TESDA National Certificate: NC, CoC and the ₱50.00 CTC
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority · training
Quick answer
A National Certificate or Certificate of Competency comes from TESDA competency assessment, which its 2025 charter prices at None with a published total of 34 minutes. A certified true copy of the certificate costs ₱50.00. OFWs can be assessed abroad through the Overseas Assessment Program.
Last verified
Where these figures come from
About these figures: the numbers below come from TESDA's official published sources: TESDA | Citizen's Charter CY 2025 (First Edition) (https://www.tesda.gov.ph/Uploads/File/GOOD%20GOVERNANCE/2025/TESDA%20Citizens%20Charter%20CY%202025%20(First%20Edition).pdf, retrieved 2026-09-01). Agencies change fees and rates without notice, so confirm with TESDA before you rely on them. Last verified: 2026-09-01.
A National Certificate is what TESDA competency assessment produces, and the assessment application itself is published as free.
What TESDA charges
| Service | Fees to be paid | Published total |
|---|---|---|
| Application for Assessment and Certification | None | 34 minutes |
| Certified True Copy of an NC or CoC | ₱50.00 | - |
The 34 minutes is agency processing time inside the Provincial Office FASD. It is not the length of the assessment, which TESDA does not publish.
The checklist
| # | Requirement | Where TESDA says to get it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fully filled up Application Form checklist, 1 original | Applicant |
| 2 | Self-Assessment Guide, 1 original | Provincial Office |
| 3 | 2 passport-size pictures, white background, with collar and name tag | Applicant |
| 4 | Birth Certificate, or Local Civil Registry certification, 1 photocopy | PSA or LCR |
| 5 | Government-issued ID with photo and date of birth, 1 photocopy | Applicant |
| 6 | Employment Certificate, if applicable, 1 original | Company |
| 7 | Training Certificate, if applicable, 1 photocopy | Training center attended |
Requirement 3 is specific: white background, with collar and name tag. It is a common reason for a repeat trip.
Proving it later
| Need | TESDA service |
|---|---|
| A replacement copy | Certified True Copy of an NC or CoC, ₱50.00 |
| An employer checking you | Verification of National Certificate or Certificate of Competency |
| A public record | Registry of Certified Workers |
| Checking an assessor | Registry of Accredited Assessors |
| Checking a center | Assessment Centers list |
Assessment from abroad
TESDA’s Overseas Assessment Program conducts competency assessment for OFWs overseas, through training organisations or Filipino communities. It is:
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Run by | Certification Office, TESDA Overseas Training and Assessment Coordination Unit (CO-TOTACU) |
| Classification | Complex, Government to Citizen |
| Who may avail | Overseas Filipino Workers, through the Migrant Workers Office |
| How it starts | A request for assessment submitted by the training organisation or Filipino community |
| How it ends | Issuance of the NC or CoC |
TESDA separately publishes a service for the Accreditation of Overseas Competency Assessment Centers. The Migrant Workers Office guide covers the office this routes through.
What the surrounding documents cost
| Document | Published fee | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Certified True Copy of an NC or CoC | ₱50.00 | TESDA’s own published total |
| PSA birth certificate, viewable online | ₱130.00 | On both TESDA checklists |
| PSA marriage certificate, viewable online | ₱130.00 | For married women |
| National Police Clearance | ₱150.00 plus a convenience fee | Commonly asked by employers |
| NBI clearance | ₱130.00 plus ₱30.00, ₱160.00 total | Commonly asked by employers |
| Security guard LESP | ₱500.00 | Needs a training completion certificate |
| Seafarer’s Record Book | ₱1,000.00 | The maritime route |
| PRC licence renewal, 3 years | ₱450.00 | The professional-licence route |
| Travel tax, economy | ₱1,620.00, or ₱0.00 for an OFW | For deployment |
TESDA dormitory rates for people transacting with it are ₱300.00 per day for an executive room, ₱250.00 per day for an air-conditioned room with its own CR, and ₱220.00 per day with a common CR, for walk-in or non-TESDA guests.
What this page does not cover
TESDA does not publish, in the charter read for this guide, an assessment fee charged by individual assessment centers, the duration of an assessment, the list of qualifications with their NC levels, a validity period for a National Certificate, or a re-assessment policy after a failed attempt. None of those are stated here.
Related
The TESDA courses guide covers enrolment and assessment together. The course list covers the qualifications people search for.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a National Certificate cost?
- TESDA's Citizen's Charter for 2025 puts fees to be paid at None for Application for Assessment and Certification, the process that produces an NC or CoC. It does not publish an assessment fee, so this page does not state one.
- What is the difference between an NC and a CoC?
- TESDA issues both from the same process. Its charter describes Application for Assessment and Certification as the route by which TVET graduates, workers or individuals apply for competency assessment to obtain a National Certificate or a Certificate of Competency.
- How long does it take?
- TESDA publishes a total processing time of 34 minutes for the application. That is agency processing, not the duration of the assessment itself, which TESDA does not publish.
- What do I need to apply?
- A fully filled up Application Form checklist, a Self-Assessment Guide from the Provincial Office, 2 passport-size pictures with white background, collar and name tag, a photocopy of a PSA birth certificate or LCR certification, a photocopy of a government ID with photo and date of birth, plus an employment certificate and training certificate if applicable.
- Where do I get the Self-Assessment Guide?
- From the Provincial Office. TESDA lists it as one original copy on the assessment checklist, and also publishes Self-Assessment Guides for download.
- How do I get a copy of a lost certificate?
- Through the Issuance of a Certified True Copy of a National Certificate or Certificate of Competency, which carries a published total of ₱50.00.
- How can an employer verify my certificate?
- TESDA publishes verification services for National Certificates and Certificates of Competency, and maintains a public Registry of Certified Workers.
- Can I be assessed while working abroad?
- Yes. The Overseas Assessment Program conducts competency assessment for OFWs overseas through training organisations or Filipino communities, reached via the Migrant Workers Office, and ends with the issuance of an NC or CoC.