TL;DR: The Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Exam (NDLE) is the PRC board exam under RA 10862 for BS Nutrition and Dietetics graduates. The 2026 exam is set for November 12-13, with an application window of August 14 to October 13, 2026. Recent passing rates have run in the high-60s to mid-70s percent range — 69.4% in November 2025 (945 of 1,361 examinees).
Introduction
If you studied Nutrition and Dietetics and want to legally practice as a nutritionist-dietitian in the Philippines — in a hospital, a public health program, food service management, or private clinical practice — you need to pass the Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Exam (NDLE) and register with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
The exam is administered by PRC through the Professional Regulatory Board of Nutrition and Dietetics (BoND), under Republic Act No. 10862, the Nutrition and Dietetics Law of 2016. This guide covers eligibility, the application process and fees, what the exam covers, the 2026 schedule, recent passing rates, and how to prepare.
What Is the Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Exam?
The NDLE qualifies BS Nutrition and Dietetics graduates to practice and use the professional title "nutritionist-dietitian" in the Philippines. It is a two-day written examination (recently administered as a computer-based test) covering clinical, community, and food-service nutrition knowledge.
Passing the NDLE and registering with PRC lets you practice in settings that require a licensed nutritionist-dietitian, including hospital dietetics departments, government nutrition programs, school and institutional feeding services, and corporate wellness roles.
Who Can Take the NDLE?
Under RA 10862, you generally need to be a Filipino citizen (or a foreign national from a country with reciprocity for Filipinos in this field), of good moral character, and hold a bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or its equivalent from a CHED-recognized school.
The law's core eligibility requirements are:
- Filipino citizenship, or foreign citizenship with reciprocity for Filipino nutritionist-dietitians
- Good moral character, with no conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude
- A bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics or its recognized equivalent, conferred by a CHED-recognized institution here or abroad
Requirements are periodically clarified by PRC and the Board — confirm your specific eligibility, especially for equivalent or foreign degrees, directly with PRC before applying.
How Much Does It Cost to Apply?
Recent filing guides put the NDLE fee at roughly ₱900 for the complete exam, and about ₱450 for a conditioned or removal exam (retaking only a failed subject), plus a small online payment processing charge of around ₱20.
Fees are set by PRC and revised periodically — always confirm the current amount in your LERIS account before paying.
Documents You Will Need
| Document | First-Timers | Repeaters |
|---|---|---|
| PSA Birth Certificate | Required (original + photocopy) | Not required |
| PSA Marriage Contract | If applicable | If applicable |
| Transcript of Records marked "For Board Examination Purposes" | Required | Not required |
| Valid NBI Clearance | Required | Required |
| CHED Certificate of Equivalency (foreign degrees) | Required, with Apostille and English translation | Required, if applicable |
How Do I Apply Through PRC LERIS?
- Create or log in to your LERIS account at online.prc.gov.ph.
- Verify your eligibility and confirm your degree qualifies.
- Gather your documents, including your transcript with the correct board-exam remark.
- Complete the online application during the filing window and pay the fee.
- Verify your documents at a PRC office (or online, depending on current procedure) and download your Notice of Admission once approved.
File early — document verification, especially for equivalency or foreign-degree cases, can take time.
What Does the NDLE Cover?
RA 10862 frames the exam broadly around three areas: Nutrition and Dietetics, Foods and Food Service Systems, and Community and Applied Nutrition. Recent administrations have applied this through three specifically weighted subjects.
| Subject | Approximate Weight | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional Biochemistry and Clinical Dietetics | ~35% | Biochemistry of nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, clinical dietetics practice |
| Community and Public Health Nutrition | ~30% | Public health nutrition programs, nutrition assessment and surveillance, community interventions |
| Foods and Food Service Systems | ~35% | Food science, institutional food service management, quantity food production |
You need a 75% general weighted average with no rating below 50% in any subject to pass. Exact weights can be adjusted by the Board between administrations — verify the current table of specifications with PRC or your review center.
NDLE 2026 Schedule
The 2026 Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Exam is set for November 12-13, 2026, with results targeted for release on November 17, 2026.
| Detail | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Exam dates | November 12-13, 2026 |
| Application period | August 14 - October 13, 2026 |
| Results release (target) | November 17, 2026 |
| Testing centers | NCR, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Palawan, Pampanga, Rosales, Tuguegarao |
Like the last several years (2023-2025 were all held in November), the NDLE appears to run as a single annual sitting rather than twice a year. Cross-check against our 2026 board exam schedule and confirm on leris.prc.gov.ph closer to your application window.
Schedules and application windows can shift — always verify current dates on prc.gov.ph or in your LERIS account.
Recent Passing Rates
The national NDLE passing rate has stayed in the high-60s to mid-70s percent range over the last three administrations, with a modest downward trend, based on PRC's official results releases.
| Exam Date | Passed / Took Exam | Passing Rate |
|---|---|---|
| November 2025 | 945 / 1,361 | 69.4% |
| November 2024 | 843 / 1,209 | ~69.7% |
| November 2023 | 895 / 1,219 | 73.42% |
The November 2025 exam was notable as a Computer-Based Licensure Examination — PRC noted that "the results were released in one (1) working day from the last day of examination," a much faster turnaround than the paper-based format historically allowed.
How to Prepare for the NDLE
1. Master Nutritional Biochemistry Early
Nutritional Biochemistry and Clinical Dietetics typically carries the heaviest single weight. Build this foundation early since later clinical and community topics build on it.
2. Connect Community Nutrition to Real Programs
Community and Public Health Nutrition draws on actual Philippine programs (like the National Nutrition Council's initiatives). Studying real program structures, not just theory, helps with applied questions.
3. Practice Food Service Computations
Foods and Food Service Systems often includes quantity food production and costing calculations. Drill these until they are fast and accurate.
4. Simulate the Two-Day Format
Two full days of testing is mentally taxing. Practice full-length timed sets so pacing and stamina are not a surprise on exam day.
5. Consider a Review Center for Structure
A review center is not required, but many examinees find the structured coverage of all three subject areas — especially clinical dietetics computations — worth the investment. Compare options through SchoolFinderPH's review center directory.
Is a Review Center Worth It for the NDLE?
If your undergraduate program covered all three subject areas thoroughly and recently, disciplined self-review with updated materials can work. If you graduated a while back, or your program was lighter on clinical or food-service computations, a review center's structured refresher can close those gaps faster. For a broader look at planning your prep timeline, see how long to review for a board exam.
Ready to find the right school or review center? Browse schools or compare programs and review centers across the Philippines on SchoolFinderPH, and check our review center directory to start comparing options.
Sources
- PRC: November 2025 Nutritionist-Dietitians Computer-Based Licensure Examination Results
- Manila Bulletin: 895 pass November 2023 Nutritionist-Dietitians Licensure Exam
- November 2024 Nutritionist-Dietitians Licensure Exam results reporting (Board Exams PH / PRC results release)
- PRC: 2026 Schedule of Examination
- Republic Act No. 10862, the Nutrition and Dietetics Law of 2016
- Board Passers Portal PH: Nutritionists-Dietitians Board Exam Application Guide 2026
