1. Statutory Authority and Legal Framework
The Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE) is conducted under the mandate of Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise known as the "Philippine Nursing Act of 2002". The Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing (BON), under the administrative supervision of the PRC, prescribes the competency-based examination framework, defines the core competencies across eleven areas of nursing responsibility, and administers the examination nationwide twice every year (typically in May and November).
2. Five Nursing Practice Modules and Weights
The examination evaluates candidates across five integrated Nursing Practice modules, each carrying an equal weight of 20.00% (one-fifth of the total score):
| Subject Module | Acronym | Weight | Competency Scope and Clinical Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Practice I | NP1 | 20.00% | Community Health Nursing, Primary Health Care, Population Health, Care of Communities and Vulnerable Groups, Maternal and Child Health Care in Primary Settings. |
| Nursing Practice II | NP2 | 20.00% | Care of Healthy / At-Risk Mother and Child, Obstetric Nursing, High-Risk Pregnancy, Intrapartum, Postpartum, Neonatal Assessment, Well and Sick Child Nursing Care. |
| Nursing Practice III | NP3 | 20.00% | Care of Clients with Physiologic and Psychosocial Alterations (Part A): Medical-Surgical Nursing focusing on Oxygenation, Fluids and Electrolytes, Infectious Diseases, Perioperative Nursing, and Acute Alterations. |
| Nursing Practice IV | NP4 | 20.00% | Care of Clients with Physiologic and Psychosocial Alterations (Part B): Complex Medical-Surgical Nursing covering Cardiovascular, Endocrine, Gastrointestinal, Neurological, Renal, and Oncologic Care. |
| Nursing Practice V | NP5 | 20.00% | Care of Clients with Maladaptive Patterns of Behavior: Psychiatric Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Psychopharmacology, Crisis Intervention, Somatoform, Mood, and Psychotic Disorders. |
3. Statutory Passing Standards and Conditioned Rules
Section 15 of Republic Act No. 9173 establishes three distinct outcomes for PNLE examinees:
- Passed (Full Licensure): The examinee achieves a General Weighted Average of at least 75.00%, and scores 60.00% or higher in all five individual subjects. Qualified for registration as a Registered Nurse (RN).
- Conditioned Status (Removal Status): The examinee achieves an overall GWA of at least 75.00%, but receives a score below 60.00% in one or more subjects. The examinee must take a removal examination covering only the subjects scored below 60.00% within a statutory period of two (2) years. To clear the condition, the examinee must obtain a rating of at least 75.00% in each reexamined subject.
- Failed (Full Examination Retake): The examinee's overall General Weighted Average is below 75.00%. The examinee must retake all five subjects in a future board examination sitting.
4. Mathematical Calculation Formula
The PNLE General Weighted Average is computed as the arithmetic mean of the five modular scores:
5. Step-by-Step Mathematical Calculation Examples
Example A: Conditioned Examinee
An examinee scores: NP1 = 84.00%, NP2 = 82.00%, NP3 = 80.00%, NP4 = 80.00%, NP5 = 58.00%.
- Calculate Sum of Scores: 84.00 + 82.00 + 80.00 + 80.00 + 58.00 = 384.00.
- Compute GWA: 384.00 / 5 = 76.80% (Satisfies the 75.00% passing baseline).
- Inspect Subject Scores: NP1 (84%), NP2 (82%), NP3 (80%), and NP4 (80%) are above 60.00%. NP5 is 58.00% (below the 60.00% floor).
- Final Outcome: CONDITIONED. The examinee retains passing credit for NP1–NP4 and must retake NP5 within 2 years, obtaining at least 75.00% on the removal exam.
Example B: Failed Overall Examinee
An examinee scores: NP1 = 74.00%, NP2 = 72.00%, NP3 = 76.00%, NP4 = 72.00%, NP5 = 70.00%.
- Calculate Sum of Scores: 74 + 72 + 76 + 72 + 70 = 364.00.
- Compute GWA: 364.00 / 5 = 72.80%.
- Inspect Subject Scores: All individual subjects exceed 60.00%.
- Average Evaluation: 72.80% fails to reach the statutory 75.00% threshold.
- Final Outcome: FAILED. Candidate must retake all 5 subjects.
6. Common Calculation Errors Among Nursing Graduates
- Assuming 60% in a removal exam is sufficient: While 60.00% prevents conditioning on the first full examination, an examinee taking a removal examination must score at least 75.00% in each removal subject to pass.
- Misinterpreting 75.00% average with sub-60% scores: Scoring 59.00% on NP5 with an 80.00% overall average does not result in a full pass; it triggers conditioned status.
- Letting the 2-year removal window expire: Examinees who do not pass the conditioned removal within two years forfeit their passing credits and must repeat all five subjects.
7. Official August 2026 Examination Schedule & Target Release
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board of Nursing have scheduled the second nationwide PNLE cycle for 2026 on August 29–30, 2026. The examination takes place across 19 designated testing hubs including the National Capital Region (NCR), Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga.
The target date for the official release of the August 2026 PNLE board exam results is September 18, 2026. Examinees can verify their individual rating and Certificate of Registration eligibility through the PRC LERIS portal.