To: Undersecretaries
Assistant Secretaries
Regional Directors
Schools Division/City Superintendent
Heads, Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

1. Under DepEd Order No. 85, s. 2003, aspirants for Principalship must pass a test developed by the Regional Office to be considered for selection and promotion.
2. Pending development of the test, those who have successfully completed the Basic School Management Course (BSMC) and the Strategic Management and Instructional Leadership Course for School Administrators (SMILE-CSA) being conducted by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) will be exempted from the test requirement for a one year period reckoned from the date of issuance of said Order, provided the participants have implemented their reentry programs.
3. In addition to the above courses, any of the following may likewise be considered as substitutes for the test for the said one-year period:
   1. Completion of other equivalent/similar training programs conducted for at least seventy-two (72) hours, such as the Advanced Management Development Program and Quality Instructional Leadership and Resource Management Program by the NEAP; Effective Instructional Leadership and Educational Resource Management Training by the Third Elementary Education Project (TEEP); School-Based Management Basic Course by the Secondary Education Development and Improvement Project (SEDIP); Supervisory Development Course by the Civil Service Commission, among others; and
   2. Experience as Head Teacher and Teacher-In-Charge/Officer-In-Charge for at least three and five years respectively.
4. Please be guided accordingly.

Reference:
DepED Order: (No. 85, s. 2003)
Allotment: 1 – -(D.O. 50-97)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
CHANGE
OFFICIALS
POLICY
PROMOTION

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