NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
No Time For College? No Problem! Filipinos Can Now Earn Degrees Through Work Experience
Photo credit: PCO
Ever wished you could finish college without going the traditional route? Good news—now you can. Thanks to the newly signed Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) Act, Filipinos can now turn work experience and prior learning into a college degree.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12124 into law, making it easier for working professionals and non-traditional learners to get academic degrees without starting from scratch. Whether you're a seasoned worker, an entrepreneur, or someone who gained skills outside the classroom, you can apply for accreditation and finally earn that diploma!
How Does It Work?
The program, spearheaded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), will assess, validate, and assign academic credits to individuals based on their prior formal, non-formal, or informal learning. That means your years of industry experience, skills training, or even self-taught expertise could count toward a college degree.
CHED will work with selected higher education institutions (HEIs) to implement ETEEAP, ensuring that academic standards are met while recognizing the diverse learning paths of Filipinos.
Who Can Apply?
If you’re a Filipino citizen, whether in the country or abroad, you can apply as long as you meet these requirements:
• At least 23 years old at the time of application
• Completed high school (or passed the Alternative Learning System Accreditation & Equivalency test)
• At least five years of relevant work experience in an industry related to the degree you want to earn
What’s Next?
CHED will establish clear guidelines on how applicants can get their experience assessed, which universities will offer ETEEAP degrees, and how much it will cost. They will also monitor schools to ensure quality education standards are met.
With this law in place, getting a degree no longer means putting life on hold. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, running a business, or working overseas, you now have a way to earn that diploma without starting from scratch.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12124 into law, making it easier for working professionals and non-traditional learners to get academic degrees without starting from scratch. Whether you're a seasoned worker, an entrepreneur, or someone who gained skills outside the classroom, you can apply for accreditation and finally earn that diploma!
How Does It Work?
The program, spearheaded by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), will assess, validate, and assign academic credits to individuals based on their prior formal, non-formal, or informal learning. That means your years of industry experience, skills training, or even self-taught expertise could count toward a college degree.
CHED will work with selected higher education institutions (HEIs) to implement ETEEAP, ensuring that academic standards are met while recognizing the diverse learning paths of Filipinos.
Who Can Apply?
If you’re a Filipino citizen, whether in the country or abroad, you can apply as long as you meet these requirements:
• At least 23 years old at the time of application
• Completed high school (or passed the Alternative Learning System Accreditation & Equivalency test)
• At least five years of relevant work experience in an industry related to the degree you want to earn
What’s Next?
CHED will establish clear guidelines on how applicants can get their experience assessed, which universities will offer ETEEAP degrees, and how much it will cost. They will also monitor schools to ensure quality education standards are met.
With this law in place, getting a degree no longer means putting life on hold. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, running a business, or working overseas, you now have a way to earn that diploma without starting from scratch.
Mar 5, 2025
We are dedicated storytellers with a passion for bringing your brand to life. Our services range from news and media features to brand promotion and collaborations.
Interested? Visit our
Contact Us page for more information. To learn more about what we offer, check out our latest article on services and opportunities.
