Career Shift to Teaching: The 18-Unit Route to the LET
Career Shift to Teaching in the Philippines: The 18-Unit Route to the LET
Many professionals move into teaching mid-career: engineers, accountants, nurses, IT people, writers. If you don't have an education degree, there's a well-used route into high school (secondary) teaching.
Who can take the LET without an education degree
Under RA 9293 and PRC's requirements:
- LET Secondary: a BSEd (or equivalent), or a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences plus at least 18 units of Professional Education.
- LET Elementary: a BEEd/BSEEd or an equivalent degree. The 18-unit route does not qualify you for the Elementary level.
So for most career shifters, the target is LET Secondary, teaching the subject closest to your degree.
You may also hear "CMO 75". That's CHED's program standard for the BSEd degree itself, not a shortcut to the LET.
The 18 units of Professional Education
Universities package these as a certificate or diploma in teaching, often on weekends or through distance learning. Courses usually cover the teaching profession, learner development, facilitating learning, assessment, curriculum, educational technology and field study. Check that the school and program are CHED-recognized and that PRC will accept the certificate before you enroll. Fees vary a lot, and state universities are usually cheaper.
The LET Secondary exam
A one-day, paper-based PRC exam:
| Part | Time | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 2 hours | 20% |
| Professional Education | 3 hours | 40% |
| Specialization (your major) | 3.5 hours | 40% |
You pass with a 75% general average and no part below 50%. The fee is ₱900. In March 2026, 73.10% of LET Secondary examinees passed. PRC runs the LET twice a year (March and September in 2025 and 2026). The September 20, 2026 exam has been held; the next is expected around March 2027, but PRC hasn't announced it yet.
Professional Education is where career shifters usually have the least background, so give it the biggest share of your review.
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Choose a program and enroll | 1–2 months |
| Complete the 18 units | 1–2 semesters, longer part-time |
| Apply to PRC through LERIS for the next LET | Filing closes about two months before the exam |
| Review for the LET | About 16 weeks |
| Take the LET and wait for results | Results came about two months after the March 2026 exam |
| Apply to DepEd or private schools | Depends on openings |
Plan on one and a half to three years from decision to first teaching job, depending on how fast you finish the units and how the LET dates fall.
What teaching pays
A DepEd Teacher I earns ₱31,705 a month at Step 1 in 2026 (Salary Grade 11), rising to ₱33,387 in January 2027. With PERA, the ₱10,000 yearly teaching allowance and mid-year and year-end bonuses, that averages about ₱41,000 a month before deductions. The classroom ladder goes up to Master Teacher V (SG 22, ₱81,796 a month). See the DepEd teacher salary guide. Private schools set their own pay.
Who shifts well
Match your LET major to your degree:
- Engineers → Mathematics or Science
- Accountants → Mathematics or business-related subjects
- Nurses → Science
- Writers and communicators → English or Filipino
- IT professionals → ICT-related subjects
How the LET fits
See the LET Secondary pillar guide for the full format and a review plan.
Where Super Tutor fits
Super Tutor has a reviewer for LET Secondary (and for LET Elementary, with full mock exams, if you have an education degree for that level): chapter lessons in 11 study formats, practice quizzes and an AI tutor. Start free — 5-day trial, no card needed.
What to read next
Sources: RA 9293; PRC LET requirements and 2026 exam programs; PRC March 2026 LET results; DBM NBC 601; RA 11997.
Start your LET Secondary review free
Super Tutor's LET Secondary reviewer has every chapter in 11 study formats, practice quizzes at three difficulty levels, an AI tutor for the questions you get stuck on, and a study planner. Start with a 5-day free trial, no card needed.
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