LET vs CLE Criminology: Which Licensure Is Tougher?

The let vs cle comparison comes up often — students choosing between teaching and criminology, families weighing career paths, retakers who failed one and wonder if the other is easier. The honest answer is more nuanced than "which is easier". They test different things, attract different candidate pools, and have different passing rules. Here's the real comparison.

The Quick Answer

On recent national passing rates, the CLE and LET Secondary pass at broadly similar rates, and both have passed more of their examinees than LET Elementary. But the CLE has a stricter passing rule and a longer exam. Calling one "easier" depends on what you mean — and your degree decides which one you can take anyway.

Passing Rates Side by Side

• LET Elementary — 45.51% (Sep 2024), 46.77% (Mar 2025), 51.04% (Sep–Nov 2025), 56.03% (Mar 2026).
• LET Secondary — 56.88% (Sep 2024), 62.27% (Mar 2025), 72.62% (Sep–Nov 2025), 73.10% (Mar 2026).
• CLE Criminology — 60.50% (Feb 2025), 51.45% (Aug 2025), 66.00% (Feb 2026), 57.56% (Aug 2026).

Interpret with care. The pools are different sizes and made up of different graduates, and a national rate describes the whole pool, not your chances.

Exam Format and Content

LET

One day, paper-based. General Education (150 items, 2 hours) and Professional Education (150 items, 3 hours) for everyone; Secondary takers add their Specialization (3.5 hours). Elementary is weighted Gen Ed 40% / Prof Ed 60%; Secondary is 20% / 40% / 40%.

The breadth is large. Gen Ed alone spans ten areas, from Purposive Communication and Filipino to Mathematics, Science and Technology, Ethics and Understanding the Self — and a Secondary major goes deep on top of that.

CLE

Three days, paper-based, six subjects: Criminal Law and Jurisprudence (20%), Law Enforcement Administration (15%), Crime Detection and Investigation (20%), Forensic Science (15%), Criminology (20%) and Correctional Administration (10%). Narrower domain, deeper specialisation, built around law and the criminal justice system.

The Comparison

The LET is broad; the CLE is narrower but more technical and runs over three days. Both demand serious review. Different cognitive loads.

Review Effort

There's no official data on how long passers review. As a rough planning guide, many LET reviewers plan 12–16 weeks, and many CLE reviewers plan a similar or longer window because of the legal and forensic detail. Retakers usually need longer and more focused review on their weak subjects.

Passing Standard

This is where the two differ most.

• LET — 75% general average, with no test below 50%.
• CLE — 75% weighted average, with no subject below 60% (RA 11131). If your average is 75% or higher but one subject is below 60%, the result is deferred: you get one retake of that subject within two years and need at least 80%, otherwise all subjects must be retaken.

So the CLE's subject floor is higher, and it has its own deferred-retake rule.

Career Pathways After

LET Passers

• Public school teacher (DepEd) — Teacher I is Salary Grade 11, ₱31,705 a month at Step 1 in 2026.
• Private school teacher — pay varies by school.
• Tutor or homeschool teacher.
• Curriculum developer or trainer.
• Teaching abroad — requirements vary by country.

CLE Passers

• Uniformed services such as the PNP, BJMP, BFP and BuCor — each with its own recruitment requirements and exams.
• Investigation, private security, and corporate compliance roles.
• Teaching criminology.

Different career economies. Teaching is broad; criminology leads into more sharply defined paths.

Volatility

Both exams move from sitting to sitting. Over the last four sittings each, LET Secondary ranged from 56.88% to 73.10%, LET Elementary from 45.51% to 56.03%, and the CLE from 51.45% to 66.00%.

Which Is Right for You?

Pick LET if:

• You have an education degree (BEEd for Elementary; BSEd for Secondary), or a relevant degree plus 18 units of Professional Education for Secondary.
• You want to teach.
• You're comfortable with broad content.

Pick CLE if:

• You graduated BS Criminology.
• You want to enter law enforcement, corrections, or related fields.
• You're comfortable with technical legal depth over three exam days.

Don't Switch as a Workaround

If you failed the LET, don't "switch to CLE because it's easier". Your degree decides which exam you can take. Crossing over requires a different degree. The fix for failing the LET is better LET review.

How Super Tutor Fits

Super Tutor has reviewers for LET Elementary and LET Secondary — chapter content in 11 study formats, practice quizzes at three difficulty levels, an AI tutor and a study planner, plus full mock exams for LET Elementary. Plans start at ₱249 a month with auto-pay (cancel anytime) or ₱299 to pay once, and ₱1,999 covers a full year, paid once. A CLE reviewer is coming soon to Super Tutor; see the CLE exam page for the exam facts.

For LET-specific strategy, see the Complete LET Guide 2026. For the CLE, see the Complete CLE Guide 2026.

FAQ

Is one exam easier than the other?

Not in a simple way. The CLE has passed more of its examinees than LET Elementary recently, while LET Secondary has passed at similar or higher rates than the CLE. The CLE has a stricter 60% subject floor and runs over three days.

Can I take both?

Only if your education qualifies you for both, which is unusual. Most candidates take one or the other.

Which has better job prospects?

Both lead to stable careers. Teaching has more total openings; criminology leads into more defined government service paths, each with its own recruitment process.

How much does each cost in fees?

The PRC application fee is ₱900 for both, and initial registration after passing is ₱1,050. See the LET cost breakdown.

Next Steps

• Complete LET Guide 2026
• Complete CLE Guide 2026
• Super Tutor's LET Secondary Reviewer
• CLE Exam Facts