NLE Passing Rate 2026: National Results and School Lists

Every NLE result release, the same headlines run. National passing rate up or down. Top-performing schools. Then the comments section fills with arguments — is School A really better than School B, or does it just screen who sits? Did the rate jump because of better prep or a different mix of takers?

If you're a future or current NLE taker, the NLE passing rate numbers matter — but only if you read them honestly. This post covers what PRC actually publishes, the national results for the last four sittings, what school lists do and don't tell you, and how to use the numbers without fooling yourself.

What PRC Actually Releases

After every NLE, PRC posts a results announcement on prc.gov.ph. It gives the number of passers out of the number of examinees and the number of testing centres, and it links to:

• The list of successful examinees
• The examinees who placed in the top 10
• A performance-of-schools document

The announcement also tells passers when online registration for the Professional Identification Card and Certificate of Registration opens, and that the oath-taking date will be announced later.

National Results: The Last Four Sittings

The August 2026 sitting was split by weather: Region III sat on September 11–12, and Day 2 in Metro Manila moved to September 12. PRC released the combined results on September 18, 2026. There is no further NLE in 2026; the next one is expected in 2027, but PRC has not yet published its 2027 schedule.

Two things stand out. First, the rate swings a lot — from 44.24% to 90.04% within two sittings. Second, the sittings differ hugely in size: 55,962 people took the NLE across 2025, and 45,521 across 2026, with most of them in one large sitting each year. PRC doesn't explain the swings. One plausible factor is the mix of takers — a large sitting soon after graduation season has more fresh graduates, while a small sitting can have a higher share of repeaters — but treat that as a guess, not a finding.

First-Timers and Repeaters

The NLE results announcements we checked give the overall number of passers and examinees only. They don't publish a first-timer passing rate or a repeater passing rate. Treat any "first-taker rate" or "retaker rate" you see quoted for the NLE with suspicion unless it links to a PRC document.

What the National Rate Means for You

The national rate describes everyone who sat — fresh graduates, repeaters, and people returning after years out of school. It doesn't give you a personal probability. Your own odds depend on things the headline can't see:

• How strong your clinical exposure and nursing foundations are
• How many hours of real review you put in, and how well you use them
• Whether this is your first attempt or a retake
• How you do on timed, full-length practice

Treat the national rate as context, not destiny. It swings from sitting to sitting; your preparation is the part you control.

How to Read PRC's School Lists

The performance-of-schools document linked from each results release is the official source for how a school's graduates did in that sitting. PRC also recognises top-performing schools with each release. We don't reproduce school figures here — go to the PRC release for the sitting you care about and read the document directly.

When you read it:

• Check the sitting. A school's result in one sitting doesn't lock in the next. Look at several sittings, not one — and remember the national rate itself swung from 44.24% to 90.04%.
• Check the counts, not just the percentage. A high rate from a handful of examinees means less than a slightly lower rate from hundreds.
• Compare like with like. Compare a school's rate with the national rate for the same sitting, not with a different sitting.

What School Results Actually Measure

• Who the school admits — selective schools start with stronger students. Part of their result reflects that selection, not just four years of nursing school.
• Programme quality — clinical exposure and teaching matter. This part is real.
• Who sits when — schools don't control exactly who takes which sitting, and a small group of takers can swing a school's rate either way.

Choosing a Nursing Programme

If you're a senior high student picking a nursing school, here's the honest framework:

• Look at several sittings. A single sitting can mislead. Ask the school for its results across several sittings and check them against PRC's documents.
• Ask about the path to the board exam. How many students who enrol graduate on time, and how many sit the next NLE after graduating? Big gaps are worth asking about.
• Ask about clinical exposure. Which hospitals are affiliated, and how much bedside time do students get? The NLE tests clinical reasoning, and reasoning is built at the bedside.

Reading Review-Centre Pass Claims

Many review centres advertise passing rates. PRC doesn't publish review-centre results, so these are self-reported. Before you rely on one, ask:

• What's the denominator? A 95% rate from 20 students tells you less than an 80% rate from 500.
• Which sitting? Given how much the national rate swings, a single sitting proves little.
• Who counts as a student? Everyone who enrolled, or only those who finished the programme?
• How is it checked? Can the centre show it against PRC's list of passers?

The 75% Average and the No-Test-Below-60% Rule

Two numbers govern the actual exam under RA 9173: a general average of at least 75% across the five Nursing Practice tests, and no test below 60%. If your average reaches 75% but you fall below 60% in a test, you retake only that test and need at least 75% in it. PRC's national figure doesn't show how many takers fell short on the average versus on a single test.

The practical lesson: balance matters. Know which tests are your weakest — our posts on foundations of nursing, medical-surgical priority frameworks and maternal and child nursing are good places to start.

What to Do With This Information

If You're a First-Timer

Don't lean on your school's result. Whatever its record, your own review decides your score. Use timed practice to find your weakest test early.

If You're a Retaker

Start from your ratings in each test, not from scratch. Many retakers go back to the same plan that didn't work the first time. Different plan, different result. The after-shift review plan is built for working-nurse retakers, and the retake strategy covers the full approach.

How Super Tutor Helps

We don't quote a pass rate for Super Tutor — a headline number tells you very little about your own outcome. What Super Tutor's NLE reviewer gives you is the practice to find out where you stand: practice quizzes at three difficulty levels, full NLE mock exams drawn from 4,300+ questions, chapter content in 11 study formats and an AI tutor for the items you get wrong. Plans start at ₱249 a month with auto-pay (cancel anytime) or ₱299 to pay once for 30 days, and ₱1,999 covers a full year, paid once.

For the cluster, see the board day checklist, the pacing strategy, and the after-shift plan.

FAQ

What's the latest NLE passing rate?

76.69% in the August and September 2026 NLE (28,652 of 37,359), released on September 18, 2026. The three sittings before it were 44.24% (February 2026), 90.04% (November 2025) and 64.39% (May 2025).

Is there an official first-timer or retaker passing rate?

Not in the NLE results announcements we checked — they give overall passers and examinees only.

Where do I find official school results?

In the performance-of-schools document linked from each NLE results release on prc.gov.ph.

Does the school you graduated from really matter?

Less than candidates assume. Strong schools post strong results partly because of who they admit. Your own review depth matters more.

When is the next NLE?

PRC held two NLEs in 2026 (February and August) and there are none left this year. The next is expected in 2027; PRC hasn't published its 2027 schedule yet.

Where to Go Next

• NLE vs NCLEX: Why Prep Strategies Differ
• NLE After-Shift Review Plan
• NLE Board-Day Checklist
• Super Tutor's NLE Reviewer