CHED CMO No. 11, Series of 2025: The New ETEEAP Rules Explained

For years, the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) operated largely on the strength of a 1996 Executive Order. That changed in March 2025, when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12124, the ETEEAP Act, into law. A few months later, on June 16, 2025, CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis signed CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 11, Series of 2025, the official Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of that landmark law.

This document is not just bureaucratic paperwork. It defines, in precise detail, how the program works, who qualifies, what schools must do to participate, and what happens when they fail to comply. If you are thinking of applying for ETEEAP, or you are simply trying to understand the landscape of this program today, understanding CMO No. 11 is the most important thing you can do before taking your next step.

This guide breaks down the IRR in plain language so you know exactly where you stand.

What You Will Find in This Guide

What is CHED CMO No. 11, Series of 2025?

CMO No. 11, Series of 2025 is the official set of rules that tells everyone involved in the ETEEAP exactly how to operate under the new law. It covers four major areas: general provisions, the definition of key terms, how the program is implemented inside Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and the rules on governance, monitoring, and funding.

Before this IRR existed, ETEEAP was governed by older CHED memoranda that were written for a different era. The passage of RA 12124 required a fresh, comprehensive set of guidelines. CMO No. 11 is that fresh set of guidelines, and it supersedes prior orders that conflict with its provisions.

The IRR was promulgated through Commission en Banc Resolution No. 425-2025, dated May 19, 2025, and took effect immediately upon approval on June 16, 2025, following its publication in the Official Gazette and registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register at the University of the Philippines Law Center.

In short: this is the rulebook that governs ETEEAP today. Everything that follows is drawn directly from its provisions. You can download the CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER No. 11 Series of 2025 here.

Who Qualifies: The Applicant Eligibility Requirements

The IRR sets clear, non-negotiable criteria for ETEEAP applicants. These mirror the requirements in RA 12124 itself but include important clarifications about what counts as acceptable proof. You must satisfy all four of the following conditions.

Filipino Citizenship

You must be a Filipino citizen. The program is open to Filipinos residing in the Philippines and to those currently living or working abroad, which makes it particularly relevant to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

At Least 23 Years Old

You must be at least 23 years old at the time of application. Your PSA-authenticated Certificate of Live Birth is required to confirm this. The age threshold exists because the program is designed for individuals who have had time to accumulate meaningful professional experience after completing secondary school.

Completion of Secondary Education

You must have finished a secondary school program. The IRR accepts any of the following as evidence of this: a high school diploma, an Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency Assessment and Certification, or a result from the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) showing that you are qualified to enter college.

Minimum of Five Years of Relevant Work Experience

This is the backbone of the entire application. You must have accumulated at least five years of work experience in an industry that is directly related to the academic degree program you are pursuing. The experience must be relevant, meaning the tasks and responsibilities you performed in your career must align with the curriculum of the degree.

You may also submit documentation of relevant training programs as additional supporting evidence. This includes National Certificates (NCs) or Certificates of Competency issued by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Not sure if you meet these requirements? Visit the ETEEAP eligibility page at ETEEAP.PH for a more detailed breakdown of what counts and what does not.

What Documents You Need to Submit

The IRR specifies the following supporting documents that must accompany a completed ETEEAP application form. The application form itself can be obtained from any deputized HEI.

  1. PSA Certificate of Live Birth proving you are at least 23 years old
  2. Evidence of secondary education completion (high school diploma, PEPT result, or ALS certification)
  3. A comprehensive portfolio detailing at least five years of relevant industry work experience
  4. Documentation of formal, non-formal, and informal learning, including TESDA National Certificates or Certificates of Competency where applicable
  5. A recommendation letter from your employer or an industry expert attesting to your competencies

Individual HEIs may also require additional documents such as a barangay clearance, NBI clearance, or passport; a service record or Certificate of Employment; a comprehensive resume; and certificates of training and workshops you have completed.

Always confirm the specific requirements with the HEI where you plan to apply, as each school may add its own admission criteria on top of the minimum standards set by CHED.

How Schools Get Authorized to Offer ETEEAP

Not every school in the Philippines can offer the ETEEAP. The IRR sets strict conditions for deputization, meaning a school must be officially authorized by CHED before it can accept ETEEAP applications and award degrees under the program.

A public or private HEI may be considered for deputization if it meets at least one of the following conditions:

  • It is recognized as a Center of Excellence (COE) or Center of Development (COD) in the program or discipline it intends to offer through ETEEAP.
  • For State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), the institution must be at least at SUC Level II and the specific program must hold a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) from CHED.
  • For Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), the institution must have equivalent Institutional Recognition (IR) and a COPC for the intended program.
  • For private HEIs, the institution must have been granted autonomous or deregulated status by CHED.

Importantly, any school with pending legal cases, outstanding complaints, or issued show cause orders cannot apply for deputization until those matters are fully resolved.

Once approved, the deputization is valid for five years. On the fourth year of operation, the HEI must apply for renewal through a re-evaluation conducted by the CHED Regional Office (CHEDRO), the Regional Quality Assessment Teams (RQATs), and the Technical Panel/Evaluators for ETEEAP.

You can browse the list of currently authorized schools on the ETEEAP.PH accredited schools page.

The Assessment Process: Four Ways Your Competency is Measured

Once you submit your application and the HEI accepts it, you enter the assessment phase. The IRR describes a multi-pronged evaluation process designed to measure not just what you know, but what you can actually do. The deputized HEI will convene a panel of internal and external assessors to conduct the following assessments.

Portfolio Evaluation

A comprehensive review of your work experience, certifications, and prior learning achievements. This is where your years of service records, project reports, awards, and professional accomplishments are examined and matched against the degree program’s learning outcomes.

Written Examinations

Standardized tests covering the theoretical knowledge and academic competencies required for the degree. These assess whether you understand the foundational principles of your field at a level consistent with a bachelor’s degree.

Practical Demonstrations

Hands-on assessments designed to evaluate your technical skills and proficiency in the field. For programs in engineering, information technology, nursing, or similar fields, you may be asked to perform specific tasks in a controlled environment.

Oral Defense or Panel Interview

A formal discussion with the panel of assessors. This is your opportunity to validate the authenticity of your experience, demonstrate the depth of your professional knowledge, and show that your values, attitudes, and ethical standards align with the demands of the degree.

After these assessments are completed, the panel determines the amount of academic equivalency credit to be awarded to you. This is done by matching your demonstrated competencies with the learning outcomes of the specific courses in the degree program.

Learn more about how the ETEEAP process works at ETEEAP.PH.

Competency Enrichment: Filling the Gaps

One of the most common misconceptions about ETEEAP is that it hands you a degree based purely on your work history. It does not. The IRR is explicit about this. After the assessment, the HEI identifies any competency gaps between your demonstrated experience and the full requirements of the degree program.

If gaps exist, you must complete a Competency Enrichment Phase. This may involve supplemental academic modules, research or capstone projects, or in some cases a brief industry immersion if a specific technical skill is missing from your profile.

The good news is that the IRR encourages flexible learning modalities for this enrichment phase. Schools are allowed to offer these requirements through e-learning, mobile learning, blended learning, or any other flexible format that suits your schedule. This is especially beneficial for applicants who are still employed or based overseas.

Schools that plan to deliver this enrichment phase through Open Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) must obtain a separate authority from CHED before doing so. And if a school plans to issue micro-credential certificates as part of its ETEEAP implementation, it must also obtain prior approval from the Commission.

Only after you have satisfied all learning outcomes and met both the CHED and HEI completion requirements will the school award you the appropriate academic degree.

How You Graduate and What You Can Do After

Once you have completed all the assessments, resolved your competency gaps through the enrichment phase, and met all program requirements, the deputized HEI confers the appropriate academic degree on you. This is a CHED-recognized bachelor’s degree that carries the same weight as a degree earned through the traditional four-year college route.

The IRR also specifies an important provision for applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree, whether earned through a regular college program or through ETEEAP. You may apply for equivalency and accreditation toward a second bachelor’s degree, but only for one additional degree, and the prior learning you submit must be directly related to that second degree you are seeking.

Regarding licensure, the IRR is clear: ETEEAP graduates are qualified to sit for the appropriate licensure examinations administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), unless a specific law provides otherwise for a particular profession.

Sanctions: What Happens to Schools That Cheat the System

The IRR introduces a serious accountability mechanism that was not as robustly defined under the older guidelines. CHED now has the authority to impose sanctions on any deputized HEI found to be in violation of CMO No. 11, the Quality Assurance System, and any other pertinent rules.

Sanctions range from the withdrawal or revocation of the school’s authority to operate the ETEEAP, to the payment of fines as determined by the Commission. In more serious cases, appropriate civil and criminal actions may be instituted against the erring institution and its officials.

CHED can also enlist the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID), and other law enforcement bodies to enforce these provisions.

This accountability framework matters to you as an applicant. It means the ETEEAP degree you earn from a deputized institution carries genuine academic integrity behind it.

If you have encountered or heard of unauthorized schools offering ETEEAP programs, visit ETEEAP.PH’s blog for relevant advisories.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

CHED CMO No. 11, Series of 2025 is the clearest and most comprehensive set of rules the ETEEAP has ever had. For working professionals who have spent years building expertise in their fields, this IRR is the legal foundation that gives your future degree its credibility and permanence.

If you believe you meet the qualifications and are ready to explore this path further, ETEEAP.PH has the resources to help you get started.

Your years of work already count for something. Now there is a formal, legally backed process to make sure everyone else recognizes that too.

ETEEAP.PH is an independent guide and is not affiliated with CHED or any HEI. Always verify the latest requirements directly with your chosen deputized Higher Education Institution.