PRC-Central Visayas launches computer-based testing center

Local

THE days of scribbling answers on thick exam booklets are numbered.

Cebu’s aspiring professionals can now take their licensure exams digitally as the Professional Regulation Commission-Central Visayas (PRC-7) launched its first Computer-Based Licensure Examination (CBLE) testing center.

Located on the fourth floor of the GMC Building along M.J. Cuenco Avenue in Cebu City, the facility, inaugurated on February 10, is equipped with 282 laptops, allowing the same number of examinees to take their tests at once.

PRC Commissioner Erwin Enad said the transition from traditional pen-and-paper exams to a digital format speeds up the process and offers more flexibility for examinees, who can now navigate questions at their own pace.

PRC-7 Regional Director Narcival Taquiqui emphasized the security and efficiency of CBLE, preventing leaks, reducing human errors, and ensuring a smoother testing experience.

Officials demonstrated the system’s built-in safeguards, which restrict access to other programs and external devices.

Before the actual test, candidates undergo a 30-minute mock exam to get familiar with the system.

Currently, PRC operates CBLE centers in Metro Manila, Ilocos, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Davao, with plans to open eight more to cover all 16 regions.

CBLE supports 17 professions with smaller-scale licensure exams, such as sanitary engineers, dental technologists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, and respiratory therapists.

PRC-7 is administering its first digital licensure exam for respiratory therapists on February 11 and 12, with results expected by February 14.

To prevent disruptions, PRC-7 has coordinated with Visayan Electric Company (VECO) to avoid power outages during scheduled exams.

A standby generator is also in place to ensure uninterrupted operations.

With CBLE’s expansion in the pipeline, PRC plans to accommodate larger-scale exams, including the Licensure Examination for Teachers and the Nurses Licensure Examination in the coming years.(MyTVCebu)