Top 8 Hardest Board Exams in the Philippines
The Philippines is renowned for its demanding licensing exams, which act as entry points for professionals to pursue their chosen fields of work. By evaluating competence, knowledge, and abilities, these board exams make sure that only the most qualified people pursue careers in their disciplines.
Some licensing exams are among the hardest in the nation due to their difficult questions, broad content, and infamously low passing rates.
The top 8 hardest board exams in the Philippines are covered in this article, along with the prerequisites and difficulties that contribute to its high difficulty.
| S.NO | Board Exam |
| 1 | Bar Exam |
| 2 | Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Exam |
| 3 | The Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) |
| 4 | The Electrical Engineering Board Exam |
| 5 | The Mechanical Engineering Board Exam |
| 6 | The Nursing Board Exam |
| 7 | The Architect Licensure Exam |
| 8 | Chemical Engineering Licensure Exam |
1. Bar Examination
The official licensing tests needed to practice law in the Philippines are called the Philippine Bar Examinations. The Supreme Court of the Philippines, acting through the Supreme Court Bar Examination Committee, is the only body authorized to give the test. It is regarded as one of the nation's most challenging professional licensing examinations. As the exam structure has changed over time, multiple-choice (MCQ) and essay-style questions have been added in recent years.
Bar Admission Requirements
The Philippine Bar Examinations have specific academic and non-academic qualifications that candidates must meet before they can take the exam.
Academic Qualifications:
- A holder of a professional law degree from a recognized law school in the Philippines.
- A holder of a bachelor's degree (prior to law school) with academic credits in required subjects from a recognized college or university in the Philippines or abroad.
Non-Academic Qualifications:
- To be eligible, a candidate must also:
- Be a Filipino citizen.
- Be at least 21 years old.
- Be a resident of the Philippines.
- Present satisfactory evidence of good moral character, such as a certificate from a law school dean or work superior.
- Have no pending cases involving moral turpitude in any Philippine court.
Eligibility of Foreign Law Graduates:
In March 2010, the Philippine Supreme Court issued Bar Matter 1153, which allows Filipino foreign law school graduates to take the Philippine Bar Exam, provided they meet the following conditions:
- Completion of all courses leading to a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or its equivalent.
- The foreign law school must be accredited by the proper authority.
- Completion of all fourth-year law subjects in an accredited Philippine law school.
- Proof of having completed a separate bachelor's degree.
The difficulty of the recent Philippine Bar Examinations compared to past exams is influenced by several factors:
It is becoming more difficult for examinees to become proficient in all pertinent legal texts due to the substantial expansion of Philippine statutes, case law, and legal concepts.
According to the law, no subject may receive a grade lower than 50%; a passing grade of 75% is required. Unless they retake the test, even applicants with a 74.99% score are not admitted to the bar.
If a candidate fails three times, they must take a pre-bar review course and re-enroll in the fourth-year review classes offered by the law school before retaking the exam.
Previously, applicants could only attempt five bars under this restriction. Each time they tried again after three failures, they had to do a refresher course that lasted a year. But in 2013, the Supreme Court overturned this regulation.
Candidates must finish a four-year bachelor's degree in another field prior to enrolling in law school. In the past, two-year Associate in Arts degree holders and recent high school graduates were admitted to law schools.
What Happens if You Fail the Bar Exam in the Philippines?
Candidates may retake the Philippine Bar Exam as many times as needed if they are unsuccessful. But in accordance with the Three-Failure Rule, applicants who fail the test three times have to fulfill certain requirements before retaking it:
They have to sign up for and complete standard fourth-year bar review courses at a recognized law school.
Additionally, they have to go to a pre-bar review course.
2. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examination
One of the most difficult professional board exams in the Philippines is the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examination, which is renowned for its high degree of difficulty. Despite the fact that thousands of applicants take the test each year, just 20% of first-time test takers pass (Bala, 2008).
Because of its thorough scope and exacting requirements, several critics rank the CPA board test as one of the most difficult (Abrugar, 2009). The persistently low passing rates at the municipal and national levels demonstrate the problem.
The outcomes of the CPA board exam at Rizal Technological University (RTU) have fluctuated throughout time. Overall performance has fluctuated, while some batches have passed with higher rates than the national average.
How Hard is the CPA Exam in the Philippines?
The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examination is taken annually by thousands of applicants in the Philippines. However, just 20% of first-time applicants pass the test, which is a relatively low passing rate.
There are other reasons for this low passing rate:
- Challenging Exam Coverage –The CPA exam covers a lot of ground, such as business law, taxation, auditing, and financial accounting.
- Strict Passing Criteria – Applicants must achieve the necessary passing percentage in every subject.
- High Standards – High Standards: Only highly qualified candidates are granted the CPA license thanks to the exam.
How to Apply for the CPA Exam?
- Each time candidates want to take one or more parts of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination, they must apply. The necessary paperwork and costs as stipulated by their Board of Accountancy or CPA Examination Services (CPAES) must be included with this application.
- Candidates will be informed of the next stages after their application has been reviewed. Applicants must carefully follow the most recent instructions supplied by their board, as fee payment differs by jurisdiction.
- Candidates are in charge of making sure that all exam components are completed within the allotted time, as each jurisdiction has its own unique standards for CPA licensing. Since 55 U.S. jurisdictions oversee CPA licenses, candidates seeking a general overview of jurisdiction-specific requirements should consult the NASBA website.
3. The Physician Licensure Examination (PLE)
The formal licensing test for prospective doctors in the Philippines is the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE), sometimes referred to as the Philippine Medical Board. Its purpose is to assess medical students' competency, knowledge, and abilities before they are allowed to practice as licensed physicians.
The exam is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through the Board of Medicine. It is usually conducted twice a year (March and September).
How Many Times Can You Take the Physician Licensure Exam in the Philippines?
Before being permitted to retake the Physician Licensure Examination, candidates who fail it three times must complete a one-year refresher course at an accredited medical school or institution.
The requirements for the refresher course are as follows:
- An applicant must enroll in and repeat a subject at an accredited medical school if they fail it three times.
- A candidate does not have to re-enroll in a topic if they have passed it three times.
- Who can take the Physician Licensure Exam?
- A candidate must fulfill certain prerequisites in order to sit for the Philippine Physician Licensure Examination, as stipulated by The Medical Act of 1959. A Doctor of Medicine degree or its equivalent is required, as is a Certificate of Registration from the Board of Medical Examiners. Additionally, they must be Filipino citizens, and foreign applicants must provide documentation that has been verified by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
- Candidates must also be morally upright and free of moral charges or any legal proceedings. Only persons who are qualified and ethically responsible are allowed to sit for the licensing exam and practice medicine in the nation thanks to these restrictions.
4. The Electrical Engineering Board Exam
The Electrical Engineering Board Exam in the Philippines is a professional licensure exam that aspiring Registered Electrical Engineers (REE) and Registered Master Electricians (RME) must pass to legally practice in the country. This exam is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through the Board of Electrical Engineering (BEE) and is considered one of the most challenging engineering licensure exams.
Eligibility to Take Electrical Engineering Exam
The Electrical Engineering Law, also known as Republic Act No. 7920, stipulates that prospective electrical engineers who want to sit for the Philippine Electrical Engineer Licensure Exam must fulfill the below requirements:
| Age Requirement | Must be at least 21 years old |
| Citizenship | Must be a Filipino citizen |
| Moral Character | Must have good moral character |
| Educational Requirement | Must be a graduate of a four-year electrical engineering course from a recognized school |
Requirements for the Electrical Engineer Licensure Exam
To apply for the Electrical Engineer Licensure Exam in the Philippines, candidates must submit the following documents:
- NSO/PSA Birth Certificate – Proof of birth and identity.
- NSO/PSA Marriage Contract – Required only for married female applicants.
- Transcript of Records – Must include a scanned image of the applicant and the remark "For Board Examination Purposes."
- NBI Clearance – To verify that the applicant has no criminal record.
- Passport-Sized Photos (4) – Must have a white background and the applicant should wear an attire with a collar.
5. The Mechanical Engineering Board Exam
The Mechanical Engineering Board Exam in the Philippines is a professional licensure examination that aspiring Registered Mechanical Engineers (RME) and Certified Plant Mechanics (CPM) must pass to legally practice in the country. It is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through the Board of Mechanical Engineering (BME).
How Many Questions are in the Mechanical Engineering Board Exam in the Philippines?
The Board Members are in charge of keeping an exam bank of questions for the Philippine Electrical Engineer Licensure Exam. At least 500 questions must be included in each subject at first, and each exam must add at least 300 new questions until the test bank reaches the ideal level of 3,000 questions or more. This procedure maintains the exam's quality and integrity by guaranteeing a large and regularly updated pool of questions.
6. The Nursing Board Exam
The Nursing Board Exam in the Philippines, officially known as the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE), is the licensure exam required for aspiring Registered Nurses (RNs) in the country. It is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through the Board of Nursing (BON) and is considered one of the most crucial professional exams in the medical field.
The 500-item multiple-choice Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE) is intended to evaluate fundamental nursing skills. It covers general nursing topics, associated disciplines, and necessary competencies in accordance with the nursing curriculum. The test is administered in a number of public schools in the Philippines twice a year, in June and December.
The examination's scope is decided by the Board of Nursing (BON), which makes sure it takes into account modern nursing practices. For example, through the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN), the BON provided nursing deans with the exam's whole scope in December 2007. This procedure contributes to the licensure exam's continued relevance and caliber.
How Many Times Can You Take a Board Exam in the Philippines in Nursing?
A nursing graduate needs to have a general average of at least 75% in order to pass the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE). A maximum of three attempts are permitted for candidates to pass the board test.
Before being allowed to take the test a third and final time, an applicant who fails twice must finish a refresher course. This guarantees that before taking the license exam one last time, examinees will have improved their knowledge and abilities.
PNLE Passing Rate
To pass the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE), a candidate must meet the following criteria:
- Obtain a general average of at least 75%.
- Score at least 60% in each of the five subjects covered in the exam
- A candidate must repeat just that topic and not the full exam if they receive an overall average of 75% or higher but receive a score of less than 60% in any one of the subjects. This regulation guarantees that before obtaining a license, examinees must exhibit adequate proficiency in all essential nursing areas.
7. The Architect Licensure Exam
The Architect Licensure Examination (ALE) in the Philippines is the official board exam required for individuals who wish to become licensed architects. It is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through the Board of Architecture (BOA) and evaluates a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and competence in architectural design and practice.
What are the Requirements for the Architecture Licensure Exam in the Philippines?
To take the Architecture Licensure Exam (ALE) in the Philippines, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements as set by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board of Architecture (BOA) under Republic Act No. 9266 (The Architecture Act of 2004).
Eligibility Requirements
- Educational Requirement – Must be a graduate of a five-year Bachelor of Science in Architecture from a recognized school.
- Work Experience – Must have at least two years of diversified training experience under a Registered and Licensed Architect (RLA).
- Good Moral Character – Must provide a certificate of good moral character from previous employers, a school dean, or a registered architect.
- Citizenship Requirement – Must be a Filipino citizen or a qualified foreigner under reciprocity agreements.
- No Criminal Record – Must not have any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
Required Documents
- Original and photocopy of Birth Certificate (from PSA/NSO).
- Transcript of Records (TOR) with a scanned photo and the remarks "For Board Examination Purposes."
- Diversified Training Logbook (DTL) signed by a Registered Architect.
- Affidavit of Experience (notarized) signed by the applicant and their mentor.
- Valid NBI Clearance (for first-time takers).
- Four (4) pieces of passport-sized photos (with a white background, collared attire, and a full name tag).
- Duly accomplished PRC Exam Application Form.
8. Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination
The Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination in the Philippines is the official board exam required for individuals who want to become licensed chemical engineers. It is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through the Board of Chemical Engineering (BOC) and assesses a candidate’s knowledge and competence in chemical engineering principles and practices.
Eligibility Requirements
- Educational Requirement – Must be a graduate of a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from a recognized university.Good Moral Character – Must present a certificate of good moral character from previous employers or school officials.
- Citizenship Requirement – Must be a Filipino citizen or a qualified foreigner under reciprocity agreements.
- No Criminal Record – Must have no criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
Documentary Requirements
- Original and photocopy of PSA/NSO Birth Certificate.
- Transcript of Records (TOR) with a scanned photo and the remarks "For Board Examination Purposes."
- Valid NBI Clearance (for first-time takers).
- Four (4) pieces of passport-sized photos (with a white background, collared attire, and a full name tag).
- Duly accomplished PRC Exam Application Form.
Exam Schedule and Passing Rate
- The Chemical Engineering Licensure Exam is usually conducted twice a year.
- To pass, candidates must obtain a general average of at least 70% with no rating below 50% in any subject.