The pressure just eased. But the responsibility didn’t.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), through Resolution No. 2136 (A), Series of 2025, has officially extended the acceptance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) compliance for Professional Identification Card (PIC) renewal until June 30, 2026.
For many veterinarians, this feels like a lifeline.
But let’s be clear.
This is not an exemption.
This is not forgiveness.
This is time.
Why the Extension Happened
The PRC didn’t extend this out of convenience. It came from real, systemic problems:
- High cost of CPD seminars and conferences
- Limited access outside major cities
- Conflicting schedules with clinical practice
- Over-reliance on traditional, in-person learning formats
- Delayed rollout of updated CPD systems and guidelines
In short, the system wasn’t fully ready for everyone.
And the PRC acknowledged that.
What This Means for Veterinarians
This extension allows you to renew your PRC license even if you have incomplete CPD units, until June 30, 2026.
But here’s the part most people miss:
- You are still expected to comply.
- You are still accountable moving forward.
- The system is transitioning, not disappearing.
This is a grace period, not a loophole.
The Bigger Shift: From Attendance to Learning
One of the most important signals in this resolution is not the extension itself.
It’s the direction.
The PRC is clearly moving toward:
- Recognition of self-directed learning
- Inclusion of online and informal education
- Validation of professional work experience
- More flexible, diversified CPD pathways
This is a major shift.
From:
“Attend this seminar to earn units”
To:
“Prove that you are continuously learning”
That’s a different game.
The Reality on the Ground
Let’s be honest.
Most veterinarians don’t skip CPD because they don’t care.
They skip it because:
- Clinics don’t stop running
- Emergencies don’t schedule themselves
- Owners can’t always afford referrals
- Time is limited, and priorities are survival
And sometimes…
CPD feels disconnected from real practice.
That gap is what this resolution is trying to address.
The Risk of Misinterpretation
Here’s the danger.
Some will read this and think:
“Relax muna. May extension naman.”
That mindset will cost you later.
Because when full implementation hits, it will be stricter, more structured, and less forgiving.
If you wait until 2026 to start thinking about CPD, you’re already behind.
The Smart Move
Use this extension strategically.
Not to delay.
But to reposition.
Start now:
- Attend relevant, high-impact trainings
- Explore online CPD opportunities
- Document your learning and case exposure
- Align your growth with your clinical direction
Make CPD work for you.
Not the other way around.
Final Thought
This resolution is not just policy.
It’s a mirror.
It reflects the reality of our profession
and the gaps we need to close.
The question is simple:
Will you use this time to grow…
or just to catch up?
Because when June 30, 2026 arrives,
the system moves forward.
And it won’t wait.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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