How to Verify Philippine Degrees and School Accreditation

Key takeaway

Philippine higher education is regulated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Voluntary accreditation is provided by PAASCU (private Catholic), AACCUP (state universities), and ACBET (technical programs). The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) links degree programs to licensure exams for professions like nursing, engineering, and medicine. Always verify CHED recognition status first — unrecognized institutions cannot legally award degrees in the Philippines. VerifyED's database includes Philippine institutions and known diploma mills.

The Philippine higher education system

The Philippines has one of the largest higher education systems in Southeast Asia — over 2,300 higher education institutions (HEIs) serving more than 4 million students. The University of the Philippines (UP) system and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) are the flagship state universities. Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle, and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) anchor the private Catholic sector.

Unlike some countries with a single national accreditor, the Philippines uses a layered system. CHED recognizes institutions and programs as a baseline regulatory function. Voluntary accreditation bodies then evaluate quality on top of that regulatory recognition. An institution can be CHED-recognized without holding PAASCU or AACCUP accreditation.

The Philippine diaspora is substantial — millions of Filipinos work abroad in nursing, engineering, teaching, and domestic work, often requiring credential verification for work permits, licensure reciprocity, or employment background checks.

The key verification bodies

CHED — Commission on Higher Education

CHED is the primary government body regulating Philippine higher education. All degree-granting institutions must be CHED-recognized. CHED maintains a database of recognized HEIs (HEIRS — Higher Education Institutions Recognition System) searchable at ched.gov.ph. An institution not in the CHED database cannot legally grant academic degrees in the Philippines.

Database: CHED HEI recognition list

PAASCU — Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities

PAASCU is the voluntary accreditor for private Catholic and sectarian institutions. It is recognized by CHED and by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP). PAASCU accreditation indicates a quality standard above the basic CHED recognition requirement. Many of the Philippines' most respected universities hold PAASCU accreditation — including Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle, and San Beda.

Database: PAASCU accredited institutions

AACCUP — Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines

AACCUP accredits state universities and colleges (SUCs) — the public sector of Philippine higher education. The University of the Philippines system holds the highest AACCUP accreditation levels. AACCUP accreditation is the relevant benchmark for evaluating credentials from public institutions like Visayas State University, Central Luzon State University, and Mindanao State University.

Database: AACCUP accredited programs

PRC — Professional Regulation Commission

The PRC administers licensure examinations for regulated professions in the Philippines, including nursing (NLE), medicine (MLE), engineering, teaching (LET), architecture, and pharmacy. PRC board exam results are publicly searchable — if a candidate claims to hold a Philippine professional license, their PRC registration number should be verifiable at prc.gov.ph.

Database: PRC Online Verification System

Step-by-step: verifying a Philippine degree

1

Confirm CHED recognition

Search the CHED HEI list at ched.gov.ph. The institution must appear as "recognized" and the degree program should be listed. If the institution is not in the CHED database, it cannot legally grant degrees.
2

Check voluntary accreditation (PAASCU or AACCUP)

Search PAASCU for private institutions, AACCUP for state universities. Accreditation status is voluntary but indicates quality assessment beyond basic regulatory recognition. Level IV (highest) indicates international benchmarking.
3

Verify PRC license for regulated professions

For nurses, engineers, teachers, doctors, and other regulated professionals: verify PRC registration number at prc.gov.ph. This confirms both the license and, indirectly, that the degree program qualified for the licensure exam.
4

Run through VerifyED

Search VerifyED's database of 912,000+ schools and 2,500+ diploma mills. Philippine institutions and known fraudulent Philippine-named entities appear in the database.
5

Request document authentication from DFA

For international use, Philippine academic documents must be authenticated (apostilled) by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). DFA apostille or authentication confirms the document is genuine — not just that the institution is recognized.
6

Use a credential evaluation service for US/EU employment

WES (World Education Services), ECE, or Josef Silny evaluate Philippine credentials for US employers. For nursing, the CGFNS Commission specifically handles Philippine nurse credential evaluations for US licensure.

Red flags specific to Philippine credentials

Institutions not listed in CHED's database

Any institution not appearing in the CHED HEI recognition database is operating illegally as a degree-granting institution. This is the single most reliable red flag. There are no exceptions — CHED recognition is mandatory for all Philippine HEIs.

Names that imitate UP, Ateneo, or De La Salle

Diploma mills frequently use names like "University of the Philippines Online," "Ateneo Distance Learning Institute," or "De La Salle Extension." The University of the Philippines system, Ateneo de Manila, and De La Salle are specific, CHED-recognized institutions — any variation or extension school claiming affiliation without CHED recognition is fraudulent.

Nursing degrees without PRC board exam records

Philippine nursing is one of the most credential-frauded professions globally. All licensed Philippine nurses must have passed the NLE (Nursing Licensure Exam) administered by PRC. If a candidate claims a Philippine nursing degree but has no PRC registration, it is a major red flag — Philippine nurses working abroad are required to hold PRC licensure in addition to their degree.

"Recognized" vs. "accredited" confusion

In the Philippines, "CHED-recognized" is the minimum legal requirement; "accredited" (PAASCU/AACCUP) is a quality designation above that. Diploma mills sometimes claim to be "recognized" without specifying by whom. Always confirm CHED recognition specifically — recognition by a private body is not equivalent.

Closed or revoked institutions

CHED periodically revokes recognition from institutions that fail to meet standards. Credentials from CHED-revoked institutions issued after revocation are invalid. Always check the current recognition status, not just whether the institution ever existed.

Major Philippine institutions and verification notes

Institution	Type	Accreditation
University of the Philippines (UP) system	Public research (national)	CHED recognized + AACCUP Level IV
Ateneo de Manila University	Private Catholic research	CHED recognized + PAASCU Level IV
De La Salle University	Private Catholic research	CHED recognized + PAASCU Level IV
University of Santo Tomas (UST)	Private Catholic (oldest university in Asia)	CHED recognized + PAASCU
Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)	Public polytechnic	CHED recognized + AACCUP
Far Eastern University (FEU)	Private	CHED recognized + PAASCU
Mapua University	Private (engineering focus)	CHED recognized + ACBET

Philippine credentials and international employment

Filipino workers represent one of the world's largest diaspora communities, with over 10 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) employed across the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Asia. Their credentials — particularly in nursing, engineering, teaching, and seafaring — are among the most commonly presented for international verification.

For US employers: WES and CGFNS are the primary evaluation services. CGFNS specifically handles nursing credentials and is required by many state nursing boards for Philippine nurse licensure candidates.

For Middle East employers: The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and DFA authentication remain the standard verification chain. Employers should also check that the credential program is TESDA-registered for technical/vocational qualifications.

Verify any Philippine school in seconds

Search 912,000+ schools and check against 2,500+ known diploma mills — including Philippine institutions and fraudulent schools targeting OFW workers.

Search VerifyED →