NLE (Nurse Licensure Examination) is the PRC licensure exam for nurses, often called the PNLE to distinguish it from the US NCLEX.
Exam format:
- Five Nursing Practice tests (NP I–V), 100 items each, 2 hours each
- Two days, on paper
Pass mark: 75% general average with no test below 60%. If your average is at least 75% but one test is below 60%, you retake only that test (RA 9173).
Recent pass rates: 44.24% in February 2026 and 76.69% in August 2026.
When it's held: twice a year — February and August in 2026. The 2027 dates haven't been announced.
What it means for you:
- Required to practice as a registered nurse in the Philippines, in hospitals, government health and private practice
- Nurses aiming abroad usually pass the NLE first, then prepare for the destination's exam (such as the NCLEX)
- A government Nurse I (SG 15) earns ₱42,178/month at Step 1 in 2026