(Philippine legal and regulatory context; practical procedure and documentation)

1) What exactly is “the PRC license”?

In everyday use, “PRC license” can refer to two different PRC-issued documents:

Professional Identification Card (PIC) – the wallet-sized ID card showing your name, profession, license number, and validity (this is what most people mean by “license”).
Certificate of Registration (COR) – the large “wall certificate” evidencing registration in the roll of professionals.

They have separate replacement processes. A person may lose one or both.

2) Legal framework and why PRC controls the process

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) is the government agency empowered to regulate professions, issue proof of registration, and enforce professional standards. Replacement of the PIC/COR is treated as an administrative transaction under PRC rules and procedures, implemented within broader laws on public service delivery and documentation.

Key legal anchors (in general terms):

PRC’s enabling/organizational laws and the respective professional regulatory laws (per profession) authorize issuance of registration documents and IDs.
Notarial rules and civil law principles on affidavits govern the form and credibility of an Affidavit of Loss.
Ease of Doing Business / Anti-Red Tape policy influences streamlined processing, standardized requirements, and time-bound transactions.
Data privacy principles apply to your personal data submitted for replacement.

3) Why replacement matters (and what risks it reduces)

Replacing a lost PIC is not just about convenience:

Identity and professional protection: A lost ID can be misused to misrepresent professional status, solicit clients, or commit fraud.
Employment and compliance: Many employers, clinics, hospitals, schools, and government offices require a current PRC ID as a credential.
Transactions with regulators: Some regulated activities require presentation of the PIC (or official verification).

Practical protective step: Document the loss promptly (Affidavit of Loss; optionally a police blotter if circumstances suggest theft or misuse), and proceed with replacement.

4) Replacement of a Lost PRC Professional Identification Card (PIC)

A. Core concept: “Re-issuance” of the ID

PRC typically treats this as replacement/re-issuance of the PIC based on existing registration records, subject to identity verification and payment of fees.

B. Common eligibility checkpoints

Before you apply, check these common issues:

Is your PIC expired?
- If the card is expired, the proper transaction may be renewal rather than pure replacement. In practice, you may still be asked for an Affidavit of Loss, but your processing will follow renewal rules (including CPD requirements where applicable).
Are your details accurate?
- If there’s a name correction/change, or other civil-status updates, PRC may require supporting civil registry documents (e.g., PSA documents, court order, marriage certificate), and the transaction may become “replacement due to change of status/data correction,” not purely loss.

C. Typical documentary requirements

While requirements can vary slightly, the replacement application commonly involves:

Duly accomplished application/request for replacement
- Often generated/initiated through PRC’s online appointment/transaction system or accomplished at the PRC office.
Affidavit of Loss (notarized)
- The standard proof that the PIC was lost, stating when/where/how it was lost and that you are requesting a replacement.
Recent passport-style photos
- Usually with specific background and format standards.
Valid government-issued ID(s)
- For identity verification and matching of personal data.
Payment of replacement fee
- Fees differ by transaction type; keep the official receipt.

Optional/when advisable:

Police blotter/report if the card was stolen, robbed, or you suspect misuse. PRC often relies on an Affidavit of Loss, but a police record is useful when the loss is connected to a criminal incident or to formally document suspected identity misuse.

D. Standard procedure (practical, step-by-step)

Prepare your Affidavit of Loss (see template section below).
Secure valid IDs and prepare your photo(s).
File the request for replacement
- Usually via PRC’s appointment/online transaction system or at a PRC office, depending on available channels.
Pay the required fees through the authorized payment options.
Appear for verification (if required)
- PRC may verify identity, capture photo/signature biometrics, or confirm registration details.
Claim the replacement PIC
- Follow the claim schedule/venue indicated in your transaction or appointment details.

E. Special situations

1) Loss abroad / OFWs

You may execute an Affidavit of Loss abroad before a Philippine consular officer (or comply with local notarization plus authentication requirements, depending on the document and country). A consularized affidavit is usually the cleanest approach.

2) Lost PIC plus change of name (marriage, annulment, court-ordered change)

Expect additional documents (PSA marriage certificate, court order, annotated PSA birth certificate, etc.). PRC commonly treats this as a data-change replacement, not merely loss.

3) Profession with special practice rules

Some professions have practice requirements (e.g., posting/display rules, facility accreditation linkages). Replacement of the PIC does not change your registration status, but you should coordinate with your employer/regulator if the lost card was used as part of credentialing.

5) Replacement of a Lost Certificate of Registration (COR)

If what you lost is the wall certificate, request is typically for a duplicate COR (often referred to as “replacement” or “certified true copy/duplicate” depending on PRC’s internal category).

Typical requirements

Request/application for duplicate COR
Affidavit of Loss (notarized)
Valid IDs
Payment of fees
Additional verification if PRC requires retrieval of archival records (more common for older registrations)

Practical note

The COR is often less frequently demanded day-to-day than the PIC, but it matters for: clinic/hospital credentialing, school credential files, and some licensing audits. Replacing it is advisable if it’s permanently lost.

6) The Affidavit of Loss: legal purpose and drafting essentials

A. What it is

An Affidavit of Loss is a sworn statement (executed under oath) narrating the loss and requesting reliance on the statement for a replacement transaction.

B. Why it matters

It creates a formal, sworn record that can be relied upon administratively.
False statements can expose the affiant to legal consequences (e.g., perjury-related exposure, and administrative liability if used to obtain an official document improperly).

C. Drafting essentials (what to include)

Full name, citizenship, legal age, and address
PRC profession, license/registration number (if known)
Description of the lost item: “PRC Professional Identification Card” and/or “Certificate of Registration”
Approximate date and place of loss; circumstances (lost while commuting, misplaced, etc.)
Diligent efforts to locate it and statement that it cannot be found
Statement that it has not been surrendered or pledged, and request for replacement
Undertaking to return the original if found
Notarial jurat (sworn before a notary public)

D. Simple template (customize carefully)

AFFIDAVIT OF LOSS I, [FULL NAME], of legal age, [civil status], [citizenship], and residing at [address], after having been duly sworn, depose and state:

That I am a duly registered [profession] with PRC, with Registration/License No. [number];

That I previously possessed my PRC Professional Identification Card (PIC) issued by the PRC;

That on or about [date], while I was at/in [place], my said PIC was lost/misplaced under the following circumstances: [brief narration];

That I exerted diligent efforts to locate the said PIC but despite such efforts, I could no longer find it and believe it to be permanently lost;

That the said PIC has not been pawned, pledged, or voluntarily given to any person, and I am executing this Affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing and to support my request for the replacement/re-issuance of my PRC PIC;

That if the original PIC is found, I undertake to surrender it to the PRC and/or to the proper authorities as may be required. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this [date] at [city], Philippines. [Signature over Printed Name] SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this [date] at [city], affiant exhibiting to me [ID type and number].

Tip: Keep the narration truthful and concise; avoid overdramatizing. If theft/robbery occurred, state that and attach a police blotter if you have one.

7) Fees, processing time, and where to file

Fees: Governed by PRC’s current schedule and depend on whether your transaction is a straightforward replacement, a replacement with data change, or a renewal-with-loss scenario.
Processing time: Varies by office volume and whether archival retrieval is needed.
Where to file: PRC offices and/or PRC’s official online transaction/appointment channels, subject to the options available for your profession and location.

Practical best practice: Keep digital copies of your official receipt, affidavit, and the transaction/appointment details.

8) What if someone uses your lost PRC ID?

If you suspect misuse:

Document the loss (Affidavit of Loss; police blotter if theft or credible misuse risk).
Proceed with PRC replacement as soon as practicable.
Inform your employer/credentialing office (hospital HR/medical staff office, school admin, clinic admin) if your workplace relies on the ID for access or representation.
Keep proof of your replacement filing to show you acted promptly.

If actual fraud occurs (e.g., someone represents themselves using your identity), consult counsel regarding possible complaints (e.g., falsification/estafa-related fact patterns vary), and coordinate with PRC if administrative reporting is needed.

9) Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Applying for replacement when the real issue is renewal: If your ID is expired, prepare for renewal requirements (including CPD where applicable).
Affidavit not properly notarized: Ensure it has the correct jurat and notarial details.
Mismatch of personal data: Use the same full name format across documents; bring IDs that match your PRC record.
Wrong document replaced: Confirm whether you lost the PIC, the COR, or both.

10) Quick FAQ

Q: Can I practice while waiting for replacement? Your authority to practice generally comes from being duly registered/licensed, not from physically holding the card. But many employers/clients require the physical proof. If you must show proof, ask PRC for acceptable verification options and keep your transaction receipt.

Q: Is an Affidavit of Loss always required? It is the most common requirement for “loss” transactions. For theft or high-risk misuse, a police blotter is prudent.

Q: What if I later find the original card? Do not keep using both. Follow the undertaking in your affidavit—coordinate with PRC on surrender/cancellation rules.

Q: What if my name changed since my last PRC ID was issued? Expect additional civil registry/court documents; the transaction becomes replacement due to change/correction plus re-issuance.

11) Practical checklist (print-ready)

Confirm whether you lost the PIC, COR, or both
Draft and notarize Affidavit of Loss
Prepare valid IDs (at least one primary ID)
Prepare required photo(s)
File replacement request via PRC’s official channels / office
Pay fee; keep official receipt
Attend any verification/biometrics step
Claim replacement; store scans securely

12) A final legal note

PRC replacement is an administrative process: the decisive factor is identity verification and consistency with PRC registration records. Keep your documentation accurate and sworn statements truthful, and treat loss incidents with basic risk management (documentation + prompt replacement), especially if you suspect the card could be misused.

If you tell me your profession (e.g., RN, engineer, teacher, CPA) and whether the lost item is the PIC or COR, I can tailor the checklist to the most common profession-specific issues (like renewal/CPD and credentialing).