Section 5. Powers, Functions, Duties and Responsibilities of the Board. — The Professional Regulatory Board shall have the following specific powers, duties and responsibilities:

1. Supervise and regulate the practice of Guidance and Counseling;

2. Determine and evaluate the qualifications of the applicants for registration with or without licensure examinations and for issuance of special permits;

3. Prepare the examination questions in accordance with Section 15 hereof or the modifications thereof, and correct and rate the examination papers through a process of computerization;

4. Prepare, adopt, issue or amend the syllabi for the subjects in the licensure examination, in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the academe and the accredited professional organization;

5. Register successful examinees in the licensure examination and issue the corresponding certificates of registration;

6. Issue special/temporary permits to foreign guidance counselors to practice Guidance and Counseling for specific projects for a specific duration of time for a fee or on medical mission without a fee;

7. Monitor the conditions affecting the practice of Guidance and Counseling, conduct ocular inspection of places where guidance counselors practice their profession, and adopt measures for the enhancement of the profession and the maintenance of high professional, technical and ethical standards;

8. Ensure, in coordination with the CHED, that all educational institutions offering the course/program of Guidance and Counseling comply with the policies, standards and requirements of the said course prescribed by the CHED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library and facilities;

9. Promulgate rules and regulations including a Code of Ethics, a Code of Technical Standards for guidance counselors and administrative policies, orders and issuances, to carry out the provisions of this Act;

10. Investigate violations of this Act and the Rules and Regulations, Code of Ethics, Code of Technical Standards, administrative policies, orders and issuances promulgated by the Professional Regulatory Board. The rule on administrative investigation promulgated by the Commission shall govern in such investigation;

11. Issue subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance of respondents or witnesses or the production of documents relative to the investigation conducted by the Board;

12. Render decision, order or resolution on preliminary investigation or inquiry against violators of this Act, Rules and Regulations, Code of Ethics, Code of Technical Standards or any policy on undocketed cases and on docketed administrative cases against examinees or registrants, which shall become final and executory unless appealed with the Commission within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the copy thereof;

13. Issue, suspend, revoke or re-issue any license for the practice of Guidance and Counseling as defined in this Act;

14. Administer oaths necessary for the effective implementation of this Act;

15. Initiate criminal action against any violator of this Act and/or the rules and regulations of the Board;

16. Adopt the official seal of the Board;

17. Prescribed guidelines and criteria on the continuing professional education (CPE);

18. Adopt such measures necessary and proper for the maintenance of high ethical and professional standards in the practice of the profession; and

19. Perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to effectively implement this Act.

The policies, resolutions and rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the Professional Regulatory Board shall be subject to review and approval by the Commission; however, the Board's decisions, resolutions or orders which are not interlocutory, rendered in an administrative case, shall be subject to review only if on appeal with the Commission. The decision of the Board and/or the Commission may be appealed to the Court of Appeals in accordance with the Rules of Court.