Republic Act 7920 - EE

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7920

NEW ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LAW

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A MORE RESPONSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE REGULATION FOR

THE PRACTICE, LICENSING, AND REGISTRATION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS AND
ELECTRICIAN

ARTICLE I
TITLE AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

Section 1. Title. - This act shall be known as the “New Electrical Engineering
Law.”

Section 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 from of:

(1) Consultation, investigation, valuation and management of services

requiring electrical engineering knowledge;
(2) Design and preparation of plans, specification and estimates for electric
power systems, power plants, power distribution system 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, substation, 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, transformer, generator motor, apparatus and
other;
(6) Teaching of electrical engineering professional subjects; and
(7) Taking charge of the sale and distribution of electrical equipment and
systems requiring engineering calculation or application of engineering
data.

(b.) “Electric Supply Equipment” is any equipment which produces, modifies,

regulates, or control the supply of electric energy.

(c.) “Electric Plant” is an establishment or a system for the production and

modification of electric energy.

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Republic Act 7920 - EE

(d.) “Power Plant Design” refers to planning, specifying, coordinating and layouting of
electrical equipment in power plants, substances and the like.

(e.) “substation” is any building, room or separate place which houses of encloses
electric supply equipment connected to transmission or distribution lines and the
interior of which is accessible as rule, only to properly qualified persons.

(f.) “Electrical System Design” refers to the choice of electrical system, including
planning and detailing of requirements for protection, control, monitoring,
coordination and interlocking of electrical system among others.

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

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

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

(j.) “Utilization Equipment” refers to energy consuming equipment including motors,

heaters, furnaces, like outlets and other devices which utilize electric energy for
any purpose.

(k.) “Industrial Plant or Factory” refers to manufacturing assembly plants, including

engineering shops shipyard or other business endeavors for electrical machinery
and equipment are installed.

(l.) “Commercial Establishments” are department stores, supermarkets, shopping

malls, office buildings, hotels, theater, stadium, condominium, convention centers,
restaurant and the like, use for business or profit.

(m.) “Institutional Buildings” are school buildings, hospitals, museum, display

centers, government buildings and the like.

(n.) “Watercraft” is any waterborne unit which is design 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.

Engr. Rolando Fabros

Republic Act 7920 - EE

ARTICLE II
BOARD OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Section 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 Regulation
Commission, hereinafter called as the commission, compose of a chairman and two
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 association of electrical engineers and allied fields.

Section 4. Powers and Duties of the Board. - The Board shall exercise
executive/administrative or quasi-legislative (rulemaking) 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, prescribed 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 within the period provided for by the rules of the
Commission.
(d) Prescribed, 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 pass 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 inspections of places where registrant practice and their
profession, such as, but not limited to: electric plants, substations,
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Republic Act 7920 - EE

industrial plants or factories, commercial establishments, institutional

buildings, watercrafts, electric locomotives, engineering offices, repair
shops and similar places to determine the enforce compliance with this act.
The Board shall authorize the duly integrated and accredited electrical
engineering association and other registered electrical engineering
association 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 provision of this Act;
(i) Investigate violation of this 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 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 to a 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, or undocketed cases on docketed administrative cases against
examinees or registrants which shall become final and executory unless
appealed with the Commission within fifteen 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 examinations, 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 role 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 requirements; reinstate or reenroll his name in the
said roll, reissue or return his certificate of registration, or delisting from
the roll by the Board as provided herein, may be appealed initially to the
Commission within fifteen days from receipt thereof. The decision of the
Commission maybe appealed to the Court of Appeals in accordance with
the procedure provided in the rules of the 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;

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Republic Act 7920 - EE

(r) Coordinate with the Commission and the Department of Education,

Culture and Sports in prescribing, ammending and/or revising the courses;
(s) Prescribe guidelines and criteria on the CPE program for professional
electrical engineers, registered electrical engineers and registered master
electrician and renew their professional licenses after compliance with the
CPE requirements;
(t) Perform such other function and duties as maybe 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 review
and approval by the Commission; however, the Board’s decision,
resolutions or orders which are not interlocutory, rendered in an
administrative case shall be subject to review only if on appeal.

Section 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 consecutive years.
(b) Be at least 35 years of age, of proven integrity with high moral values I his
personal as well as his professional conduct;
(c) Be a person with no final conviction by the court of so 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 practice 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 or 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 this 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.

Section 6. Term of office. - The members of the board shall have 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 selected by the Commissioner who were chosen from the list of
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Republic Act 7920 - EE

nominees submitted by the integrated and accredited association for the unexpired
term only.

Section 7. Removal of Board Members. - Any members 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.

Section 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 (P 12,000): provided, that the chairman shall receive a
monthly compensation of ten percent (10%) more: Provided, further, that such
compensations 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.

Section 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 official 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

Section 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.

Section 11. Registration and Licensed 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.

Section 12. Examination Fees. - The applications for oral examination for
professional electrical engineering and written examinations for registered electrical
engineering and registered master electrician shall be subject to payment of fees
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Republic Act 7920 - EE

prescribed by the commission: Provided, that 90% of the fees is to be treated as a

special fund for the program, projects and activities of the Commission and the
remaining 10% shall be set aside as a trust fund for the establishment and
maintenance of the center for continuing education and research.

Section 13. Registration Fees, License Fees and Fines. - All applicants for
registration and license to practice as professional electrical engineer, registered
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 50% from these collection are to be treated as a special
fund for programs, projects and activities of the Commission and the other 50% shall
be set up in the separate fund for the supervisory and regulator functions of the
Board.

Section 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
others specialized works, subject to the following conditions:

(i) That the above mentioned foreign professionals are legally qualified to
practice their professions 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 contacted;
(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 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 6 months,
renewable for another 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.

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Republic Act 7920 - EE

(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 250V and capacity not exceeding 50 KVA: Provided,
that the owner or operator shall be required to have the electric generating
set periodically inspected an intervals of more than one year by a
professional electrical engineer, a registered electrical engineer on a
national, city, provincial, or municipal government authority exercising
legal jurisdiction.

Section 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.

Section 16. Qualification 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 possess 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 Electrical 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.

Section 17. Qualification of Application 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

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Republic Act 7920 - EE

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.

Section 18. Qualifications of Applicant 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 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 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 a subsequent specific record of at least, five (5)
years of apprenticeship in electric wiring, installation operation and
maintenance of utilization devices and equipment.

Engr. Rolando Fabros

Republic Act 7920 - EE

Section 19. Scope of Examination. - As a prerequisite for registration as

professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer and master electrician,
the applicant shall comply with the following requirement:

PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

(1) Certified experience record from the date applicant took oath ass 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 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 requirements;
(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 contain passing marks on the experience record and on the
technical report in order to qualify to registration as a professional electrical engineer.

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%).

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Republic Act 7920 - EE

(3) Electrical Engineering professional subjects, such as: electric circuits,

electronics theory and circuits, energy conversion, power transmission and
distribution, instrumentation and measurement, circuit and line
protection, control 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 in any group of subjects listed below.

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 examinations can be
finished in three (3) consecutive eight-hour days.

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 resistances, 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 functions of fuses, overload
relays, safety switches, magnetic switches, circuit breakers,
stardelta 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 electricians.
 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.
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Republic Act 7920 - EE

 Drawing symbols and wiring plans.

 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.

Section 20. Report of Ratings. - The Board of Electrical Engineers 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.

Section 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.

Section 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.

Section 23. Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional Licenses.

- The registration of professional electrical engineer, registered electrical, or
registered master electrician commences from the date his name is entered in the roll
of registrants or licenses for his profession. Every registrant who has satisfactorily
met all the requirements specified in this Act, upon payment of registration fee, shall
be issued a certificate of registration as a professional electrical engineer, 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 the 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 the month of expiry or
renewability shall likewise be issued to every registrant who has paid the annual
registration fees for three consecutive years and has complied with the requirements
of Continuing Professional Education, unless exempted therefrom. This license will
serve as evidence that the license is lawfully practice his profession until the
expiration of its validity.
Engr. Rolando Fabros
Republic Act 7920 - EE

Section 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 the said guidelines the
creation of a CPE council that shall be compose 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 persons 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.

Section 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 fecto, 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 organization within three (3) years after the effectivity of this
Act. Membership in the integrated organization shall not be a bar to membership in
other associations of the electrical engineering professions.

The professional electrical engineer, registered electrical engineer, and

registered master electrician has received the benefits and privileges appurtenant to
this listed membership in the duly integrated and accredited electrical engineering
association only upon payment of the required membership fees and dues.

Section 26. Seal of Professional Electrical Engineer. - All license 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
Engineers” plans, specifications, reports, and other professional documents prepared
by or executed under the immediate supervisions 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 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.

Engr. Rolando Fabros

Republic Act 7920 - EE

Section 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.

Section 28. Refusal to Issue Certificate. - 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 fort 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.

Section 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 from 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, its:

(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 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 days from the receipt of such
Engr. Rolando Fabros
Republic Act 7920 - EE

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 license, or the Board may, on its own
initiative (motu proprio) 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 buy
the person making them and shall be with the Board.

The rules and regulations of the Commission on the 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
comfort and cross-examine witnesses against him.

Section 30. Re-issuance of Revoked Certificates and Replacement of Lost

Certificate. - Subject to the approval of the Commission, the Board may, after the
expiration of one 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

Section 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 the charge or

supervision of operation and maintenance of electrical equipment in power
plants, industrial plants, water craft, electric locomotive, and others;
manufacture and repair of electrical supply and utilization equipment
including switchboards, power transformer, generators, motors, apparatus,
Engr. Rolando Fabros
Republic Act 7920 - EE

and others; teaching of electrical subjects; and sale and distribution of

electrical equipment and systems requiring engineering calculations 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, substation,
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.

Section 32. Prohibitions 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.

Section 33. Personal Required - Except as other wise 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

Engr. Rolando Fabros

Republic Act 7920 - EE

than the following complement of professional electrical engineer, registered electrical

engineer, and registered master electrician:

(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 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 kV/kW) and employing voltages up to six hundred
volts (600 V) - one (1) registered master electrician.

Provided, however, that in all 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 required 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 50 kilovolt-amperes (50 KV) or less and employs voltages of not
more than 250 V and for installation 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 duty registered personnel:
Provided, further, that yearly inspection will be conducted and certified to be in a
operating condition by a professional electrical engineer, or a registered master
electrician.

Section 34. Preparation of plans. Supervision of installation and application

of the Philippine Electrical Code - 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 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
Philippines Electrical Code and is executed under the responsible charge and
supervision of a professional electrical engineer, or a registered master electrician, as
Engr. Rolando Fabros
Republic Act 7920 - EE

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.

Section 35. Practice Not Allowed for Firms and Corporation. - The practice of
electrical engineering is a professional service admission to which its based on
individual and personal qualifications. Hence, no firm or corporation 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, from a partnership or association and collectively
render electrical engineering service. Individual members of such partnership or
association shall be responsible for their own respective acts.

Section 36. Posting of Certificates. - The owner, manager or the person in

charge of an electric plant, industrial plant or factory, commercial establishment,
institutional buildings, watercraft or electric locomotives 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.
Electrical Code and is executed under the responsible charge and supervision of a
professional electrical engineer, or a registered master electrician, as government
agency, if any exercising jurisdiction over the particular installation have been
complied with.

Section 40. Penalty Clause. - Any person who shall violate any of the
provisions of these Act shall be guilty of misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be
sentenced to a fine of not less than 10000 pesos, nor more than 50000 pesos or
imprisonment for a period not less than 6 months nor more than 5 years or both at
the discretion of the court.

ARTICLE V
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Section 41. Terms of Office of Board Members. - Upon approval of this Act,
the incumbent chairman and two 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.

Section 42. New Certificates of Registration and Professional Licenses. - (a)

Associate electrical engineers and assistant electrical engineers with valid certificates
Engr. Rolando Fabros
Republic Act 7920 - EE

of registration and professional license issued under Republic Act No. 184 shall
register within two 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 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

Section 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 of regulations in conflict with this act are hereby repealed
or amended accordingly.

Section 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.

Section 45. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after thirty days
following its full publication in the official Gazette or newspaper of general
circulation.

Engr. Rolando Fabros