Procedure for Renewing Lost Professional License Before Expiration in the Philippines

Procedure for Renewing a Lost Professional Identification Card (PIC) before Its Expiration

(Philippine setting — updated to July 2025)


1. Overview

Losing your Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Identification Card while it is still valid does not suspend your authority to practise. However, you must (a) secure a replacement for the lost card and (b) decide whether you will simply re‑print the current card or advance its renewal if expiration is near. This guide focuses on the latter: renewing a PRC licence that has been lost but will soon expire.


2. Governing Laws & Regulations

Instrument Key Points
Republic Act (R.A.) 8981 — PRC Modernization Act of 2000 Empowers PRC to prescribe renewal periods, fees, and documentary requirements.
R.A. 10912 — Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016 Makes CPD units a renewal prerequisite, but PRC may issue temporary relaxation resolutions.
PRC Resolution No. 2016‑990 (as amended) Sets the three‑year validity of PICs and authorizes the LERIS online renewal system.
PRC Memorandum Circulars 2022‑04 & 2024‑02 Extend “CPD compliance on good‑faith basis” – you may execute an Undertaking if units are incomplete until 31 Dec 2025.
Civil Code Art. 1717 & Rule 132, Rules of Court Affidavit of Loss must be duly notarised.

3. Replacement vs. Renewal

Scenario Appropriate Action
PIC lost and validity more than 12 months Apply for Duplicate/Replacement only (not a renewal).
PIC lost but expires within 12 months (or you wish to synchronise a new 3‑year validity) Renew; the old card is deemed surrendered.

Tip: PRC allows renewal as early as one year before expiration. If your card is lost and the expiry is within that window, renewing is more economical than paying both the duplicate‑ID fee and a separate renewal fee later.


4. Who May Avail

  • Licensed professionals whose PIC is lost, stolen, or mutilated yet still active (not expired or revoked).
  • Name appearing on the PRC database matches the applicant’s valid government ID (or changes have been updated via Petition for Change of Name/Status).
  • Filipino citizens abroad may authorise a representative through a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate.

5. Documentary Requirements

  1. Notarised Affidavit of Loss

    • State circumstances of loss, full name, profession, licence no., date of issue & expiry.
    • Include an undertaking to surrender the old card if later found.
  2. One (1) government‑issued ID (passport, UMID, driver’s licence); photocopy.

  3. Recent passport‑size photo with plain white background, in collar, name tag printed (last‑name, first‑name, middle‑name). Needed only if studio upload fails on LERIS.

  4. Proof of CPD compliance or CPD Undertaking (Form PRC CPD‑01) if units are incomplete.

  5. Printed LERIS Application Form & Payment Confirmation (generated after online appointment).

  6. Special documents if applicable

    • SPA and ID of authorised representative.
    • Marriage Certificate / Court Order for change of name.

6. Step‑by‑Step Renewal Process

  1. Create / Log in to PRC LERIS Account

  2. Initiate Transaction → “Renewal”

    • Choose profession, input licence number.
    • System automatically displays earliest allowed renewal date and CPD compliance advisory.
  3. Upload Affidavit of Loss

    • Scan as PDF/JPEG; maximum size 2 MB.
    • Indicate “Lost PIC — for renewal” in remarks.
  4. Select Appointment Schedule & PRC Office

    • Metro Manila choices (e.g., PRC Central, Robinsons Galleria) or Regional Offices/Service Centers.
    • Overseas Filipino professionals may book via PRC‑ONETEST overseas renewal desks (if available) or authorise a representative.
  5. Pay Renewal Fee

    • ₱450 — base fee for most professions (+Php30 service charge).
    • Add ₱50 surcharge per month if licence already expired.
    • Channels: PayMaya, LandBank iAccess, UCPB, Debit/Credit Card, GCash (via e‑GovPay).
  6. Print Documents

    • Application Form (contains QR code) and Payment Slip.
  7. Personal Appearance on Appointment Date

    • Submit originals & photocopies of Affidavit of Loss, ID, CPD proofs/Undertaking.
    • Have biometrics captured if last PIC was issued pre‑2020 or system flags “photo renewal required”.
  8. Claim the New PIC

    • Standard processing: 2–4 hours (same day) for Metro Manila; 1–3 working days in busy regional sites.
    • Representative must present valid ID and SPA.

7. Fees at a Glance (as of July 2025)

Item Amount (PHP)
Renewal (3‑year validity) 450.00
PRC IT Service Charge 30.00
Notarial Fee (Affidavit) ±150.00
Surcharge (per month after expiry) 50.00
Courier Delivery (optional) 180–220

8. CPD Compliance Notes

  • Full compliance: Upload certificates totaling the minimum units for your profession (i.e., 45 units for most).
  • Undertaking option: If you lack units, sign the PRC Undertaking; you are given until 31 Dec 2025 to complete and upload the deficit.
  • Exemptions: Overseas professionals not practising locally, retirees, & pandemic‑front‑liner credits (per Res. 1240 s. 2023).

9. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Pitfall Prevention Tip
Affidavit rejected for vague details Mention date, place, and manner of loss; include police blotter no. if theft.
Appointment auto‑cancelled Pay within 8 hours; otherwise system releases slot.
Duplicate payment / double booking Wait for “Payment Successful” email before retrying.
Low‑resolution photo upload Use ≥300 dpi, neutral expression; avoid shadows.
Renewal denied for pending administrative case Secure clearance from PRC Legal Division first.

10. Sample Affidavit of Loss (Key Clauses)

  1. “That on or about 05 May 2025, while commuting from Quezon City to Pasay, I discovered that my wallet containing my Professional Identification Card bearing No. 123456 was missing and presumed lost…”
  2. “That said PRC ID is valid until 09 April 2026 and has not been surrendered to any person or authority…”
  3. “That I am executing this affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing facts and to support my application for renewal and replacement of said licence.”

11. Penalties for Late Renewal

Practising with an expired licence may subject you to:

  1. Surcharge – ₱50/month computed from expiry date.
  2. Administrative Fine – Up to ₱30,000 (Art. III, R.A. 8981); imposed after formal investigation.
  3. Possible Suspension – For repeated violations.

12. Special Situations

Situation Additional Action
Name change due to marriage/annulment File Petition for Change of Registered Name (PRC Form RN‑01) with PSA certificate & newspaper publication.
Lost & damaged Board Certificate Submit Petition for Duplicate Certificate separately; not required for PIC renewal.
Foreign‑based Filipino Execute SPA; representative completes biometrics on your behalf only if previously captured after 2012.
Upcoming PRC IT downtime PRC announces via <facebook.com data-preserve-html-node="true"/prcboard> — book slots before maintenance windows.

13. Practical Tips

  1. Schedule morning slot to minimise queues.
  2. Bring extra photocopies; on‑site copying costs thrice the street rate.
  3. Save soft copies of affidavits & CPD proofs in cloud storage — useful for future renewals.
  4. Monitor email / SMS for status alerts; some regional offices text when card is ready.
  5. If the lost card surfaces after issuance of the new one, surrender it to PRC; possession of two IDs is an administrative offence.

14. Frequently Asked Questions

Q A
Can I walk in without an appointment? Only during PRC‑announced “Courtesy Lane” days for senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women.
What if my profession is on board restructuring (e.g., Electronics Tech → ECT)? Renewal proceeds as usual; new card will reflect updated professional title.
Does the police blotter replace the affidavit? No. Blotter supports the affidavit but cannot stand alone.
Is DHL delivery reliable? Yes; track via PRC courier portal. Card is sealed in tamper‑evident pouch.

15. Conclusion

Renewing a lost yet unexpired PRC licence is essentially a two‑in‑one transaction: you prove loss through a notarised affidavit, then proceed with the standard online renewal workflow. By preparing the affidavit, CPD evidence (or undertaking), and settling fees promptly via LERIS, you can obtain a fresh three‑year Professional Identification Card in as little as half a day — preserving your legal authority to practise and avoiding costly surcharges. Always check PRC advisories for any changes, particularly on CPD relaxations and fee adjustments, as regulations evolve.

This article is informational and does not constitute legal advice. For complex cases, consult the PRC Legal Division or a licensed attorney.

Disclaimer: This content is not legal advice and may involve AI assistance. Information may be inaccurate.