TL;DR: Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) is a four-year CHED-regulated degree under CMO No. 006, series of 2010, built on a minimum 141-unit curriculum: 54 units General Education, 57 units core Public Administration courses (fiscal administration, public policy, personnel management, administrative law), 12 units Special Core, 12 units electives, and a 6-unit, 200-hour Practicum. BPA has no PRC board exam, but its coursework lines up closely with the Professional Level Civil Service Exam, the actual gatekeeper credential for permanent government positions. Entry-level professional government items (Salary Grade 11) start at a basic ₱31,705 per month under the current DBM schedule, while Indeed's Philippine data puts general administrative officer pay at an average ₱22,449 per month.
"Bachelor of Public Administration" sounds like it should lead straight into a government job, and largely it does, but students searching the course want to know exactly how: what the CHED curriculum actually covers, whether you still need to pass the Civil Service Exam on top of the degree, and what the realistic pay looks like once you're in. This guide breaks down BPA's CHED-mandated curriculum, its direct link to Civil Service Eligibility and government hiring, tuition, and government/NGO salary data, using CHED's own memorandum order and a real public university's published course list. For the exam itself, see our Civil Service Exam guide and how to pass the Civil Service Exam.
What Is a Bachelor of Public Administration?
Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) is a four-year undergraduate degree governed by CHED Memorandum Order No. 006, series of 2010, "Policies and Standards for the Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) Program." The degree trains students specifically for work inside government: how public agencies are structured, how public budgets and personnel systems operate, how policy gets made and evaluated, and how local and national government relate to each other.
Unlike a broader social science degree, BPA is applied and operations-focused. Graduates are meant to step into administrative and program roles in government, civil society, or international development organizations, not to conduct academic research on political systems in the abstract.
Disclaimer: curriculum specifics and elective offerings vary by school under CHED's framework. Always confirm the current curriculum directly with your target school's registrar.
BPA Curriculum: What Subjects Will You Take?
CHED's CMO No. 006, s. 2010 sets a minimum of 141 units for BPA, spread across five components.
| Curriculum Component | Minimum Units |
|---|---|
| General Education | 54 |
| Public Administration Core | 57 |
| Special Core (business/management foundations) | 12 |
| Electives | 12 |
| Practicum | 6 |
| Total | 141 |
The Public Administration core is where the degree's identity is built. The University of the Philippines Diliman's National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), the country's oldest and most established public administration school, publishes its own BPA course list with subjects that map directly onto CHED's core: Introduction to Public Administration, Philippine Administrative Thought & Institutions, Management of Organizations, Office & Systems Management, Public Personnel Administration, Public Fiscal Administration, Public Accounting & Budgeting, Public Policy & Program Administration, Administrative Law, Local Government & Regional Administration, Politics & Administration, Ethics & Accountability in the Public Service, and a two-part Research Methods in Public Administration sequence, capped by a required Internship in Governmental Administration (3 units, practical experience in a government office under faculty supervision).
The Practicum component required under CHED's CMO is described as a minimum of 200 contact hours, carrying 3 units of credit, and requires "substantive work experience in government agencies or civil society organizations under faculty supervision."
Does BPA Require the Civil Service Exam?
A BPA degree by itself does not require passing the Civil Service Exam, but the exam is the practical gatekeeper for almost every permanent, career-track government job the degree points toward. Most national and local government agencies require Civil Service Eligibility (from the Professional or Sub-Professional level exam administered by the Civil Service Commission) before a position can be filled on a permanent basis, separate from whatever degree an applicant holds.
Because BPA's coursework in Philippine administrative systems, public fiscal administration, and public policy overlaps heavily with what the Professional Level exam covers, BPA graduates tend to be well-prepared for the exam even though the degree and the exam are formally separate requirements. See our Civil Service Exam guide for exam coverage and schedule, and how to pass the Civil Service Exam for a study plan.
Does Public Administration Have a Board Exam?
No. Public Administration does not appear on the Professional Regulation Commission's list of regulated professions, so there is no PRC licensure exam for the field. The relevant credential is Civil Service Eligibility from the CSC, not a PRC board exam, an important distinction since the two are administered by entirely different government bodies.
How Much Does BPA Tuition Cost?
Like most lecture-based social science and administration programs, BPA sits toward the affordable end of Philippine college tuition, and it is one of the more common programs offered tuition-free at state universities and colleges.
| School Tier | Approx. Annual Tuition (BPA) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State university or college (SUC) | Free under RA 10931 | Subject to admission and retention requirements; UP, PUP, and most regional SUCs offer BPA or a close equivalent |
| Private university | ₱20,000–₱50,000 | Fewer private schools offer BPA specifically compared to BSBA or political science |
Disclaimer: tuition figures are approximate ranges and change by school year. Confirm the current rate directly with the admissions office of your target school. See our average cost of college in the Philippines guide for the fuller picture across degree types.
What Jobs and Government Careers Can BPA Graduates Get?
BPA graduates typically enter national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), NGOs, and international development organizations, most often as administrative officers, local government operations officers, or program/policy support staff.
| Role / Entry Point | Approx. Monthly Pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Officer (general, Indeed average) | ₱22,449 | Indeed Philippines |
| Administrator (general, Indeed average) | ₱33,265 | Indeed Philippines |
| Entry-level national government item, Salary Grade 11, Step 1 | ₱31,705 basic | DBM Third Tranche Salary Schedule, EO 64 s. 2024 |
Entry-level professional government positions such as administrative officers commonly sit around Salary Grade 11 once civil-service-eligible, per our full Salary Grade table breakdown, which also covers allowances and how the step system adds to the basic figure above. Private-sector administrative roles and NGO program positions can pay above or below the government scale depending on the organization, funding source, and role seniority.
Disclaimer: wage figures are averages from job listing aggregates and official government pay schedules, not guaranteed starting pay for any individual graduate or government item. Actual offers vary by agency, region, budget, and eligibility.
How Is BPA Different From BSBA or Political Science?
BPA is narrower than BSBA and aimed specifically at the public sector: government structure, public budgeting, and public personnel systems, rather than corporate HR, marketing, finance, and operations. Political Science, by contrast, is more theoretical and focused on political systems, ideology, and governance as a field of study, while BPA is the applied degree built to actually run government offices and programs day to day. Students weighing all three options should also check our broader what course to take in college and in-demand courses in the Philippines guides.
Which Schools Offer BPA?
BPA and closely related public administration programs are concentrated at state universities, led by the University of the Philippines Diliman's National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), the country's oldest dedicated public administration school, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, alongside numerous regional SUCs that offer the program tuition-free under RA 10931.
How to Decide If BPA Is Right for You
Before committing to BPA, weigh these questions:
- Do you specifically want a government career? BPA is built for public-sector work; if you want private-sector management instead, BSBA is the more direct path.
- Are you prepared to sit for the Civil Service Exam? A BPA degree doesn't waive the requirement for most permanent government positions, so plan to take the Professional Level exam during or shortly after your degree.
- Have you compared the practicum placement your target school offers? Since the 200-hour minimum practicum has to be in a government agency or civil society organization, check what placements your school actually arranges before enrolling.
- Would a state university's tuition-free BPA program work for you? Given how many SUCs offer BPA under RA 10931, weigh a public university option before defaulting to a paid private program.
Ready to find the right school? Browse schools or compare tuition and programs across hundreds of Philippine schools on SchoolFinderPH.
Sources
- CHED CMO No. 006, s. 2010 — Policies and Standards for Bachelor of Public Administration (via Legaldex)
- UP Diliman NCPAG — Bachelor of Public Administration, List of Courses
- Indeed Philippines — Administrative Officer Salary
- Indeed Philippines — Administrator Salary
- SchoolFinderPH — Salary Grade Table Philippines
- SchoolFinderPH — Civil Service Exam 2026 Complete Guide
- SchoolFinderPH — How to Pass the Civil Service Exam
- SchoolFinderPH — BSBA Explained: Majors, Subjects, and Career Paths
