If you’ve always dreamt of becoming a doctor, then why not pursue a Medical degree to become a licensed physician?
In the Philippines, you will have to take and complete a Medical Doctor degree in order to become a doctor. This program essentially trains students with the skills and competencies of being a physician. It typically takes five years to finish the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program offered by medical schools in the country. In the MD program, the student undergoes three years of academic studies, one year of clinical clerkship, and one year of post-graduate internship.
Finally to practice as a professional doctor, the MD graduate must take and pass the Philippine Physician’s Licensure Examination.
Physician Licensure Examination in the Philippines
Republic Act No. 2382, otherwise known as the “Philippine Medical Act of 1959”, states that that the examinee must pass a licensure examination to be conducted by the Board of Medicine. The said exam shall cover two general categories (Basic Sciences and Clinical Sciences) each having six (6) subjects under their scope.
Physician Licensure Exam Coverage
1st Category – Basic Sciences
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
2nd Category – Clinical Sciences
- Internal Medicine
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Surgery
- Legal Medicine
- Preventive Medicine
The exam taker must achieve an average grade of 75%, with no grade falling below 50% in any subject, to pass.
Moreover, the exam taker shall accomplish the following requirements for taking the exam:
- NSO / PSA Birth Certificate
- NSO / PSA Marriage Contract (for married female applicants)
- Transcript of Records with scanned picture and Remarks “For Board Examination Purposes”
- Complete Payment P900.00
- Certificate of Post Graduate Internship *
- TOR & Certificate of having completed the first two (2) years in College of Medicine
- NMAT (for prelim only)
* After three (3) failures, to submit Refresher course, Certificate of Attendance, and copy of grades in subjects taken (FTB).
Career Opportunities for Doctor of Medicine Graduates
There are various opportunities for MD graduates and passers of the Physician Board Exam. Some examples:
Entry-level: Careers for new graduates without need of prior experience:
- Resident Physicians
- Junior Physician (in private clinics)
- Company Doctor
- School Doctor
- Private Practice Doctors
Mid-level: If the graduate has completed residency training and successfully acquired a field of specialization:
- Specialist – government hospital
- Specialist – private hospital
- Private Practice Specialist
- Government Official
Advanced: After years of extensive experience and practice:
- Surgeon
- Medical Consultant
- Hospital Administrator
- Senior Government Official
Best Medical Schools in the Philippines
Are you now thinking of enrolling in a medical school? Find out here the universities that are considered top medical schools in the country, based on board exam passing rate. Below we compile the data about the average passing rates in previous Physician Licensure Exams in the Philippines.
Category 1: Top Medical Schools in the Philippines (with 201 or more examinees)
| Rank | BANK / INSTITUTION | UITF | JAN - SEP 2018 RETURN % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union Bank | UnionBank Medium Term Fixed Income Portfolio | 0.83% |
| 2 | China Banking Corporation | CBC INTERMEDIATE FIXED-INCOME FUND | 0.30% |
| 3 | Union Bank | UnionBank High Net Worth Intermediate-Term Peso Fixed Income Fund | -0.70% |
| 4 | EastWest Banking Corporation | EastWest Peso Intermediate Term Bond Fund | -0.71% |
| 5 | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | Metro Max-3 Bond Fund | -0.79% |
| 6 | Philippine National Bank | PNB PESO INTERMEDIATE TERM BOND FUND (Formerly AUP GS FUND) | -0.80% |
| 7 | BDO Unibank, Inc. | BDO MERIT FUND INTERMEDIATE TERM PORTFOLIO | -0.92% |
| 8 | BPI Asset Management and Trust Corporation | BPI Premium Bond Fund | -1.15% |
| 9 | Union Bank | UnionBank Infinity Prime Fund | -1.26% |
| 10 | Manulife Asset Management and Trust Corporation (MAMTC) | Manulife Stable Income Fund (Class I) | -1.50% |
| 11 | Manulife Asset Management and Trust Corporation (MAMTC) | Manulife Stable Income Fund (Class A) | -2.42% |
Category 2: Top Medical Schools in the Philippines (with 101-200 examinees)
| Rank | BANK / INSTITUTION | UITF | JAN - SEP 2018 RETURN % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LandBank of the Philippines | LANDBANK Equity Index Fund | -11.07% |
| 2 | United Coconut Planters Bank | UCPB Philippine Index Equity Fund | -13.40% |
| 3 | Union Bank | UnionBank Philippine Equity Index Tracker Fund Portfolio | -14.30% |
| 4 | BPI Asset Management and Trust Corporation | BPI Philippine Consumer Equity Index Fund | -14.45% |
| 5 | EastWest Banking Corporation | EastWest PSEI Tracker Fund | -14.55% |
| 6 | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | Metro PSEi Tracker Fund | -14.59% |
| 7 | CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp. | CTBC Bank - Sun Life Philippine Stock Index Feeder Fund | -14.60% |
| 8 | BPI Asset Management and Trust Corporation | BPI Philippine Equity Index Fund | -14.61% |
| 9 | ATRAM Trust Corporation | ATRAM Philippine Equity Smart Index Fund | -14.66% |
| 10 | Security Bank Corporation | SB PHILIPPINE EQUITY INDEX FUND | -14.82% |
| 11 | BPI Asset Management and Trust Corporation | BPI Philippine Infrastructure Equity Index Fund | -14.99% |
| 12 | BDO Unibank, Inc. | BDO EQUITY INDEX FUND | -15.01% |
| 13 | Philippine National Bank | PNB ENHANCED PHIL-INDEX REFERENCE FUND | -15.21% |
| 14 | BDO Unibank, Inc. | BDO PERA EQUITY INDEX FUND | -15.97% |
Category 3: Top Medical Schools in the Philippines (with 100 or less examinees)
| Rank | BANK / INSTITUTION | UITF | JAN - SEP 2018 RETURN % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATRAM Trust Corporation | ATRAM Global Dividend Feeder Fund | 8.70% |
| 2 | United Coconut Planters Bank | UCPB High Dividend Fund | -11.06% |
| 3 | Security Bank Corporation | SB HIGH DIVIDEND PESO EQUITY FUND | -11.22% |
| 4 | China Banking Corporation | China Bank High Dividend Equity Fund | -12.57% |
| 5 | BPI Asset Management and Trust Corporation | BPI Philippine High Dividend Equity Fund | -13.60% |
| 6 | Union Bank | UnionBank Dividend Play Equity Portfolio | -14.80% |
| 7 | Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. | Metro High Dividend Yield Fund | -15.23% |
| 8 | Philippine National Bank | PNB HIGH DIVIDEND FUND | -16.30% |
| 9 | BDO Unibank, Inc. | BDO SUSTAINABLE DIVIDEND FUND | -16.69% |
| 10 | Bank of Commerce | DIVERSITY DIVIDEND FOCUSED FUND | -17.26% |
Note: The table above only ranks the passing rates of First-time takers; repeaters are not included in the passing rate. All figures are based on the four (4) past Physicians Licensure Exams in March 2018, September 2017, March 2017, and September 2016.
Source: PRC Philippines (prc.gov.ph)
