All Filipino workers who want to work in South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS), are required to pass the Test of Proficiency in Korean (EPS-TOPIK) and in connection with this, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration recently announced the schedule of the 8th EPS-TOPIK in the Philippines.

Passing the EPS-TOPIK does not guarantee employment in Korea but only inclusion on the available list of jobseekers available for employment.

According to an advisory that is posted in the POEA website, here is the exam schedule of 8^th EPS-TOPIK.

Test Date:   March 18, 2012 (Sunday)

Time:          10:30-11:40 (Session 1 ),  15:00-16:10 (Session 2)

All examinees must be in the designated test room until the designated time (9:30

for session 1 and 14:00 for session 2) for the orientation.

Test Venue:  Test  venues  will  be  announced  on  March  6,  2012  on  POEA website (www.poea.gov.ph)

Qualifications for EPS-TOPIK Registration

• Must be between 18 and 38 years of age (Born between March 18,  1974 and March 18,  1994)
• Must not have any record of conviction or imprisonment for a heinous crime
• Must have no record of deportation or departure orders from the Republic of Korea
• Must not be restricted from departure from the Philippines
• Must be physically and mentally fit

How to Register for the 8^th EPS-TOPIK

The registration will be held from February 6 to 9 from 9 am to 5pm.

Registration Period: February 6 – 9, 2012, (Mon- Thu.), 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Registration Venues:

Metro Manila:  5^th Level, SM Manila (Back of Manila City Hall)

Bulacan:         Provincial Capitol Gym, City of Malolos Bulacan

Tarlac:              My Metrotown Mall, McArthur Highway, City of Tarlac

Baguio:             POEA Regional Extension Unit-CAR, 

                     Benitez Court Compound, Magsaysay Avenue, Baguio City

Iloilo:              POEA Regional Extension Unit- Region VI

                    2^nd Floor DivinaGracia Building, Iloilo City

Davao:          POEA Regional Center for Mindanao

                       2^nd Floor, AMYA II Building, Quimpo Blvd., cor Tulip Drive, Ecoland,Davao City

*  Applicant must register only in the registration venue where he/she wants to take the test.

Registration Method: Personal appearance

Required Documents

1. EPS-TOPIK Registration Application form (To be distributed at the registration venue)

Application  numbers  are  written  on  each  application  form.  Each applicant receives and submits one application form only, use correction tape in correcting errors.

2. Valid  passport  or  valid  government-issued  ID  card  such  as  SSS,  GSIS,  Driver's License or  Voter's ID (a copy of  passport or ID card must be attached on application form)

If an applicant's personal information on the passport is not exactly the same as the one on the application form,  their entry to Korea will not be permitted in any case,  and the applicant is fully responsible for any  problem  caused  by the differences in  their personal information.

The POEA will use the personal information (name, date of birth, and gender) written on the application form  and the applicant's photo attached on the application form for their future employment in Korea,  and these are not changeable in any case.

3. 2 pcs.  passport size (pictures taken within 6 months)

 Test fee:  P1 ,044 (local currency equivalent to US$24)

No  refund  will  be  entertained  after  registration  period.  (However, re-application after cancellation is not allowed.)

Announcement of Test Result: March 30, 2012

Method of Announcement of  Passers:

DOLE: www.dole.gov.ph

POEA: www.poea.gov.ph

EPS Korea: www.eps.go.kr 

website of  EPS-TOPIK: http://epstopik.hrdkorea.or.kr

Period of Validity of  Test score (for passers): 2 years from the date of test result  announcement

For more information about the EPS-TOPIK, please visit www.poea.gov.ph