Can AI replace review centers? What licensure exam candidates should know

Will AI replace review centers, as it has for other jobs?

Since AI’s introduction into society, this question has been asked in nearly every industry.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, the Philippine Academic Review Center (PARC), one of the country’s trusted educational partners, pledged to fight AI in passing licensure exams, citing “quality assurance.”

“We practice reviewing for the licensure exam using the book and references. All of the books and materials we used were consulted, reviewed, and edited by doctors and lecturers who had studied for many years. Also, all of our materials are in line with the standards,” PARC academic head Angelen Napiza told ABS-CBN News.

PARC officials Angelen Napiza, Atty. Mario Cerro, and Bobbit Patag meet the press. Josh Mercado
Pointing out that AI does not guaranty the board-level knowledge required to pass the licensure exam, Napiza added, “Furthermore, like AI, our materials are constructively summarized so that reviewees with limited time can focus on the important parts. They say you can just Google it and there’s no need to enroll in a review center, but we believe in actual book references. We believe in books that have received quality assurance from doctors and lecturers. The books also contain board-type questions.”

Founded in 2019 by Dr. Analiza Victoriano, PARC provides reviews for teachers, criminologists, nurses, social workers, psychometricians, and those preparing for civil service exams.

In 2022, PARC achieved a 100% passing rate on the Licensure Examination for Teachers. It now has 60 branches across the country, assisting enrollees in passing exams with quality assured materials.

So, what type of review should one get, and how does one pass the board exam?

“They can choose between face-to-face and online reviews, face-to-face only, pure online, or final coaching only, depending on their budget and time constraints. Let us not forget that some reviewers are also working, so they do not have time,” Napiza explained to ABS-CBN News.

“Some people only get the final coaching type, which is used when you need to refresh what you’ve reviewed and read, or when you need to learn in a short period of time because you believe you already know what you’re looking for or you’re a quick learner. This is a fast pace, ginagawa ito two weeks before the actual board. This is where we teach the techniques and strategies for passing the board exam,” Napiza added.

 Philippine Academic Review Center (PARC) helps reviewees. Handout 

Napiza, who passed the 2023 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers and the 2025 Board Licensure Exam for Psychometricians, went on to share advice for reviewers.

“Focus po talaga dapat sa pagre-review. Kapag nahahati po ‘yung isip natin, hindi po natin naibibigay ‘yung 100 percent natin sa pagre-review,” she said.

“Lagi ko pong sinasabi iyan sa mga bata na four months lang tayong magsasakripisyo. Ibigay na natin iyan sa sarili natin. Sa review po natin ay 8-to-5. Bale eight hours po iyan kasi one hour ang break. Binibigyan din ng supplemental materials ang mga estudyante na puwede nilang aralin kapag weekdays. Hindi po namin ini-encourage ‘yung bata na Saturday, Sunday lang dapat mag-review,” she emphasized.

“Kung gusto mo talagang pumasa, kung gusto mong mag-one take, disiplina, time management, and focus po talaga,” she added.

 Philippine Academic Review Center (PARC) to open more branches. Handout 

She then highlighted that a person’s dream of passing the exam is attainable with focus, not because of the review center’s name.

“Hindi porke’t nag-enroll ka, papasa ka na, ‘di ba? ‘Yung iba, ang mindset ‘pag nag-enroll, porke’t maraming topnotcher itong review center, ‘pag nag-enroll, papasa na. Hindi po ganoon,” she stated.

“Kahit ‘yung review center na po na ‘yan na i-enroll-an po natin ay sobrang daming topnotchers, kung hindi po natin tutulungan ‘yung sarili natin, hindi po natin makukuha ‘yung pangarap natin na lisensya,” she added.

She concluded by giving hope to reviewees: “Hindi lang cum laude ‘yung puwedeng mag-top. Puwede rin pala kahit hindi. Basta ang importante, focused sa review, um-attend, walang absent. ‘Pag focused ka talaga, posible mo talaga maabot na maging topnotcher.”