Electrical Engineering Board Exam Guide 2026 - REE and RME Explained

Electrical practice in the Philippines runs on a three-tier license system most outsiders never learn — and the two exam-based tiers, the REE and the RME, serve two very different populations, including one of the few licensure routes in the country open to non-degree holders. Here is the map.

The Three Tiers Under RA 7920

The New Electrical Engineering Law (RA 7920) created:

Registered Master Electrician (RME) — the practitioners' license for installation, operation, and maintenance work within defined capacity limits. Its distinctive feature: qualification routes include non-degree paths — completion of specified electrical coursework or vocational training plus documented years of apprenticeship/experience can qualify a candidate, alongside engineering students/graduates. Verify the exact current routes in the Board's rules — this is the license that turns experienced electricians into licensed professionals.

Registered Electrical Engineer (REE) — the engineer's license, for BS Electrical Engineering graduates, covering the full professional scope: design, planning, specification of electrical systems.

Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE) — the senior tier above the REE, reached through years of active practice plus a technical report/experience-based evaluation rather than a written exam alone; PEEs sign and seal the largest installations.

The Exams

Administered by the PRC Board of Electrical Engineering, with REE and RME exams historically run together in the same administrations:

After the License

Registration, then: utilities and power generation, building and industrial electrical systems, design consultancy, government items (RA 1080 applies), renewable energy's expanding build-out, and the Gulf's long-running demand for Filipino electrical engineers. The Philippine Electrical Code's legal force gives both licenses genuine teeth — signed electrical plans and supervised installations are statutory requirements, not formalities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between REE and RME?

The REE is the engineer's license for BSEE graduates covering design and full professional scope; the RME is the practitioners' license for installation and maintenance within capacity limits, with qualification routes that include experience-based non-degree paths.

Can I take the RME without an engineering degree?

RA 7920 provides RME qualification routes including vocational training plus documented experience — verify the exact current requirements with the PRC Board of Electrical Engineering.

What is a PEE?

The Professional Electrical Engineer — the senior tier above REE, reached through years of practice and an experience-based evaluation, with signing authority over the largest installations.

When are the electrical board exams?

Multiple administrations per year — confirm current dates on the PRC calendar.