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Republic Act No. 1080 (Bar and Board Examination Eligibility)

Republic Act No. 1080 (Bar and Board Examination Eligibility)

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Republic Act No. 1080 is a law passed by the Philippine Congress that treats bar and board exams like civil service exams. 

This law makes getting government jobs easier for professionals who pass these exams. 

You can find the full details in this article if you want more information about this law.

About the Republic Act No. 1080

Republic Act No. 1080 declares that passing the bar and various government board exams is equivalent to passing the civil service exams. This means that people who pass these professional exams can be appointed to government jobs that require knowledge of their profession. 

If the profession requires at least four years of college and two years of practice, passing the bar or board exam is equivalent to the first-grade civil service exam. If the profession requires less than four years of college, it’s equivalent to the second-grade exam. 

The Civil Service Commissioner will receive a list of those who passed these exams, and those with the highest scores will be given preference for jobs. The Commissioner will also set the rules for implementing this Act, which was approved on June 15, 1954.

What Does This Law Contains?

  1. Civil Service Equivalency:
    • This law says that passing the bar exam (for lawyers) or any government board exam (like for doctors, engineers, etc.) counts as a civil service exam.
    • If the profession needs at least four years of college study and two years of practice, passing the board exam is equal to passing the first-grade civil service exam.
    • If the profession needs less than four years of college study, passing the board exam is equal to passing the second-grade civil service exam.
  2. List of Successful Candidates:
    • The Clerk of the Supreme Court and the Secretary of the Board of Examiners must give the Civil Service Commissioner a list of people who passed the bar and board exams, including their scores.
    • People with the highest scores get preference for job appointments.
  3. Implementation Rules:
    • The Civil Service Commissioner will make rules to put this law into action.
  4. Permanent Benefits:
    • The benefits given by this law do not expire, regardless of other civil service laws or rules.
  5. Effective Date:
    • The law took effect when it was approved on June 15, 1954.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1080

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1. The bar examinations and the examinations given by the various boards of examiners of the Government are declared as civil service examinations, and shall, for purposes of appointment to positions in the classified service the duties of which involve knowledge of the respective professions, except positions requiring highly specialized knowledge not covered by the ordinary board examinations, be considered as equivalent to the first grade regular examination given by the Bureau of Civil Service if the profession requires at least four years of study in college and the person has practiced his profession for at least two years, and as equivalent to the second grade regular examination if the profession requires less than four years of college study.

Section 2. The Commissioner of Civil Service shall be furnished by the Clerk of the Supreme Court and the Secretary of the Board of Examiners a list of the successful candidates in the respective bar or board examinations with their general averages, and preference shall be given to those obtaining the highest ratings in making appointments: Provided, That for those who have already passed the corresponding bar or board examinations, the eligibility shall be deemed to commence from the approval of this Act.

Section 3. The Commissioner of Civil Service shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

Section 4. The benefits granted under this Act shall not prescribe, the provisions of civil service law or regulations notwithstanding.

Section 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 15, 1954.

Disclaimer

Conclusion

Republic Act No. 1080 makes passing professional exams like the bar or board exams equal to passing civil service exams in the Philippines. 

This means professionals who pass these exams can easily get government jobs related to their field. 

The law has been in effect since June 15, 1954, helping qualified individuals secure government positions without additional exams.

Glossary of Terms

TermDefinition
Bar examinationsTests for lawyers to assess their qualifications to practice law
Board examinationsTests given by various professional boards to assess qualifications in specific professions
Civil serviceGovernment jobs that are not military or judicial
Classified servicePositions within the civil service that are classified according to the duties they involve
Bureau of Civil ServiceGovernment agency responsible for administering civil service exams and other HR functions
Commissioner of Civil ServiceOfficial in charge of the Bureau of Civil Service
Clerk of the Supreme CourtOfficer who manages administrative tasks of the Supreme Court
Secretary of the Board of ExaminersOfficial responsible for administrative duties of professional examining boards
PromulgateTo officially announce or publish
EligibilityQualification or suitability for a position
NotwithstandingIn spite of, regardless of
PrescribeTo set a rule or dictate

Reference

  1. Republic Act No. 1080. (n.d.). Lawphil.net. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1954/ra_1080_1954.html