutilated may be
issued, subject to the rules of the Board.

ARTICLE IV

SUNDRY PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE

OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

SEC. 31. Field of Practice. – The field of practice for professional electrical engineers, registered electrical
engineers, and registered master electricians shall be as follows:
(a) A professional electrical engineer’s field of practice includes the sole authority to seal electrical plans, etc.,
and to practice electrical engineering in its full scope as defined in this Act;

(b) A registered electrical engineer’s field of practice includes charge or supervision of operation and
maintenance of electrical equipment in power plants, industrial plants, watercraft, electric locomotive, and
others; manufacture and repair of electrical supply and utilization equipment including switchboards, power
transformers, generators, motors, apparatus, and others; teaching of electrical subjects; and sale and distribution
of electrical equipment and systems requiring engineering circulations or application of engineering data; and

(c) A registered master electrician’s field of practice includes the installation, wiring, operation, maintenance
and repair of electrical machinery, equipment and devices, in residential, commercial, institutional, commercial
and industrial buildings, in power plants, substations, watercrafts, electric locomotives, and the like: Provided,
That if the installation or the machinery is rated in excess of five hundred kilovolt-amperes (500 Kva), or in
excess of six hundred volts (600 V) the work shall be under the supervision of a professional electrical engineer
or a registered electrical engineer.

SEC. 32. Prohibition in the Practice of Electrical Engineering. – No person shall:

(a) Practice or offer to practice electrical engineering in the Philippines without having previously obtained a
certificate of registration and a professional license from the Board of Electrical Engineering except as provided
for in Section 14 hereof;

(b) Use, or attempt to use as his own, certificate of registration, professional license or the seal of another;

(c) Give false or forged evidence of any kind to the Board or to any member thereof in obtaining a certificate of
registration or professional license;

(d) Falsely impersonate any registrant of like or different name;

(e) Attempt to use a revoked or suspended certificate of registration or an expired professional license;

(f) Use, in connection with his name or otherwise assume, use or advertise any title or description tending to
convey the impression that he is a professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer, or registered
master electrician without holding a valid certificate or a valid license; and

(g) Sign a document involving electrical design, plan, technical specification, valuation and the like on behalf of
a professional electrical engineer.

SEC. 33. Personnel Required. – Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every electric plant, industrial plant
or factory, commercial establishment, institutional building, watercraft, electric locomotive or in any other
installation where persons and properties are exposed to electrical hazards shall not have less than the following
complement of professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer, and registered electrical engineer,
and registered master electricians:

(a) Electric plants with total installed generating capacity of any size and employing voltages of any standard
rating – one (1) professional electrical engineer or one (1) registered electrical engineer. However, for capacities
up to five hundred-kilovolt amperes (500 Kva) and employing voltages of up to six hundred volts (600 V) – one
(1) registered master electrician;

(b) Industrial plants or factories, commercial establishments, or institutional buildings having a connected Kva
load of any size and employing voltages of any standard rating – one (1) professional electrical engineer or one
(1) registered electrical engineer. However, for connected loads up to five hundred kilovolt-amperes (500 Kva)
and employing voltages up to six hundred volts (600 V) – one (1) registered master electrician;

(c) Watercrafts or electric locomotives with installed generating capacity up to the maximum size and voltage
available for these units – one (1) professional electrical engineer or one (1) registered electrical engineer.
However, for generating capacities up to five hundred kilovolt-amperes/kilowatt (500 Kva/Kw) and employing
voltages up to six hundred volts (600 V) – one (1) registered master electrician.

Provided, however, That in all the aforementioned cases, additional qualified personnel shall be employed to
ensure safe operation and safeguard public welfare, life and property: Provided, further, That when the
operation requires more than one shift of personnel every twenty-four (24) hours, the minimum complement of
qualified personnel shall be employed in each shift.

This section, however, shall not apply to any installation which has a connected load of fifty kilovolt-amperes
(50 Kva) or less and employs voltages of not more than two hundred fifty volts (250 v) and for installations
which are designed to be automatic and do not require resident personnel for their safe
operation: Provided, however, That their maintenance and repair shall be under the charge of a duly registered
personnel: Provided, further, That a yearly inspection will be conducted and certified to be in a safe operating
condition by a professional electrical engineer, a registered electrical engineer, or a registered master
electrician.

SEC. 34. Preparation of Plans, Supervision of Installation, Application of the Philippine Electrical Code. – It
shall be unlawful for any person not authorized under this Act to prepare plans, electrical valuations or
specifications for any electrical wiring, equipment or system; and no installation thereof shall be undertaken
unless the plans, designs, valuations and specifications have been prepared by or under the responsible charge
of, and signed and sealed by a professional electrical engineer; and a construction permit for the execution
thereof is first secured; and unless the work is done in accordance with the Philippine Electrical Code and is
executed under the responsible charge or supervision of a professional electrical engineer, a registered electrical
engineer, or a registered master electrician, as the case may be, and the routinary fiscal and ministerial
requirements of the government agency, if any, exercising jurisdiction over the particular installation have been
complied with.

SEC. 35. Practice Not Allowed for Firms and Corporations. – The practice of electrical engineering is a
professional service admission to which is based on individual and personal qualifications. Hence, no firm or
corporations may be registered or licensed as such for the practice of electrical engineering.

However, persons properly qualified and licensed as professional electrical engineers may, among themselves,
form a partnership or association and collectively render electrical engineering service. Individual members of
such partnerships or associations shall be responsible for their own respective acts.

SEC. 36. Posting of Certificates. – The owner, manager or the person in charge of an electric plant, industrial
plant or factory, commercial establishment, institutional building, watercraft, or electric locomotive shall post or
cause to be posted in a conspicuous place within such plant or establishment the certificate of registration of the
engineers or electricians employed in such plant or establishment, in a frame protected by transparent glass or
equivalent.

SEC. 37. Certificate of Specialty. – Certificates of specialty shall be issued by the Board, subject to the
approval of the Commission, to professional electrical engineers who have been screened and recommended by
the integrated and accredited electrical engineering association. These are for specific fields in which the
applicants have specialized knowledge, training and experience and have demonstrated their competence and
expertise. The Board shall, subject to the approval of the Commission, and after consultation with the said
association, prescribe and issue the necessary guidelines for the issuance of these certificates.

SEC. 38. Foreign Reciprocity. – No foreign engineer shall be admitted to take a board examination, be given a
certificate of registration, or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges under this Act unless the country of
which he is a subject or citizen specifically permits Filipino engineers to practice within its territorial limits on
the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such country.

SEC. 39. Enforcement of the Act by Officers of the Law. – It shall be the duty of all constituted officers of the
law of the national government, or any provincial, city or municipal government or of any political subdivision
thereof to prosecute any person violating the provisions of this Act. The Secretary of Justice or his assistant
shall act as legal adviser of the Board and render such legal assistance as may be necessary in carrying out the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 40. Penalty Clause. – Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of
misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos
(P10,000.00) nor more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or imprisonment for a period not less than six (6)
months nor more than five (5) years or both at the discretion of the court.

ARTICLE V

TRANSITORY PROVISIONS
SEC. 41. Terms of Office of Board Members. – Upon approval of this Act, the incumbent chairman and two
(2) members of the Board shall continue to serve until their terms of office expire or until their replacements
have been appointed by the President and shall have been duly qualified.

SEC. 42. New Certificates of Registration and Professional Licenses. – (a) Associate electrical engineers and
assistant electrical engineers with valid certificates of registration and professional license issued under
Republic Act No. 184 shall register within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act and be issued new
certificates of registration and new professional license as registered electrical engineers under this Act to
replace their original ones. Their serial numbers shall be provided by the registration division of the
Commission.

(b) Master electricians with valid certificates of registration and professional licenses under Republic Act No.
184 shall register within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act and be issued new certificates of
registration and new professional licenses as registered master electricians with the same serial numbers as their
old ones to replace their original certificates and licenses.

ARTICLE VI

FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 43. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 184 and existing provisions of provincial, city or municipal
ordinances or regulations pertaining to examinations for electrical contractors, electrical inspectors, or
electricians, and all other laws, part of laws, orders, ordinances or regulations in conflict with this Act are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 44. Separability Clause. – If any part of this Act or the application of such provision or circumstance is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the application of such provision to other persons or
circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration.

SEC. 45. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after thirty (30) days following its full publication in
the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA, JR.

(Sgd.) EDGARDO J. ANGARA
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
of Representatives

This Act which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 11063 and Senate Bill No. 1766 was finally passed by the
House of Representatives and the Senate on February 21, 1995.

(Sgd.) CAMILO L. SABIO

(Sgd.) EDGARDO E. TUMANGAN
Secretary General
Secretary of the Senate
House of Representatives

Approved: FEB 24 1995

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS

President of the Philippines

Source: Presidential Management Staff

RESOURCES

 [PDF] Republic Act No. 7920, February 24, 1995

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