With the grace of God and generosity of the universe, I renewed my professional ID card for the second time last week. Time really flies so fast, it has been six years since I started my OT practice. Back in 2016, I just spontaneously thought of renewing my PRC license while window shopping in Robinsons Manila. I made a detour and randomly walked in the PRC Service Center without any appointment, just spare 1×1 ID pics, and my soon-to-be expired PRC license. Then I filled out a form, submitted my photos, and paid the fee. After 5 minutes, my new ID was in my hands already.
Fast forward 3 years later, online is the new game. From setting an appointment, updating your personal information to changing your ID picture even settling payments. Online renewal is the path to go.
Below are the steps to renew your PRC license as an Occupational Therapist:
1.Head on to https://online.prc.gov.ph and register by creating a new PRC account.
2. Input your correct personal information and contact details.
3. Upload an ID photo in JPEG format. It should have a white background and taken recently (not more than 6 months ago). Also make sure that you are in decent attire without eyeglasses but your ears visible. This is the same picture that will appear in your new PRC ID.
4. Click renewal as your transaction.
5. Select your preferred appointment date (weeks or days before your ID expires) and PRC branch or service center. This is where you will collect your new ID after personally submitting the other required documents (i.e. forms and CPD-related certificates). The website automatically chose the date and time. You have one chance to reschedule but you need to state a valid reason.
6. Choose your payment method. I decided to pay over-the-counter in my chosen PRC branch, in this case, OSSCO-POEA However, all over-the-counter payments for this branch will be received in PRC at Robinsons Galleria.
7. Prepare the original and photocopies of your certificates from the seminars and workshops you attended with CPD units. Currently, OTs just needed to accumulate 15 CPD units to renew their PRC ID. Even if I thought I have more than enough units, I still brought all the relevant documents just in case.
8. Print the APPLICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL IDENTIFICATION (PIC) form. Save also in your phone the screenshot of your appointment stub. You will need it if you will do over the counter payment.
9. Go to your chosen PRC branch or service center at the designated date and time. I first went to Robinsons Galleria to pay the fee of PHP 450 over the counter at the PRC cashier.
10. Submit the application form and CPD-related documents. When I came to OSSCO-POEA, there is no line in the PRC counter. The officer promptly received my documents and asked me to sign in the logbook while he checks my application. He then returned the original copies of my CPD certificates to me and kept all the photocopies. He asked for my digital signature. Two minutes later, he was handing me my new PRC license! What a breeze!
PRC ID Renewal is one of the government services that I find very convenient to go through. It makes me believe that the rest about the Philippines still has hope to be comfortable and easy.
