Section 6 (g) of P.D. No. 223, as amended, empowers the Board of Optometry, subject to the approval of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), to determine the appropriate passing general rating of those who take the Optometry Licensure Examinations if not provided for in the law regulating the practice of Optometry.

R.A. No. 1998 entitled œAN ACT TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY IN THE PHILIPPINES  failed to provide the passing general rating of those who take the Optometry Licensure Examinations.

WHEREFORE, the Board of Optometry hereby determines, subject to the approval of the Commission, the appropriate passing general rating of those who take the Optometry Licensure Examinations in accordance with the following rules:

1.         The relative weights of the theoretical and practical portions of the examination shall be seventy (70%) percent and thirty (30%) percent, respectively.

2.         The practical portion of the examinations shall form part of the final rating/grade of the examinee.

3.         To pass the Optometrist Licensure Examination (Theoretical and Practical), the examinee must obtain a general average rating of at least seventy (70%) percent in both the theoretical and practical portions of the examination; provided, that the examinee has no rating below fifty (50%) percent in the theoretical and practical average rating and no rating below fifty (50%) percent in any of the given subjects or exercises.

4.         If an examinee fails to obtain a general average rating of seventy (70%) percent or more for both the theoretical and practical examinations but does not get an average rating of below fifty (50%) percent in either the theoretical and practical examination, the said examinee shall be considered conditioned and shall repeat the examination where he/she obtained an average rating of fifty (50%) percent and above but below seventy (70%) percent.

5.         If the average rating of the examinee in either or both practical and/or theoretical examinations is less than fifty (50%) percent, the said examinee shall be considered to have failed the whole board examination.

6.         The examinee who is considered conditioned can take the removal examination only within the immediately succeeding three (3) years, one examination for each year.

7.         Examinees who fail to pass the three (3) successive removal examinations including those who fail to pass the Optometrist Licensure Examinations for three (3) times shall, before being allowed to take another examination, be required to take a review course in the recognized school/college of Optometry designated by the Board for the purpose.  The applicant for re-examination shall submit to the Board a Certificate of Attendance bearing the seal of the office of the Dean certifying that the applicant has taken and completed the review course in that school/college.

These rules shall supersede previous rules adopted by the Board.

This Resolution shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation, whichever is earlier.

The rules herein set forth shall not be used in determining the passing general rating of examinees within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Resolution.

Let copies of this Resolution be furnished the Deans of Schools or Colleges, public and private, offering courses in Optometry as well as the Presidents of the APOs and non-APOs for dissemination to graduates of courses in Optometry and to other concerned individuals.

Adopted: 08 June 1996