Certificate of Good Moral Character: Requirements, How to Get One, Uses, and Cost in 2026

To get a Certificate of Good Moral Character, first check the exact requirement of the organization asking for it, especially who must issue the certificate and whether it provides its own form.

If a school-issued certificate is required, request it from the office your current or previous school assigns to Good Moral Certificate requests. Prepare the required information and documents, submit your request online or in person as instructed, pay the fee if required, and follow the school’s release process.

Overview

Who might need a Certificate of Good Moral Character?

You may be asked for a Certificate of Good Moral Character if you are:

applying for a job where the certificate is listed as a requirement;
applying for a scholarship or financial assistance;
applying to a college or university;
transferring to another school;
applying for graduate school or further studies;
applying for a PRC licensure examination that specifically requires one;
applying for an exchange program or another institutional program that asks for proof of good moral character; or
completing another application that specifically requires the certificate.

Official school and university sources list uses that include employment, admission, scholarships, transfers, further studies, licensure applications, financial assistance, and exchange programs. PRC also requires Good Moral Character certificates for some licensure examinations.

Being in one of these situations does not automatically mean you need the certificate. Always check the actual requirements of the organization you are applying to.

What is a Certificate of Good Moral Character?

A Certificate of Good Moral Character, also commonly called a Good Moral Certificate or CGMC, is a document that confirms your conduct or good moral standing based on the records or basis used by the person or institution issuing it.

For a school-issued certificate, this usually relates to your conduct as a student. Nueva Vizcaya State University describes its CGMC as a document showing that a student demonstrated behavior consistent with ethical and moral standards while studying at the university. Navotas Polytechnic College issues its certificate to a student with no record of misconduct after verification by its Guidance Counselor.

The document is also used in Philippine basic and higher education. DepEd includes a Certificate of Good Moral Character in its official Alternative Learning System forms, while CHED programs also use it in some documentary requirements.

There is no single nationwide Certificate of Good Moral Character with one universal issuer, format, fee, validity period, or request process. Depending on the purpose, an accepted certificate may come from a school, employer, barangay, church, hospital, parish, or another source specifically allowed by the organization requiring it.

What kind of Certificate of Good Moral Character do you need?

Before requesting anything, check who must issue the certificate, how many certificates are required, and whether the organization provides its own form.

If it must come from your last school attended

Request the certificate from the school identified in the application requirements.

CHED’s Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and Their Families, for example, requires a Certificate of Good Moral Character from the last school attended for applicable applicants.

MMDC also states in its admission requirements that when it asks for a Good Moral Certificate, a certificate from an employer cannot replace one issued by the applicant’s last school attended.

If the organization gives you its own form

Use the form it provides.

The 2027 DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship, for example, uses its own Form C – Certificate of Good Moral Character, which must be completed and certified by the applicant’s principal or guidance counselor.

Do not assume that a regular certificate you already have can replace a specific form required by an application.

If the requirement names another issuer

Follow the exact instruction instead of automatically requesting the certificate from your school.

For example, the UST Faculty of Civil Law’s 2026 admission requirements direct UST graduates and graduating students to get the certificate from the Office for Student Affairs. Non-UST graduates or graduating students generally get it from their Guidance Office, equivalent office, or Dean. Applicants who graduated in 2021 or earlier are instructed to submit a certificate from their employer.

If you need it for a PRC licensure examination

Check the requirements for your specific profession.

PRC does not use one Good Moral Character requirement for every licensure examination. Some professions require one or more certificates and identify which issuers are acceptable.

Depending on the profession, the allowed sources may include a school, barangay, church, employer, medical school, internship hospital or institution, parish, or another source specified by the Professional Regulatory Board.

Do not assume that the requirement for one board or licensure examination applies to another.

Where do you get a Certificate of Good Moral Character?

Where you should request the certificate depends on what the receiving organization requires.

If you need a school-issued certificate

Start with your current or previous school, depending on the requirement.

The office that handles the request can differ by institution. For example:

Nueva Vizcaya State University processes CGMC requests through Student Affairs and Services;
Navotas Polytechnic College processes requests through the Registrar’s Office and checks the student’s conduct through Guidance; and
Far Eastern University handles student violation records, clearances, and Certificates of Good Moral Character through its Student Discipline office.

This means you should not automatically assume that every Certificate of Good Moral Character comes from the Registrar.

If you’re unsure, check your school’s official website or ask its Guidance Office, Student Affairs Office, Student Services Office, Registrar, or Student Discipline Office which one handles CGMC requests.

If another issuer is specifically required

Follow the instructions of the organization receiving your certificate.

For some PRC licensure examinations, an accepted certificate may come from a barangay, school, church, employer, hospital or internship institution, parish, or another specified issuer.

Do not request one from these sources unless your application actually allows it.

What are the requirements for a Certificate of Good Moral Character?

There is no single nationwide checklist for requesting a Certificate of Good Moral Character. The requirements depend on the institution or authorized issuer handling your request.

What information may you need to provide?

If you are requesting a school-issued certificate, you may be asked for information that helps the school find your record and understand the purpose of your request, such as:

your full name;
student number, if applicable;
course or program;
year level;
last semester or school year attended;
year of graduation, if you already graduated; and
purpose of the request, such as employment, scholarship, school transfer, further studies, or another requirement.

What documents may you need to submit?

Depending on your school or institution, you may be asked for:

a completed Certificate of Good Moral Character or student-record request form;
a valid school ID or government-issued ID;
school, university, or student clearance, if required;
an official receipt or proof of payment; and
other supporting documents required by the issuing office.

Navotas Polytechnic College, for example, requires an accomplished Student Records Request Form, a school or government-issued ID, an official receipt, and a registration form for its CGMC service.

NVSU requires a valid ID and payment of the certificate fee, while fresh graduates are also instructed to present their University Clearance.

These are examples, not a nationwide checklist. Check the current requirements of the office or issuer that will prepare your certificate.

How do you get a Certificate of Good Moral Character?

The request process depends on the issuer. For school-issued certificates, some institutions accept online requests while others require you to process the document in person.

Can you request a Certificate of Good Moral Character online or in person?

Both methods are possible, depending on the school.

MMDC uses an online document-request process. Students complete the request form, pay the processing fee, and submit the required form and proof of payment online.

NVSU publishes an in-person process where the requester goes to Student Affairs and Services, completes the required form, pays the fee at the Cashier’s Office, and submits the required documents for processing.

Before submitting anything, check whether your issuing institution requires an online request, an in-person request, or another method.

What are the steps to request a Certificate of Good Moral Character?

You can generally use these steps as a starting point:

Check the requirement first.
Confirm who must issue the certificate, how many are required, and whether the organization provides its own form.
Identify the correct issuer.
If the requirement says “last school attended,” request it from that school. If another issuer is specifically allowed or required, follow that instruction.
Find the correct office or official request page.
For school-issued certificates, check your school’s website or contact the office that handles Good Moral Certificate requests.
Check how you should apply.
Confirm whether the request is online, in person, or through another allowed method.
Prepare the required information and documents.
Complete the request form and prepare any ID, clearance, student information, or supporting documents required.
Submit your request.
State the correct purpose when asked, such as employment, scholarship, transfer, further studies, or licensure examination.
Pay the fee, if required.
Keep your official receipt or payment confirmation.
Follow the release instructions.
The certificate may be released in person, electronically, or through another method used by the issuer.
Check the certificate before submitting it.
Make sure your name and other details are correct and that any required signature, date, designation, seal, or certification is complete.

How long does it take to get a Certificate of Good Moral Character?

There is no single nationwide processing time for a Certificate of Good Moral Character.

Published examples show how different the turnaround can be:

Institution	Published Processing Time
Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa	23 minutes
Navotas Polytechnic College	1 hour and 10 minutes
Mapúa Malayan Digital College	After 7 working days

These are institution-specific examples, not a nationwide processing period.

If you need the certificate for an application deadline, request it early and follow the timeline given by your issuer.

How much does a Certificate of Good Moral Character cost?

There is no single nationwide fee for a Certificate of Good Moral Character.

Published school examples include:

Institution	Published Fee
Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa	₱10
Nueva Vizcaya State University	₱20 per copy
Navotas Polytechnic College	₱20
Mapúa Malayan Digital College	₱100

These amounts apply only to the institutions that published them.

Check the current fee of your own school or issuing office before paying.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Certificate of Good Moral Character

Can you use a Certificate of Good Moral Character for a job application?

Yes, if the employer asks for one.

NVSU lists employment applications among the uses of its CGMC. Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa also states that the certificate may be issued to students or graduates seeking employment, while MMDC lists work requirements among its uses.

This does not mean every employer requires one. Follow the employer’s actual document checklist.

Can you use a Certificate of Good Moral Character for a scholarship or financial assistance?

Yes. Some scholarship and financial-assistance programs require one.

CHED’s CoScho program requires a Certificate of Good Moral Character from the last school attended for applicable applicants. DOST-SEI’s 2027 Undergraduate Scholarship uses its own prescribed Good Moral Character form.

Always check the current requirements of the specific scholarship or financial-assistance program.

Can you use a Certificate of Good Moral Character for college admission or school transfer?

Yes. Some schools require one for admission or transfer.

NVSU lists college or university admission among the uses of its CGMC. Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa also issues the certificate to students transferring to another school, while MMDC includes a Good Moral Certificate in its Transfer Credentials Package.

The receiving school decides what format and issuer it will accept.

Can you use a Certificate of Good Moral Character for further studies?

Yes. It may be required for graduate school, law school, or other further studies.

MMDC lists further studies among the uses of its Certificate of Good Moral Character. UST Faculty of Civil Law also requires a Certificate of Good Moral Character as part of its current admission requirements.

Follow the specific admission requirements of the school and program you are applying to.

Do you need a Certificate of Good Moral Character for a board or licensure examination?

For some PRC licensure examinations, yes. For others, no.

PRC’s List of Requirements includes Good Moral Character certificate requirements for several professions. The number of certificates and accepted issuers can differ depending on the profession.

Before requesting one, check the current PRC requirements for your specific licensure examination.

What other applications may ask for a Certificate of Good Moral Character?

Other documented uses can include exchange programs and organization membership.

NVSU, for example, lists scholarship or exchange programs and organization membership among situations where its CGMC may be required.

Whether you actually need one depends on the organization receiving your documents.

Can you still get a Good Moral Certificate if you already graduated?

Yes at some institutions, but your former school’s rules apply.

NVSU’s CGMC process includes students and alumni, while Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Lipa makes its service available to enrolled students and graduates.

If you graduated several years ago, contact your former school and ask which office currently handles alumni requests.

Can someone else request your Certificate of Good Moral Character for you?

Some schools allow a representative.

NVSU states that another person may process the certificate if the representative has a photocopy of your valid ID and an authorization letter from you.

That is an institution-specific rule, not a nationwide requirement. Check what your own school requires before sending someone on your behalf.

What if your school has already closed?

If your previous school has closed, first find out where its records were transferred.

For a closed private basic education school, available student records may have been turned over to the appropriate DepEd Schools Division Office.

For a closed college or university, contact the CHED Regional Office that covers the institution and ask where its records are being handled.

A Good Moral Certificate is not the same as an academic record, so DepEd or CHED may not automatically be able to issue a replacement. Ask what records are available and what alternative document the organization receiving your requirements may accept.

Can you get a Certificate of Good Moral Character if you had a disciplinary case?

It depends on your school’s rules and your record.

Navotas Polytechnic College states that its certificate is issued to a student with no record of misconduct and includes Guidance verification before processing.

Other institutions may follow different rules, so a past disciplinary case should not be treated as having one automatic result across all schools.

Ask the office responsible for your school’s Good Moral Certificate how its policy applies to your record.

Does a Certificate of Good Moral Character expire?

There is no single nationwide validity period for all Certificates of Good Moral Character.

Individual issuers or receiving organizations may set their own rules. NVSU, for example, states that its Certificate of Good Moral Character is valid for six months from the date of issuance.

That six-month period should not be applied automatically to certificates from other institutions.

If you already have an older certificate, check whether the organization receiving it will still accept it.

Is a Certificate of Good Moral Character the same as an NBI Clearance?

No.

A school-issued Certificate of Good Moral Character generally relates to your conduct or standing based on the issuing school’s records.

An NBI Clearance serves a different purpose and is processed by the National Bureau of Investigation through its own clearance and records-checking process.

If an employer, school, PRC Board, or another organization asks for a specific document, submit that document unless its rules clearly allow an alternative.