Becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) in the Philippines is the ultimate goal after years of duty and sleepless nights.
According to Republic Act 9173, also known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, every nursing graduate must pass the written licensure examination to legally perform their professional duties.
If you are preparing for the 2026 boards, here is a clear breakdown of how the scoring works and what it takes to pass.
The Board Exam Coverage
The Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE) consists of five parts, referred to as Nursing Practice (NP) I to V.
Each subject is weighted at 20% and contains 100 items, totaling 500 items for the entire exam.
| Coverage of the Exam (Subjects) | Weighted Average | Items |
| Nursing Practice I — Community Health Nursing | 20% | 100 |
| Nursing Practice II — Care of Healthy/At-Risk Mother and Child | 20% | 100 |
| Nursing Practice III — Care of Clients (Part A) | 20% | 100 |
| Nursing Practice IV — Care of Clients (Part B) | 20% | 100 |
| Nursing Practice V — Care of Clients (Part C) | 20% | 100 |
| Overall Weighted Average | 100% | 500 Total |
The Passing Criteria: Understanding the Rules
To earn your license, you must meet two specific conditions regarding your ratings:
- General Average: You must obtain at least 75%.
- No Grade Below 60%: You cannot have a rating lower than 60% in any of the five subjects.
This is where the difference between a Passed and a Conditional Pass becomes very important.
Case Study: Nurse A vs. Nurse B
| Subject | Nurse A (Passed) | Nurse B (Conditional) |
| Nursing Practice I | 80% | 90% |
| Nursing Practice II | 75% | 90% |
| Nursing Practice III | 70% | 85% |
| Nursing Practice IV | 75% | 59% |
| Nursing Practice V | 75% | 51% |
| Overall Rating | 75% | 75% |
| Remarks | PASSED | CONDITIONAL |
- Nurse A: She obtained the required 75% average, and since none of her subjects fell below 60% (her lowest was 70%), she is officially a Registered Nurse.
- Nurse B: While she also hit the 75% average, she received a rating below 60% in NP IV and NP V. She is considered a Conditional Pass.
What is a “Conditional Pass”?
If you are in Nurse B’s position, you are not considered failed. According to the Act:
- You are only required to retake the specific subjects where you scored below 60%.
- However, in that retake, you must obtain a rating of at least 75% in those repeated subjects to finally pass the board.
A Failed status is given to examinees who do not meet the 75% general average rule, regardless of their individual subject scores.
Get Started with Your Review
We know how high the stakes are and how heavy the pressure can feel.
To support your journey toward those two letters after your name, we are providing a free Nursing Licensure Exam review right here.
This resource is designed to sharpen your test-taking skills, provide clear rationalizations, and give you the confidence you need to secure that PASSED remark on your first try.
