Career Colleges and Vocational Schools in Philippines

Vocational education in the Philippines is called technical-vocational education and training (TVET). Under the TESDA Act of 1994, technical education covers programmes at post-secondary and lower tertiary level that are officially recognised as non-degree programmes and prepare technicians, para-professionals and other middle-level workers. It sits beside basic education and higher education as one of the three branches of the Philippine system.

For international students, Philippine TVET is mainly of interest for short, practical courses taught in English, such as cookery and hospitality, ICT or languages. SpainExchange lists one school in this category: the Center for Asian Culinary Studies (CACS) in Manila, a culinary school.

Who runs vocational training

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was created by Republic Act No. 7796, signed on 25 August 1994. It merged several earlier offices of the labour and education departments and is responsible for skills standards, tests and the accreditation of training institutions. The Philippine Qualifications Framework Act of 2018 describes the system as "trifocalized": the Department of Education (DepEd) runs basic education, TESDA runs TVET and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) runs higher education. The framework sets national qualification levels so that learners can move between the three sectors.

How the system works

Vocational options already appear in school. Since the K to 12 reform, secondary education has four years of junior high school and two years of senior high school, where students choose a career track.

After school, training is delivered in four ways: school-based, centre-based, enterprise-based (including apprenticeship and dual training) and community-based. TESDA runs its own network of 125 TESDA Technology Institutions, which includes schools and regional, provincial and specialised training centres. Among them are 35 Language Skills Institutes that teach languages such as English, Korean, Mandarin, Japanese and Spanish, mainly to workers preparing to work abroad. Most other courses are given by private and public technical-vocational institutions.

TESDA also offers the TESDA Online Program (TOP), with online courses in sectors such as tourism, ICT, health care, agriculture and food processing.

Qualifications and accreditation

Every TVET programme must be registered with TESDA before it is offered, under the Unified TVET Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS). A registered programme receives a Certificate of Program Registration (CoPR) and appears in TESDA's Compendium of Registered Programs, which is the first thing to check before paying for a course.

Training and certification are separate steps. At the end of a course, learners can take a competency assessment at an accredited assessment centre. Those who meet the competency standard receive a National Certificate (NC) or a Certificate of Competency (COC), and certified workers are listed in TESDA's Registry of Certified Workers. A school's own diploma is not the same as a TESDA certificate.

Admission and costs

Admission rules depend on the programme and the training regulation behind it. TESDA does not publish a single fee scale for private schools, so fees vary by institution and course; ask whether the assessment fee is included. TESDA also runs scholarship programmes. Foreign students who want to attend a course in the Philippines should ask the school which immigration permit they need before travelling.

How to choose a vocational course

• Registration: check that the programme is in the TESDA Compendium of Registered Programs
• Certification: ask whether the course prepares for a National Certificate or Certificate of Competency, and where the assessment takes place
• Practical training: ask how much time is spent in workshops, kitchens or on-the-job training
• Language: ask whether classes and assessment are in English or Filipino
• Total cost: tuition, materials, uniforms and the assessment fee

Frequently asked questions

Who regulates vocational schools in the Philippines?

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), created in 1994. Every TVET programme must be registered with TESDA before a school can offer it.

What qualification do I get after a TESDA course?

Learners who pass a competency assessment receive a National Certificate (NC) or a Certificate of Competency (COC). A school's own diploma or certificate is not a TESDA qualification.

Can I take Philippine vocational courses online?

Yes. The TESDA Online Program offers online courses in sectors such as tourism, ICT, health care and agriculture.

Are vocational courses in the Philippines taught in English?

Filipino and English are the main languages of instruction in Philippine secondary education, but the language of each course depends on the school, so check before enrolling.