Complete List of Courses With Board Exams in the Philippines (2026)

Choosing a course with a board exam is signing a two-part contract: the degree, then the gate. Here is the complete field-by-field map of licensure courses — the mirror of our courses-without-board-exams list — with the honest notes each field deserves.

Health Sciences

Medicine (PLE) · Nursing (PNLE) · Pharmacy (PhLE) · Medical Technology (MTLE) · Dentistry (two-part board) · Midwifery (guide) · Radiologic Technology (RTLE) · Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy · Nutrition and Dietetics · Optometry · Respiratory Therapy · Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Engineering

Civil (CELE) · Electrical (REE/RME) · Mechanical (ME/CPM) · Electronics (ECE/ECT) · Chemical · Geodetic · Mining, Metallurgical, Geology · Sanitary · Agricultural and Biosystems · Aeronautical · Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering — plus Master Plumber as the trades-tier licensure

Business, Law, and Governance

Accountancy (CPALE) · Law (the Bar — Supreme Court-administered) · Customs Administration (Customs Broker) · Real Estate Management (Broker/Appraiser boards)

Education and Social Sciences

Education (LET) · Psychology (RPm/RPsy) · Social Work · Guidance and Counseling · Librarianship · Criminology (CLE)

Sciences and Environment

Chemistry (Chemist/Chemical Technician) · Agriculture (ALE) · Forestry · Fisheries · Environmental Planning · Interior Design · Architecture (ALE + apprenticeship) · Landscape Architecture

The Notable Exceptions

Two major licensure careers run outside the PRC: Law (the Supreme Court's Bar) and seafaring (MARINA under RA 10635). The Civil Service Exam (CSC-administered) is eligibility rather than professional licensure — and every board pass above includes that eligibility free under RA 1080.

What the Board-Exam Contract Buys

Legal scope protection (many of these professions are illegal to practice unlicensed), a filtered competitive field, RA 1080 eligibility, and title. What it costs: the review season, the passing rules, the retake risk, and lifelong renewal-and-CPD maintenance. Compare the passing-rate reality per exam before signing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many courses have board exams in the Philippines?

The PRC regulates over forty professions across health, engineering, business, education, and the sciences — plus the Bar (Supreme Court) and seafarer licensure (MARINA) outside it.

Which board exam course is hardest?

By recent verified passing rates: the data-ranked answer here.

Do all these boards give civil service eligibility?

PRC board and Bar passers hold eligibility under RA 1080 for government positions appropriate to their professions.