Section 26Sec./Art. 26

Registration and Exception.- Two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act, no person shall engage in teaching and/ or act as a professional teacher as defined in this Act, whether in the preschool, elementary or secondary level, unless he is a duly registered professional teacher, and a holder of a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license or a holder of a valid special/temporary permit.

Upon approval of the application and payment of the prescribed fees, the certificate of registration and professional license as a professional teacher shall be issued without examination as required in this Act to a qualified applicant, who at the time of the approval of this Act, is:

(a) A holder of a certificate of eligibility as a teacher issued by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports; or

(b) A registered professional teacher with the National Board for Teachers under the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1006; or

(c) Not qualified under paragraphs one and two but with any of the following qualifications, to wit:

(1) An elementary or secondary teacher for five (5) years in good standing and a holder of a Bachelor of Science in Education or its equivalent; or

(2) An elementary or secondary teacher for three (3) years in good standing and a holder of a master's degree in education or its equivalent.

Provided,That they shall be given two (2) years from the organization of the Board for professional teachers within which to register and be included in the roster of professional teachers:Provided, further,That those incumbent teachers who are not qualified to register without examination under this Act or who, albeit qualified, were unable to register within the two-year period shall be issued a five-year temporary or special permit from the time the Board is organized within which to register after passing the examination and complying with the requirements provided in this Act and be included in the roster of professional teachers:Provided, furthermore,That those who have failed the licensure examination for professional teachers shall be eligible as para- teachers and as such, shall be issued by the Board a special or temporary permit, and shall be assigned by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) to schools as it may determine under the circumstances.

ARTICLE IV

PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION