TL;DR: BS Psychology and AB Psychology in the Philippines share the same CHED-mandated psychology core under CMO No. 34, series of 2017, but BS Psychology carries roughly 129 total units (including extra natural science coursework) versus roughly 109 units for AB Psychology. Both degrees qualify graduates for the same Psychometrician Licensure Examination under RA 10029, since the law only requires "a bachelor's degree in psychology," not a specific BS or AB designation. The practical difference shows up later: BS Psychology's extra science units can matter more for graduate school tracks in clinical or experimental psychology, while AB Psychology leaves more room for liberal-arts electives.
Choosing between BS Psychology and AB Psychology trips up a lot of incoming college students, mostly because both degrees lead to the same licensed profession and get referred to interchangeably as "taking Psychology." They are not identical on paper, though. CHED's own curriculum standard treats them as two versions of the same core program, differentiated mainly by how much natural science coursework each one requires. This guide breaks down the actual curriculum difference, how each track affects your path to the psychometrician board exam and, later, a full Psychologist license, and how to decide which one fits your goals. If you're still deciding on a senior high strand first, start with what strand for Psychology.
What Is the Actual Curriculum Difference Between BS and AB Psychology?
The core psychology coursework is identical; the difference is in total units and natural science load. Both tracks fall under CHED's CMO No. 34, series of 2017 ("Policies and Standards for Undergraduate Programs in Psychology"), which sets AB Psychology at roughly 109 total units and BS Psychology at roughly 129 total units, with the extra units in the BS track coming from additional natural science subjects and coursework.
Both programs share the same required psychology courses under CMO 34, including:
- Basic courses: Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Statistics
- Required courses: Developmental Psychology, Theories of Personality, Experimental Psychology, Social Psychology, Field Methods in Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Industrial Psychology, Physiological/Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Research in Psychology 1 and 2, Sikolohiyang Pilipino/Filipino Psychology, and Culture and Psychology
- Psychology electives, plus the standard general education load
Disclaimer: exact unit counts, course titles, and elective offerings can vary by school within CHED's minimum framework. Confirm the current curriculum with your target school's registrar before enrolling.
BS Psychology vs AB Psychology: Side-by-Side Comparison
| AB Psychology | BS Psychology | |
|---|---|---|
| Total units (CMO 34 baseline) | ~109 units | ~129 units |
| Extra natural science coursework | No | Yes, roughly 20 additional units |
| Core psychology subjects | Same as BS track | Same as AB track |
| Psychometrician exam eligibility | Yes | Yes |
| Typical degree classification | Bachelor of Arts (liberal arts college) | Bachelor of Science (science college) |
| Best fit if you're also considering | Communications, HR, law school, social work | Pre-med-adjacent fields, clinical/experimental psych grad school |
The BS/AB label mostly reflects which college within a university houses the program (Arts and Sciences vs. a dedicated science college), which affects the general education mix as much as the psychology-specific content.
Does the Track Affect Your Psychometrician Board Exam Eligibility?
No. Republic Act No. 10029, the Philippine Psychology Act of 2009, sets the eligibility requirement for the Psychometrician Licensure Examination as holding "at least a bachelor's degree in psychology conferred by a university, college or school in the Philippines or abroad recognized/accredited by the CHED." The law does not distinguish between a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts designation, so graduates of either track sit for the same exam under the same eligibility rule.
That exam itself covers four areas: Theories of Personality, Abnormal/Developmental Psychology, Psychological Assessment, and Industrial Psychology. For the full breakdown of exam coverage, schedule, and passing requirements, see the psychometrician board exam guide.
What About Becoming a Licensed Psychologist Instead of a Psychometrician?
Becoming a full Psychologist requires more than either undergraduate track alone. RA 10029 sets the Psychologist Licensure Examination requirement at holding "at least a master's degree in psychology conferred by a university, college or school in the Philippines or abroad recognized/accredited by the CHED," plus a minimum of 200 hours of supervised practicum, internship, or clinical experience.
As the law states it, an applicant for the Psychologist exam must have "undergone a minimum of two hundred (200) hours of supervised practicum/internship/clinical experience," on top of the master's-level education requirement.
This means neither BS nor AB Psychology alone qualifies a graduate to become a licensed Psychologist; both are stepping stones toward the Psychometrician license first, with a master's degree required afterward for the higher Psychologist credential. Whichever undergraduate track you choose, plan for graduate school if the end goal is the Psychologist title rather than Psychometrician.
Does the Track Matter for Graduate School?
It can, depending on the specialization. Because BS Psychology already carries the additional natural science units, BS graduates may find it easier to meet prerequisite requirements for graduate tracks that lean scientific, such as clinical psychology, experimental psychology, or neuropsychology-adjacent programs, some of which expect a stronger foundation in biology or physiology. AB graduates are not excluded from these programs, but may need to complete bridging or prerequisite coursework depending on the specific graduate program's admission requirements.
Conversely, AB Psychology's lighter science load leaves more room in the undergraduate years for electives in fields like communication, sociology, or pre-law coursework, which can suit students eyeing a graduate path outside clinical psychology altogether, such as law school, human resources leadership, or social work.
Career Paths for BS and AB Psychology Graduates
Both tracks lead to the same range of entry-level roles once licensed as a Psychometrician: psychometric testing and assessment in HR departments, school guidance offices, clinics, and hospitals, plus general HR, training, and people-operations roles that don't strictly require the license. Career paths diverge more based on individual electives, internships, and later graduate study than on the BS/AB label itself.
- Common entry roles: HR/recruitment assistant, guidance associate, psychometrician in a clinic or hospital, training and development associate.
- With a Psychologist license (post-master's): Clinical, counseling, or industrial-organizational psychologist roles in hospitals, private practice, or corporate settings.
- Without pursuing licensure: Many graduates from both tracks move into general HR, customer experience, or people-management roles where a psychology background is valued even without the board exam.
How to Decide Between BS and AB Psychology
Before choosing between the two tracks, weigh these questions:
- Do you already know you want to go into clinical, experimental, or research-heavy psychology later? BS Psychology's built-in science units may reduce the bridging coursework needed for those graduate tracks.
- Are you interested in a hybrid path (law school, HR leadership, communications) that benefits from broader electives? AB Psychology's lighter science load leaves more room for those electives.
- Does your target school even offer both tracks? Many schools offer only one designation. Confirm directly with the specific school before assuming you have a choice.
- Either way, are you planning for the Psychometrician exam right after graduation? Both tracks qualify you equally under RA 10029, so this decision doesn't need to be driven by licensure eligibility.
For a broader framework on choosing your college course generally, see what course to take in college, and if you're mapping this back to senior high school, HUMSS strand courses covers the most common feeder strand into both Psychology tracks.
Ready to find the right school? Browse schools or compare programs and tuition across hundreds of Philippine colleges and universities on SchoolFinderPH.
Sources
- Republic Act No. 10029 — The Philippine Psychology Act of 2009 (Supreme Court E-Library, full text)
- CHED CMO No. 34, s. 2017 — Policies and Standards for Undergraduate Programs in Psychology (official PDF)
- Philippine Psychometricians Licensure Exam Reviewer — summary of CMO 34 s. 2017 unit requirements
- Far Eastern University — Bachelor of Science in Psychology (official program page)
- SchoolFinderPH — Psychometrician Board Exam Guide 2026
- SchoolFinderPH — What Strand for Psychology?
