# NASH TDP and PDI: Phases, Coaches and Certificates

DM-OULS-2026-397 explained: who takes the NASH TDP or PDI, the e-learning, job-embedded and workplace phases, coaches, the WAP and WAAR, and the 2026–27 dates.

This is the Markdown copy of [NASH TDP and PDI: Phases, Coaches and Certificates](https://nash.com.ph/blog/nash-tdp-pdi-guide), an article on the NASH Reviewer Blog by Mark Anthony Llego, published Nov 6, 2026, updated Nov 6, 2026. Topics: Aspiring school heads. NASH Reviewer is an independent practice platform not affiliated with DepEd, BHROD, or NEAP.

After the National Assessment for School Heads (NASH), takers who met the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH) in three domains take the Targeted Development Program (TDP), and takers With Developmental Areas take the Professional Development Intervention (PDI). Both are run by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP). For FY 2025 Batch 2, the rules are in DM-OULS-2026-397, *Guidelines on the Conduct of the National Assessment for School Heads (NASH) Targeted Development Program (TDP) and Professional Development Intervention (PDI)*, issued on September 7, 2026 by the Office of the Undersecretary for Learning System. The TDP has two phases, e-learning and job-embedded learning. The PDI adds a third, workplace practice, in which the participant carries out a Workplace Application Plan (WAP) and reports on it.

For a taker With Developmental Areas, completing the program is what turns the result into candidacy. Under [DepEd Memorandum No. 044, s. 2026](https://www.deped.gov.ph/2026/07/04/july-4-2026-dm-044-s-2026-results-of-the-national-assessment-for-school-heads-for-fiscal-year-2025-batch-2/), that taker must complete the PDI and a WAP certified by the Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) before being considered for School Principal I; a three-domain taker is already a prospective candidate, and one who is appointed must take part in a TDP within three months (para. 5). The Schools Division of Zamboanga del Norte disseminated the guidelines and their nine enclosures in [Division Memorandum No. 524, s. 2026](https://zn.deped.gov.ph/files/memos/2026/DM.No.524s.2026.pdf) (October 1, 2026).

## Key findings

- **Two pathways by NASH level.** The TDP is for takers Meeting PPSSH Standards in Three Domains; the PDI is for takers With Developmental Areas (DM-OULS-2026-397, paras. 5–6).
- **Coverage has a floor.** The Batch 2 guidelines cover takers who "have met the minimum overall rating threshold, with identified domain-level developmental needs", and Batch 1 PDI participants who did not finish Phase 1 (para. 4). Participants with a Principal I appointment notice get priority.
- **Phase 1 ends in a test.** Participants complete LinkedIn Learning pathways and DepEd resources, attend NEAP's domain-based sessions and pass a domain assessment before moving on (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. VII).
- **Each participant gets an SDO coach.** The SDS endorses qualified coaches, such as district supervisors and School Principals II to IV, and a one-to-one ratio is "strongly encouraged" (Enclosure Nos. 2 and 3).
- **The WAP is drafted in Phase 2 and carried out in Phase 3.** It runs for no more than six months, and the SDS approves it; PDI participants then submit a Workplace Application Accomplishment Report (WAAR) (Enclosure Nos. 2 and 8).
- **The calendar runs to July 30, 2027.** Phase 1 ran in October 2026, Phase 2 runs from November 9, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and Phase 3, for the PDI, from January 25 to July 30, 2027 (Enclosure No. 1, indicative).
- **No compensatory time-off.** The program runs "without disruption to regular office operations", and work beyond office hours "shall not warrant the grant of Compensatory Time-Off (CTO)" (para. 8).

## Who takes the TDP, who takes the PDI

The NASH result decides the pathway. DM 044, s. 2026 sets the three competency levels and what each requires next; DM-OULS-2026-397 sets the programs.

| NASH competency level | Program | What DM 044, s. 2026 requires (para. 5) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Meeting PPSSH standards in four domains | None | Prospective candidate for entry-level School Principal positions, subject to the qualification standards and hiring guidelines |
| Meeting PPSSH standards in three domains | TDP: Phases 1 and 2 | Prospective candidate on the same terms; a TDP addressing at least one area for improvement "is required within three months of appointment" |
| With Developmental Areas | PDI: Phases 1, 2 and 3 | Must complete the PDI and the "relevant Work Application Plan (WAP) duly certified by the Schools Division Superintendent (SDS)" before being considered for School Principal I |

The guidelines then narrow coverage for Batch 2 (para. 4):

- Batch 2 takers "who have met the minimum overall rating threshold, with identified domain-level developmental needs". DM 044, s. 2026 places two groups in With Developmental Areas: takers who scored 65 or higher overall but reached 65 in fewer than three domains, and takers who scored below 65 overall (para. 5). DM-OULS-2026-397 does not define its threshold. A taker whose overall rating was below 65 should check the official participant list linked in para. 12 with the Schools Division Office (SDO).
- Batch 1 participants "previously identified as eligible to participate in the NASH PDI but were unable to complete one or more prescribed Phase 1 requirements". They finish alongside Batch 2, and validated completed requirements "shall be carried over and shall not be repeated" (para. 7; Enclosure No. 2, Sec. I).
- "In the implementation of the NASH TDP and PDI, priority shall be given to eligible participants who have received an appointment notice for the position of Principal I" (para. 4).

**Retakers.** For a taker who sat both batches, "the most recent NASH results may serve as the basis for determining the applicable professional development pathway", and previously completed requirements "may be recognized and credited, subject to validation" (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. I). The guidelines' Figure 1 shows three cases for a Batch 1 taker With Developmental Areas:

| Batch 1 result | Batch 2 result | Pathway |
| --- | --- | --- |
| With Developmental Areas | Meeting PPSSH standards in four domains | "No further participation in the NASH PDI is required" |
| With Developmental Areas | Meeting PPSSH standards in three domains | TDP completion, subject to validation of previously completed requirements |
| With Developmental Areas | With Developmental Areas | PDI completion, subject to validation of previously completed requirements |

NEAP ran the PDI for Batch 1 for takers at both the three-domain and With Developmental Areas levels (para. 1); the separate TDP began with Batch 2.

## The three phases

Both programs follow an acquire, apply and demonstrate "Learning Continuum" (para. 2). NEAP Central Office leads Phase 1; the Regional Office (RO) and SDO lead Phases 2 and 3 (Enclosure No. 2, Figures 2 and 3).

| Phase | TDP | PDI | Led by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. E-Learning (acquire) | Required | Required | NEAP Central Office |
| 2. Job-Embedded Learning (apply) | Required; the TDP ends here with its end-of-program evaluation and certification | Required | RO and SDO |
| 3. Workplace Practice (demonstrate) | Not part of the TDP | Required: carry out the WAP, then submit the WAAR | RO and SDO |

### Phase 1: e-learning and the domain assessment

Participants complete "curated LinkedIn Learning Pathways and DepEd Complementary Resources or alternative e-learning resources, online learning sessions, and domain-based assessments" (para. 2(a); Enclosure No. 2, Sec. III.B). For the TDP, the activities are "based on their NASH competency profile" (Sec. III.A). The guidelines' process flow lists the steps: receive the activation link, activate the LinkedIn Learning account, report activation errors to NEAP Central Office, start the e-learning journey, attend NEAP's domain-based learning sessions and pass the domain assessment. "All completed participants shall receive their certificate before proceeding to Phase 2" (Figure 3).

The Phase 1 certificate needs all three parts: the pathway, attendance at NEAP's sessions and "passing of the domain-based assessment" (Sec. VII). The guidelines set no passing mark for that assessment; follow the instructions issued with it. NEAP Central Office tracks Phase 1, and its data "shall serve as the official reference" for the RO and SDO in deciding who proceeds to Phases 2 and 3 (Sec. V).

### Phase 2: job-embedded learning with a coach

"The SDO assigned a coach for the participant" (Figure 3). TDP participants "apply their learning through job-embedded activities, guided application, and coaching" (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. III.A); PDI participants "apply their acquired knowledge and competencies through job-embedded learning activities, coaching, guided application, reflective practice, and the development of workplace-based outputs" (Sec. III.B). The flow lists output-based activities "leading to WAP development", coaching sessions and the submission of "coach-verified required outputs" (Figure 3).

Phase 2 ends with the validation of the WAP and the Phase 2 certificate (Enclosure No. 1). For TDP participants it is the last phase: the framework places the "End of Program Evaluation for Meeting PPSSH Standards in 3 Domains" and "NASH TDP Certification" in Phase 2 (Figure 2), and the RO then sends NEAP its list of TDP completers (Figure 3).

### Phase 3: workplace practice (PDI only)

PDI participants "implement their Workplace Application Plan (WAP) within their respective schools or offices, based on the identified PPSSH domain and targeted leadership competency" (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. III.B). The flow (Figure 3) runs:

1. Attend the SDO-led orientation.
2. Submit the coach-verified WAP for SDS approval.
3. Implement the WAP, with continuing coaching.
4. Prepare the WAAR and submit it to the SDO NASH PDI focal person "for monitoring, validation, and documentation purposes" (Sec. III.B).
5. The SDS-certified WAP and WAAR go to the RO, which sends NEAP its list of PDI completers.

The WAP sets out what the participant will do; the WAAR records what was done, the results, the challenges and the reflections. [NASH Work Application Plan (WAP): A Guide With Example](https://nash.com.ph/blog/nash-work-application-plan) takes both forms field by field.

## Coaches

The SDS designates and endorses coaches, "observing the prescribed coach-to-participant ratio, where applicable", and the SDO's Human Resource Development (HRD) unit ensures "the assignment of best-fit coaches aligned with participants' targeted PPSSH domain(s), with a one-to-one (1:1) coach-to-participant ratio strongly encouraged" (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. VI).

**Who may coach.** "Pending the establishment of a formal certification mechanism for coaches", Enclosure No. 3 lists Public Schools District Supervisors; Chief Education Supervisors of the RO's HRD division or NEAP in the Region, or of the SDO's School Governance and Operations Division (SGOD) or Curriculum Implementation Division (CID); Education Program Supervisors; School Principals II to IV; and others who served as school heads and "have passed the Principal's Test, NQESH, or NASH". A coach must also:

1. be a School Principal II to IV, have served as "a full-fledged school head", or have at least five years in school leadership;
2. have completed a Training of Coaches and Mentors by NEAP Central Office, "preferably under the School Heads Onboarding Program (SHOP) or School Heads Development Program (SHDP)";
3. have shown exemplary school leadership;
4. have a track record in mentoring or coaching; and
5. be willing to attend the required orientation, training and calibration.

**The paperwork.** The SDS sends each coach an endorsement letter naming the participant, the NASH category and the PPSSH domains to work on; the coach signs an acceptance (Enclosure No. 4). Coach and participant then sign a coaching contract, witnessed by the SDO program focal person and secretariat (Enclosure No. 5). The RO sends NEAP an endorsed list of coaches by category, with each participant's target domains (Enclosure No. 6).

**What each side owes.** Under the contract, the coach gives structured coaching, including "virtual or onsite visits, when necessary, without compromising official duties"; reviews draft and final outputs; monitors progress with the "Modified Performance Monitoring and Coaching Form (PMCF)"; and certifies "the quality and completeness of outputs prior to their submission for higher-level review and approval". The participant meets the coach regularly, keeps to the agreed schedule, gives timely and accurate updates and observes ethical standards in all outputs (Enclosure No. 5).

**If the pairing fails.** Either party may ask to end the contract "for justifiable reasons" by a written request to the SDS "through the Program Focal". The SDS may grant a "No-Fault Termination of the Contract", and the program focal person then arranges "another qualified Coach to ensure continuity" (Enclosure No. 5).

## Certificates

| Certificate | Issued by | When |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Phase 1 Certificate of Participation | NEAP Central Office | After the LinkedIn Learning pathway, NEAP's learning sessions and a passed domain assessment |
| Phase 2 and Phase 3 Certificates of Participation | RO or SDO | "upon validation of required outputs" |
| Certificate of Completion | NEAP Central Office | On receipt of the RO's endorsed list of completers; TDP participants earn it on completing the TDP, PDI participants only on completing the PDI |

*Source: DM-OULS-2026-397, Enclosure No. 2, Sec. VII. Figure 2 names the RO for the Phase 2 and Phase 3 certificates; the RO's listed duties name it for Phase 2 (Sec. VI).*

The RO's list of completers (Enclosure No. 7) certifies, "upon certification by the concerned Schools Division Offices", that the listed participants "have satisfactorily completed all applicable phases of the program". It is the region's endorsement to NEAP, not something a participant files. A phase certificate shows a finished phase, not a finished program. For a taker With Developmental Areas, the Certificate of Completion makes them a prospective candidate for School Principal I, not an appointee; for a three-domain taker, the TDP is a requirement after appointment, not a condition of candidacy (DM 044, s. 2026, para. 5).

## The 2026–2027 timeline

Enclosure No. 1 gives an "Indicative Timeline of Activities" for Batch 2:

| Activity | Date |
| --- | --- |
| Orientation of RO and SDO NASH focal persons | September 22, 2026 |
| Orientation of participants | September 23 (Luzon) and 24, 2026 (Visayas and Mindanao) |
| LinkedIn Learning activation | September 23–30, 2026 |
| Phase 1 | October 1–31, 2026 |
| Domain-based synchronous learning sessions | October 14–17, 2026 |
| Orientation of PDI coaches | October 22, 2026 |
| Phase 1 data processing and certificates (NEAP Central Office) | November 2–7, 2026 |
| Phase 2 | November 9, 2026 to January 15, 2027 |
| WAP validation, Phase 2 certificates and data processing (RO and SDO) | January 18–22, 2027 |
| Phase 3, PDI participants only | January 25 to July 30, 2027 |

On this calendar, Phase 2 starts on November 9, 2026. A participant whose Phase 1 certificate has not arrived, or who has no coach yet, should raise it with the SDO's HRD unit before then. The timeline is indicative. The RO and SDO may contextualize "selected professional learning activities" (para. 9), and the SDS schedules SDO-led learning sessions with the RO (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. VI). The phase dates come from NEAP Central Office, and Zamboanga del Norte's memorandum tells participants "to adhere to the timeline prescribed by the Central Office (CO)" (para. 7).

The individual WAP has its own limit. Its timeline "should not exceed 6 months" (Enclosure No. 8), so a WAP need not fill the whole Phase 3 window.

## Time, money and quality

- **Time.** The programs "shall be carried out without disruption to regular office operations". Activities beyond office hours count as part of participants' professional development commitments and "shall not warrant the grant of Compensatory Time-Off (CTO)" (para. 8). Plan coaching and WAP work around your load with your school head.
- **Money.** Monitoring expenses of RO and SDO focal persons "shall be charged against their respective local funds" (para. 10), and the Regional Director and SDS may approve regional or division funds for learning sessions (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. VI). Nothing in the guidelines funds a participant's WAP; its funding section asks the participant to state the amount and source (Enclosure No. 8).
- **Quality.** Learning sessions added by an RO are quality-assured by NEAP Central Office, and those added by an SDO by the RO, under the interim guidelines for NEAP core programs in [DepEd Memorandum No. 044, s. 2023](https://www.deped.gov.ph/2023/11/20/august-04-2023-neap-dm-044-s-2023-interim-guidelines-for-the-quality-assurance-and-monitoring-and-evaluation-of-the-national-educators-academy-of-the-philippines-core-programs/). "Only learning session(s) that have secured the required quality assurance clearance shall be implemented" (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. IV). The guidelines do not provide for crediting other webinars.

## Who does what

| Office or person | Main duties (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. VI) |
| --- | --- |
| NEAP Central Office | Program design and quality assurance; Phase 1; Certificates of Participation for Phase 1 and Certificates of Completion; post-program review |
| Regional Director | Regional technical working group; regional issuances; approval of regional funds; endorsement of completers to NEAP |
| RO NEAP/HRDD | Regional focal and secretariat; quality assurance of RO and SDO sessions; consolidation of reports; Certificates of Participation after Phase 2 |
| Schools Division Superintendent | Division technical working group; designates and endorses coaches; reviews, approves and certifies the WAP and WAAR |
| SDO SGOD HRD unit | Division focal and secretariat; monitors phase completion and coaching; assigns best-fit coaches; answers participants' concerns; keeps the forms |
| Coach | Coaching, feedback, the Modified PMCF, and certification of outputs before higher review |
| Participant | Completes all requirements under the coach, keeps to the schedule, reports progress honestly |

## The nine enclosures

| No. | Title | Who uses it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Indicative Timeline of Activities | Everyone |
| 2 | Program Guidelines | Everyone |
| 3 | Qualification Standards for SDO-Assigned Coaches | SDS and SDO HRD unit |
| 4 | Coach Endorsement and Acceptance Form | SDS and coach |
| 5 | Coaching Contract | Coach and participant, with the SDO program focal and secretariat as witnesses |
| 6 | Endorsed List of Coaches | RO, to NEAP |
| 7 | List of Participants for NEAP Issuance of Certificate of Completion | RO, to NEAP |
| 8 | Workplace Application Plan Template | Participant, coach, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent (ASDS) and SDS |
| 9 | Workplace Application Accomplishment Report Template | Participant, coach, ASDS and SDS |

The WAP and the WAAR each carry four signatures: prepared by the participant, reviewed by the coach, recommended for approval by the ASDS and approved by the SDS (Enclosure Nos. 8 and 9).

## What this means for school heads

- **If you are a participant**, keep one folder: your Individual Certificate of Rating and your Individual Development Report (IDR), each phase certificate, the coaching contract, your coach-verified outputs, the approved WAP and, for the PDI, the WAAR and its means of verification. To turn your result into goals, see [From NASH Results to a PPSSH Development Plan](https://nash.com.ph/blog/nash-results-ppssh-development-plan).
- **If a teacher in your school is a participant**, the job-embedded work and the WAP happen in your school. Agree on what the participant may do, which records they may use and when meetings fit the school day, since the program gives no compensatory time-off. Supporting a colleague's development is PPSSH strands 4.5, professional development of school personnel, and 4.6, leadership development in individuals and teams ([Domain 4 guide](https://nash.com.ph/blog/ppssh-domain-4-developing-self-and-others)).
- **If you are a School Principal II to IV**, you may be endorsed as a coach. The duties in the contract, regular coaching, review of outputs, the Modified PMCF and certification of outputs, fall on top of your own work. The [instructional supervision guide](https://nash.com.ph/blog/instructional-supervision-school-heads) covers the coaching cycle a coach would use. [Mentoring Aspiring School Heads in DepEd: A Practical Guide](https://nash.com.ph/blog/mentoring-aspiring-school-heads) covers mentoring outside the program.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between the NASH TDP and PDI?

The TDP is for takers Meeting PPSSH Standards in Three Domains and has two phases, e-learning and job-embedded learning. The PDI is for takers With Developmental Areas and adds Phase 3, carrying out a Workplace Application Plan and reporting on it in a WAAR (DM-OULS-2026-397, paras. 5–6).

### Do TDP participants do Phase 3?

No. The TDP ends after Phase 2 with its end-of-program evaluation and certification (Enclosure No. 2, Figure 2). TDP participants still complete the Phase 2 outputs, which lead to a WAP.

### Is finishing the LinkedIn Learning courses enough for Phase 1?

No. The Phase 1 certificate also needs attendance at NEAP's domain-based learning sessions and a passed domain assessment (Enclosure No. 2, Sec. VII), and the certificate must be issued before Phase 2 (Figure 3).

### Can I change my coach?

The coaching contract sets the route. Either party submits a written request with the grounds to the SDS through the program focal person; if the SDS approves the termination, the focal person arranges another qualified coach (Enclosure No. 5).

### Does the Certificate of Completion make me a principal?

No. For takers With Developmental Areas, completing the PDI and an SDS-certified WAP makes them eligible to be considered for School Principal I, subject to the qualification standards and hiring guidelines (DM 044, s. 2026, para. 5). The [qualification standards FAQ](https://nash.com.ph/blog/nash-qualification-standards-faq) and [School Principal I to IV: Promotion Under the ECP](https://nash.com.ph/blog/school-principal-reclassification-ecp) cover what comes next.

## Sources

**DepEd issuances**

- DM-OULS-2026-397, Guidelines on the Conduct of the National Assessment for School Heads (NASH) Targeted Development Program (TDP) and Professional Development Intervention (PDI), Office of the Undersecretary for Learning System, September 7, 2026 (paras. 1–13), with Enclosure No. 1 (Indicative Timeline of Activities), No. 2 (Program Guidelines, Secs. I–VII and Figures 1–3), No. 3 (Qualification Standards for SDO-Assigned Coaches), Nos. 4–7 (coach endorsement, coaching contract, lists of coaches and completers) and Nos. 8–9 (WAP and WAAR templates). Disseminated in [Schools Division of Zamboanga del Norte Division Memorandum No. 524, s. 2026](https://zn.deped.gov.ph/files/memos/2026/DM.No.524s.2026.pdf), October 1, 2026.
- [DepEd Memorandum No. 044, s. 2026](https://www.deped.gov.ph/2026/07/04/july-4-2026-dm-044-s-2026-results-of-the-national-assessment-for-school-heads-for-fiscal-year-2025-batch-2/), Results of the National Assessment for School Heads for Fiscal Year 2025 (Batch 2), July 4, 2026 (paras. 5–6).
- [DepEd Memorandum No. 044, s. 2023](https://www.deped.gov.ph/2023/11/20/august-04-2023-neap-dm-044-s-2023-interim-guidelines-for-the-quality-assurance-and-monitoring-and-evaluation-of-the-national-educators-academy-of-the-philippines-core-programs/), Interim Guidelines for the Quality Assurance and Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Educators Academy of the Philippines Core Programs, August 4, 2023.
- [DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2020](https://www.deped.gov.ph/2020/09/07/september-7-2020-do-024-s-2020-national-adoption-and-implementation-of-the-philippine-professional-standards-for-school-heads/), National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads, September 7, 2020 (strands 4.5 and 4.6).

*Written by Mark Anthony Llego for NASH Reviewer. Sources: DM-OULS-2026-397 and its Enclosures Nos. 1–9; DepEd Memorandum No. 044, s. 2026; DepEd Memorandum No. 044, s. 2023; DepEd Order No. 024, s. 2020. NASH Reviewer is not affiliated with DepEd.*

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