Complete NLE Guide 2026: Nurse Licensure Exam Review

What is the NLE?

The Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination — most people just call it the NLE or PNLE — is the PRC board exam for nursing graduates. The Board of Nursing gives it twice a year, and to sit it you need a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from a recognised school (RA 9173). In 2025, 55,962 examinees took it; the two 2026 sittings had 45,521. If you're a nursing grad, this is the test that decides whether you practice.

NLE 2026 Schedule

PRC moved the NLE from May and November (2025) to February and August in 2026. The February 26–27, 2026 sitting had results out on March 6. The second sitting was held August 29–30, 2026, with weather make-up days on September 11–12 for Region III and for day 2 in Metro Manila; the combined results came out on September 18, 2026. There is no further NLE in 2026. The next NLE is expected in 2027, but PRC has not yet published its 2027 schedule, and because the months changed between 2025 and 2026, don't assume a month. Applications go through PRC's online LERIS system during the filing window PRC sets for each sitting. Always confirm with PRC.

Exam Structure

The NLE is a two-day, paper-based exam of five Nursing Practice (NP) tests, 100 items each, 2 hours each. NP I to NP III are on day 1 and NP IV and NP V on day 2. PRC's current titles:

• Nursing Practice I — Care of Individuals, Families, Population Groups and Community (Community Health Nursing).
• Nursing Practice II — Part 1: Care of Mother, Adolescent (Well Clients), At Risk or With Problems; Part 2: Human Growth and Development.
• Nursing Practice III — Care of Clients with Problems in Surgery, Oxygenation, Fluid and Electrolytes, Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Response, and Cellular Aberrations.
• Nursing Practice IV — Care of Clients with Problems in Nutrition, Gastro-Intestinal, Metabolism and Endocrine, and Perception and Coordination.
• Nursing Practice V — Care of Clients with Maladaptive Patterns of Behavior; Care of Clients with Life-Threatening Conditions, Acutely Ill/Multi-Organ Problems, High Acuity and Emergency Situations.

PRC's programme adds that anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, nutrition and diet therapy, and parasitology and microbiology are integrated into every test, with the nursing process as the framework. The Board of Nursing's Enhanced Table of Specifications (BON Resolution No. 10, s. 2025) has applied since the November 2025 NLE.

You pass with a general average of at least 75% and no subject below 60%. If your average is 75% or higher but one subject falls below 60%, RA 9173 lets you retake only that subject — and you need at least 75% in it.

Passing Rate

NLE passing rates swing a lot from sitting to sitting. Going by PRC's results releases: 64.39% in May 2025, 90.04% in November 2025, 44.24% in February 2026 and 76.69% in the August–September 2026 sitting (28,652 of 37,359). PRC also publishes a performance-of-schools list with each results release on prc.gov.ph.

How to Prepare

Many reviewers plan 10–16 weeks. Rotate the five NP tests so every one gets touched every week. Don't front-load. Don't back-load. Case-style rationales beat memorisation, because NLE questions test clinical judgement under pressure — and remember the 60% floor: one neglected NP can hold back your licence even with a good average.

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See Also

• NLE Preparation Guide
• NLE Board Review use case
• Best for NLE Takers