CLE Criminology Exam Guide: 6 Subjects, Passing Rules, 16-Week Plan

CLE: The Complete Guide for Filipino Criminology Graduates

The Criminologist Licensure Examination (CLE) is one of the biggest PRC boards by number of takers. In 2026 alone, 75,388 examinees sat for it across two sittings. Pass rates in recent sittings have ranged from 51% to 66%, so a well-planned review gives you a real shot on your first attempt.

This guide covers the format, the passing rules, a 16-week review plan, and what to do if you don't pass.

Schedule: PRC held the 2026 CLE on February 4–6 and August 1–3, 2026 (August results: 57.56% passed). The next CLE is expected around February 2027, but PRC has not yet published its 2027 schedule. Check prc.gov.ph before you plan your filing.

1. The six subjects and their weights

The CLE is a three-day, paper-based exam with six subjects. These are the subject titles and weights in PRC's 2026 exam programs:

Two changes catch people using older reviewers: "Forensic Science" replaced "Criminalistics", and the old "Criminal Sociology, Ethics and Human Relations" subject is now "Criminology" (theories, victimology, ethics, juvenile justice and research).

2. The passing rules

Under RA 11131, Section 17:

• You pass with a weighted average of at least 75% and no subject below 60%.
• If your average is 75% or higher but one subject is below 60%, your result is deferred. You get one retake of that subject within two years and need at least 80% on it. Miss that, and you retake all six.

Here's how the math works (weights 20/15/20/15/20/10):

The third row is the trap: a strong average that still doesn't give you a license because one subject slipped under 60. Build your review so no subject is left behind.

3. Recent PRC pass rates

These are from PRC's own results releases (passers ÷ examinees):

Rates swing from sitting to sitting, so plan for the harder end.

4. The 16-week review plan

Built for a recent BS Criminology graduate with full review time. If you're working, stretch it to 20 weeks at a lower daily load.

Weeks 1–2: Diagnose

Take one full timed practice exam across all six subjects, at exam-day pacing. Sort every wrong answer by subject and topic. That list is your plan for the next 14 weeks.

Weeks 3–8: Foundations

Six weeks across all six subjects. Pair them so you're not grinding law for six weeks straight:

• Mornings (90 min, alternating days): Criminal Law and Jurisprudence, then Law Enforcement Administration
• Afternoons (90 min, alternating days): Forensic Science, then Crime Detection and Investigation
• Saturday morning (3 hrs): Criminology and Correctional Administration
• Sunday: Off. Burnout usually shows up by week 5 if you study every day.

Use one reviewer book per subject and read actively: close the book at the end of each chapter and write five questions you couldn't answer cold. Those become your flashcards.

Weeks 9–12: Practice

Switch to question drills. At least 100 items per session, spread across all six subjects. Track wrong answers by topic, not just by subject.

Weekend rhythm: a full practice day on Saturday, wrong-answer review on Sunday.

Weeks 13–15: Final stretch

No new material. Flashcards on weekdays, a full practice exam on Saturdays, wrong-answer review on Sundays.

Week 16: Taper

Cut your hours in half. One light practice set five days out, then only cheat-sheet review and rest.

5. The subjects most reviewers under-prepare

Forensic Science

Forensic Science covers fingerprints and personal identification, ballistics, questioned documents, forensic photography, polygraphy, and forensic chemistry. Many BS Criminology programs cover it lightly, so reviewers feel ready but score low in practice. Give it dedicated weeks, not leftovers. See the Forensic Science review.

Crime Detection and Investigation

At 20%, CDI weighs as much as Criminal Law and Jurisprudence. It covers investigation procedure, interviews and interrogation, crime scene work, and special crime investigations. Drill scenario questions ("given this evidence, what's the next step?") instead of re-reading chapters. See the CDI review.

6. What it costs

• PRC fees: the application fee for a baccalaureate board like the CLE is ₱900. After you pass, initial registration (which covers your ID and certificate) is ₱1,050. Source: PRC Citizen's Charter 2026.
• Review materials: reviewer books, or a review center if you want a fixed schedule and a classroom. Review center rates vary a lot, so check each center's current price.
• Travel and lodging if your testing center is outside your city.

You don't need the most expensive option to pass. Passers tend to be the ones who found their two weakest subjects early, drilled them until they were safely above 60%, and took several full practice exams before exam week.

7. Career outlook after passing

• PNP: entry as Patrolman/Patrolwoman pays ₱31,151 a month base in 2026 under EO 107 (s. 2025). See the PNP salary guide.
• BJMP and BFP: Jail Officer I and Fire Officer I also start at ₱31,151 base in 2026. Their written eligibility exams are the CSC Penology Officer and Fire Officer exams.
• Teaching: under RA 11131, the subjects covered by the licensure exam must be taught by a registered criminologist.
• Private security and investigations: pay varies widely by employer and city.

8. If you don't pass

• Deferred (one subject under 60): focus that subject hard. You need 80% on the retake.
• Average a few points short: you needed more practice volume. Rebuild around your two weakest subjects for 8–12 weeks.
• Well short: take a fresh diagnostic, restart from foundations, and change how you review.

The CLE runs twice a year (February and August in both 2025 and 2026), so the next attempt is usually about six months away. Note that PRC requires a refresher course after five failures.

Where Super Tutor fits

A CLE reviewer is coming soon to Super Tutor. If you're also aiming for the PNP, we do have a reviewer for the NAPOLCOM PNP Entrance Exam — try it free for 5 days, no card needed. You can also see every exam Super Tutor covers.

Sources: PRC 2026 CLE exam programs; PRC results releases (Feb 2025–Aug 2026); RA 11131 Secs. 16–17; PRC Citizen's Charter 2026; EO 107 s. 2025.