Revised Qualification Standards

Revised Qualification Standards

OCA Circular No. 34-97May 22, 1997Supreme Court Issuances19 min read

The OCA Circular No. 34-97, dated May 22, 1997, outlines revised qualification standards for positions within the Philippine civil service, as adopted from the Civil Service Commission's Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 1997. It establishes minimum educational and experience requirements while allowing agencies to set higher standards independently. Specific qualifications for police positions are detailed, including mandatory examination requirements. Additionally, the circular discusses educational prerequisites for division chief roles and exemptions for certain non-career positions. The new standards take effect 15 days after publication, with a request to defer their implementation for previously approved applications until June 30, 1997.

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Reference Number: OCA Circular No. 34-97
Date Enacted: May 22, 1997
Category: Supreme Court Issuances
Subcategory: Office of the Court Administrator Circulars
Jurisdiction: Philippines
Enacting Body: Congress of the Philippines

May 22, 1997

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 34-97

TO	:	All Executive Judges

SUBJECT	:	Revised Qualification Standards

Quoted hereunder is Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. 1997, of the Civil Service Commission, for the information and guidance of all concerned:

"Pursuant to Resolution No. 97-0404 dated January 24, 1997, the Civil Service Commission repeals MC No. 46, s. 1993 and adopts the new Qualification Standards Manual for positions in the civil service and the following policies:

"1. The qualification standards prescribed in the Manual are the minimum and basic requirements of the position. Agencies, however, are not precluded from establishing higher standards for their positions without any need of approval from the Commission. Where higher standards are established by the agencies, these should be maintained and serve as their guide in the selection of appointees;

"2. In determining the relevance of the education and experience requirements, reference shall be made to the duties and responsibilities attached to the positions and the occupational groupings where they belong;

"3. Appointees to Police Officer and Senior Police Officer positions in the Philippine National Police must have passed any of the following examinations: prcd

a) INP Entrance Examination;

b) Police Officer 3rd Class Examination; and

c) CSC Police Officer Entrance Examination.

"Eligibilities resulting from the above examinations shall be appropriate not only for uniformed but also for non-uniformed first level positions in the Fire and Jail Bureaus.

"Holders of Career Service Subprofessional eligibility may be considered for appointment under temporary status to Police Officer I position in the absence of Police Officer eligibility. prcd

"4. Contractual and casual employees must meet the requirements prescribed by the qualification standards except eligibility, unless special laws such as Board Laws require otherwise;

"5. Qualification Standards for newly created positions shall be prescribed by the Commission upon receipt of the list of the newly created positions;

"6. The educational requirement for appointment to division chief positions which are categorized as such based on the following criteria shall be a masteral degree:

1. Career positions;

2. Salary Grade 24; and

3. The highest positions in the division/department or in the hierarchy as reflected in the Index of Occupational Services (IOS) carrying a Salary Grade of 24;

"7. The degree of Doctor of Medicine, Bachelor of Laws, Doctor of Dental Medicine/Dental Surgery, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine shall be considered the appropriate educational attainment for appointment to Division Chief positions;

"8. Appointees to the following positions shall not be required to have a masteral degree:

1. Non-career positions such as: casual, contractual, confidential, or coterminous;

2. Positions with Salary Grade allocation lower than 24;

3. Staff positions with SG 24 or above, such as Executive Assistant VI, Conciliator and others;

4. Other positions under the Career Executive Service (CES) with salary grade 25 and above;

"9. For certain positions under CSC M.C. No. 11, s. 1996, the Career Service Professional and/or Subprofessional eligibilities are also appropriate. Applicants to these positions need not take the skills test if they already possess the CS Professional or Subprofessional eligibility;

"10. The Career Service Executive Eligibility (CSEE) shall be appropriate to all positions in the third level.

"This Memorandum Circular takes effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation."

(SGD.) RAMON P. EREÑETA, JR.Acting Chairman

We are aware that the latest qualification standards will render the recruitment of Court Stenographers and Interpreters more difficult. Thus, we are presently seeking exemption from the Revised Qualification Standards for the following positions:

Court Stenographer I,

Court Stenographer II,

Court Stenographer III, and

Interpreter I.

In the meantime, the latest qualification standards will be applied.

Please be guided accordingly.

(SGD.) ALFREDO L. BENIPAYOCourt Administrator

ANNEX A

QUALIFICATION STANDARDS

POSITION	SG	LEVEL	GOV'T. SECTOR	EDUCATION	EXPERIENCE	TRAINING	ELIGIBILITY

Court Legal Researcher I	12	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Court Legal Researcher II	15	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Court Legal Researcher III	18	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Court of Appeals Reporter I	26	2	National	Bachelor of Laws	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	RA 1080

Court of Appeals Reporter II	27	2	National	Bachelor of Laws	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	RA 1080

Court Secretary I	14	2	National	Bachelor's degree	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Court Secretary II	17	2	National	Bachelor's degree	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Court Stenographer I	08	1	National	Completion of two years studies in college	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Court Stenographer II	10	1	National	Completion of two years studies in college	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Court Stenographer III	12	1	National	Completion of two years studies in college	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Court Stenographer IV	14	1	National	Completion of two years studies in college	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Coxswain	03	1	National, Local	Elementary School Graduate	None required	None required	None required
							(MC 11, s. 96 - Cat. III)
Crafts and Trades Helper	01	1	National, Local	Must be able to read and write	None required	None required	None required
							(MC 11, s. 96 - Cat. III)
Sheriff II	07	1	National	Completion of two years studies in college	None required	None required	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Sheriff III	10	1	National	Completion of two years studies in college	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Sheriff IV	12	1	National	Completion of two years studies in college	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Ship Master	23	2	National	Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	RA 1080

Shipbuilding Specialist I	11	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Shipbuilding Specialist II	15	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Shipping Aide	03	1	IUG	Elementary School Graduate	None required	None required	None required
							(MC 11, s. 96 - Cat. III)
Shipping Operations Inspector	08	1	National	Completion of two years studies in college	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Shipping Operations Specialist I	11	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Shipping Operations Specialist II	15	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Shoemaker	04	1	National	Elementary School Graduate	None required	None required	None required
							(MC 11, s. 96 - Cat. III)
Shrine Curator I	10	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	None required	None required	None required
							(MC 11, s. 96 - Cat. III)
Shrine Curator II	14	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
International Science Relations	10	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
Officer I							Second Level Eligibility
International Science Relations	14	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
Officer II							Second Level Eligibility
International Science Relations	18	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
Officer III							Second Level Eligibility
International Science Relations	22	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
Officer IV							Second Level Eligibility
International Science Relations	24	2	National	Masteral Degree	4 years in position/s involving	24 hours of training in	Career Service (Professional)
Officer V					management and supervision	management and supervision	Second Level Eligibility
International Trade Officer I	19	2	GFI	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
International Trade Officer II	20	2	GFI	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
International Trade Officer III	21	2	GFI	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Interpreter I	08	2	National	Bachelor's degree	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Interpreter II	10	2	National	Bachelor's degree	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Interpreter III	12	2	National	Bachelor's degree	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Investigation Agent I	18	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Investigation Agent II	20	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clearing Assistant II	10	1	GFI	Completion of two years studies in college	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Clearing Officer	11	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clearing Officer I	11	2	GFI	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clearing Officer II	13	2	GFI	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	None required	None required	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clearing Officer III	15	2	GFI	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clearing Officer IV	16	2	GFI	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clearing Officer V	18	2	GFI	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clearing Officer VI	19	2	GFI	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clerk I	03	1	National, GFI,	Completion of two years studies in college	None required	None required	Career Service (Subprofessional)
			Local				First Level Eligibility
Clerk II	04	1	National, GFI,	Completion of two years studies in college	None required	None required	Career Service (Subprofessional)
			Local				First Level Eligibility
Clerk III	06	1	National, GFI,	Completion of two years studies in college	None required	None required	Career Service (Subprofessional)
			Local				First Level Eligibility
Clerk IV	08	1	National, GFI,	Completion of two years studies in college	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
			Local				First Level Eligibility
Clerk of Court I	15	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clerk of Court II	18	2	National	Bachelor's degree relevant to the job	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clerk of Court III	22	2	National	Bachelor of Laws	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clerk of Court IV	23	2	National	Bachelor of Laws	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Professional)
							Second Level Eligibility
Clerk of Court V	24	2	National	Bachelor of Laws	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	RA 1080

Clerk of Court VI	25	2	National	Bachelor of Laws	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	RA 1080

Clerk of Court VII	26	2	National	Bachelor of Laws	3 years of relevant experience	16 hours of relevant training	RA 1080

Clerk of the Tribunal	30	2	National	Bachelor of Laws	5 years of relevant experience	32 hours of relevant training	RA 1080

Clerk-Processor A	08	1	IUG	Completion of two years studies in college	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Clerk-Processor B	06	1	IUG	Completion of two years studies in college	None required	None required	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Clerk-Processor C	04	1	IUG	Completion of two years studies in college	None required	None required	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Clerk-Processor D	03	1	IUG	Completion of two years studies in college	None required	None required	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility
Clothes Designer	08	1	National	High School Graduate or Completion of	1 year of relevant experience	4 hours of relevant training	None required
				relevant vocational/trade course			(MC 11, s. 96 - Cat. III)
Collection Representative A	10	1	IUG	Completion of two years studies in college	2 years of relevant experience	8 hours of relevant training	Career Service (Subprofessional)
							First Level Eligibility

ANNEX B

January 24, 1997

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 1, SERIES OF 1997

TO	:	All Heads of Departments, Bureaus and Agencies of the National and Local Governments, Including Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations and State Universities and Colleges

SUBJECT	:	Revised Qualification Standards

Pursuant to Resolution No. 97-0404 dated January 24, 1997, the Civil Service Commission repeals MC No. 46, s. 1993 and adopts the new Qualification Standards Manual for positions in the civil service and the following policies:

1. The qualification standards prescribed in the Manual are the minimum and basic requirements of the position. Agencies, however, are not precluded from establishing higher standards for their positions without any need of approval from the Commission. Where higher standards are established by the agencies, these should be maintained and serve as their guide in the selection of appointees;

2. In determining the relevance of the education and experience requirements, reference shall be made to the duties and responsibilities attached to the positions and the occupational groupings where they belong;

3. Appointees to Police Officer and Senior Police Officer positions in the Philippine National Police must have passed any of the following examinations:

a) INP Entrance Examination;

b) Police Officer 3rd Class Examination; and

c) CSC Police Officer Entrance Examination.

Eligibilities resulting from the above examinations shall be appropriate not only for uniformed but also for non-uniformed first level positions in the Fire and Jail Bureaus.

Holders of Career Service Subprofessional eligibility may be considered for appointment under temporary status to Police Officer I position in the absence of Police Officer eligibility. prcd

4. Contractual and casual employees must meet the requirements prescribed by the qualification standards except eligibility, unless special laws such as Board Laws require otherwise;

5. Qualification Standards for newly created positions shall be prescribed by the Commission upon receipt of the list of the newly created positions;

6. The educational requirement for appointment to division chief positions which are categorized as such based on the following criteria shall be a masteral degree:

1. Career positions;

2. Salary Grade 24; and

3. The highest positions in the division/department or in the hierarchy as reflected in the Index of Occupational Services (IOS) carrying a Salary Grade of 24;

7. The degree of Doctor of Medicine, Bachelor of Laws, Doctor of Dental Medicine/Dental Surgery, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine shall be considered the appropriate educational attainment for appointment to Division Chief positions;

8. Appointees to the following positions shall not be required to have a masteral degree:

1. Non-career positions such as: casual, contractual, confidential, or coterminous;

2. Positions with Salary Grade allocation lower than 24;

3. Staff positions with SG 24 or above, such as Executive Assistant VI, Conciliator and others;

4. Other positions under the Career Executive Service (CES) with salary grade 25 and above;

9. For certain positions under CSC M.C. No. 11, s. 1996, the Career Service Professional and/or Subprofessional eligibilities are also appropriate. Applicants to these positions need not take the skills test if they already possess the CS Professional or Subprofessional eligibility;

10. The Career Service Executive Eligibility (CSEE) shall be appropriate to all positions in the third level.

This Memorandum Circular takes effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

(SGD.) RAMON P. EREÑETA, JR.Acting Chairman

ANNEX C

January 17, 1997

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 97-0398

SUBJECT : Qualification Standards First Revision

WHEREAS, the civil service embraces all branches, subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies of the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters;

WHEREAS, appointments in the civil service shall be made only according to merit and fitness to be determined, as far as practicable, and, except to positions which are policy-determining, primarily confidential, or highly technical, by competitive examination;

WHEREAS, the Commission is authorized by law to promulgate policies, standards and guidelines to promote merit and fitness in recruitment and selection of employees in the career service; prcd

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 22, Book V of the Administrative Code of 1987, qualification standards shall be established for appointment to positions in the civil service and for other purposes as provided for by law;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 93-4916-A, the Commission resolved to amend, supersede and modify all Circulars pertaining to qualification standards and approve the Qualification Manual for positions in the civil service and adopt QS policies;

WHEREAS, there is a need to update and fine-tune policies pertinent to Qualification Standards considering the various developments in the scope of personnel actions and in line with the thrust of professionalizing the Civil Service.

NOW THEREFORE, the Commission RESOLVED as it hereby RESOLVES to repeal Resolution No. 93-4916-A, and MC No. 46, s. 1993 and adopt the New Qualification Standards Manual for positions in the civil service and the following policies:

1. The qualification standards prescribed in the Manual are the minimum and basic requirements of the position. Agencies, however, are not precluded from establishing higher standards for their positions without any need of approval from the Commission. Where higher standards are established by the agencies, these should be maintained and serve as their guide in the selection of appointees;

2. In determining the relevance of the education and experience requirements, reference shall be made to the duties and responsibilities attached to the positions and the occupational groupings where they belong;

3. Appointees to Police Officer and Senior Police Officer positions in the Philippine National Police must have passed any of the following examinations: prcd

a) INP Entrance Examination;

b) Police Officer 3rd Class Examination; and

c) CSC Police Officer Entrance Examination.

Eligibilities resulting from the above examinations shall be appropriate not only for uniformed but also for non-uniformed first level positions in the Fire and Jail Bureaus.

Holders of Career Service Subprofessional eligibility may be considered for appointment under temporary status to Police Officer I position in the absence of Police Officer eligibility. prcd

4. Contractual and casual employees must meet the requirements prescribed by the qualification standards except eligibility, unless special laws such as Board laws require otherwise;

5. Qualification Standards for newly created positions shall be prescribed by the Commission upon receipt of the list of the newly created positions;

6. The educational requirement for appointment to division chief positions which are categorized as such based on the following criteria shall be a masteral degree:

1. Career positions;

2. Salary Grade 24; and

3. The highest positions in the division/department or in the hierarchy as reflected in the Index of Occupational Services (IOS) carrying a salary grade of 24;

7. The degree of Doctor of Medicine, Bachelor of Laws, Doctor of Dental Medicine/Dental Surgery, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine shall be considered the appropriate educational attainment for appointment to Division Chief positions;

8. Appointees to the following positions shall not be required to have a masteral degree:

1. Non-career positions such as: casual, contractual, confidential or coterminous;

2. Positions with Salary Grade allocation lower than 24;

3. Staff positions with SG 24 or above, such as Executive Assistant VI, Conciliator and others;

4. Other positions under the Career Executive Service (CES) with salary grade 25 and above;

9. For certain positions under CSC M.C. No. 11, s. 1996, the Career Service Professional and/or Subprofessional eligibilities are also appropriate. Applicants to these positions need not take the skills test if they already possess the CS Professional or Subprofessional eligibility;

10. The Career Service Executive Eligibility (CSEE) shall be appropriate to all positions in the third level.

Quezon City, January 17, 1997

(O.B.)CORAZON ALMA G. DE LEONChairman

	(SGD.) RAMON P. EREÑETA, JR.	(SGD.) THELMA P. GAMINDE
	Commissioner	Commissioner

Attested By:

(SGD.) CARMENCITA GISELLE B. BRINGAS
Board Secretary VI

ANNEX D

May 8, 1997

Atty. Dante G. HuertaDirector IIICivil Service CommissionSupreme Court

Dear Director Huerta:

We have received a copy of the upgraded qualification standards for government service on April 18, 1997. In this connection, we would like to request that its implementation not be effected on those applications that have already been processed and approved by the Supreme Court under the old qualification standards. We would also like to request that the implementation of the new qualification standards be deferred until June 30, 1997, by which time the same shall have been fully circularized to the lower courts. prcd

Thank you for your favorable consideration.

Very truly yours,

(SGD.) ALFREDO L. BENIPAYOCourt Administrator

Cite This Law

Standard Citation

Revised Qualification Standards, OCA Circular No. 34-97, May 22, 1997 (Philippines)

Bluebook Style

Revised Qualification Standards, OCA Circular No. 34-97 (Phil. 1997)

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