The Nursing Board Exam Results 2026 are officially out.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that 28,652 out of 37,359 examinees passed the August–September 2026 Nurses Licensure Examination (NLE), giving the examination an overall passing rate of 76.69%.
For thousands of nursing graduates and their families, this is the announcement they have been waiting for. After years of lectures, clinical duties, hospital rotations, sleepless review sessions, and finally the board examination itself, successful examinees can now officially move closer to becoming Registered Nurses or RNs.
The results were released on September 18, 2026, five working days after the final examination date.
Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Nursing Board Exam results, including the number of passers, topnotchers, examination schedule, list of successful examinees, registration, verification of ratings, and what new nurses should do next.
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Nursing Board Exam Results 2026 at a Glance
The latest Philippine Nurses Licensure Examination was conducted in August and September 2026.
| Details | August–September 2026 NLE |
|---|---|
| Examination | Nurses Licensure Examination |
| Common name | Nursing Board Exam / PNLE |
| Main exam dates | August 29–30, 2026 |
| Rescheduled exam dates | September 11–12, 2026 for affected testing centers |
| Results released | September 18, 2026 |
| Total examinees | 37,359 |
| Total passers | 28,652 |
| Passing rate | 76.69% |
| Results withheld | 21 examinees |
| Initial registration begins | October 13, 2026 |
The PRC said the results involving 21 examinees were withheld pending the final determination of their liabilities under the rules and regulations governing licensure examinations.
28,652 Pass the August–September 2026 Nursing Board Exam
A total of 28,652 examinees successfully passed the latest Nurses Licensure Examination out of 37,359 who took the test.
That translates to a 76.69% national passing rate.
The examination was administered by the Professional Regulation Commission through the Board of Nursing at testing centers across the country.
The Board of Nursing was headed by Chairperson Leah Primitiva S. Paquiz, together with members Elsie A. Tee, Zenaida C. Gagno, Mary Grace C. Lacanaria, Mila Delia M. Llanes, Merle L. Salvani, and Josefina A. Tuazon.
Why Was the 2026 Nursing Board Exam Held in August and September?
The examination was originally scheduled primarily for August 29 and 30, 2026.
However, severe weather caused changes in some testing areas.
In Region III, the Nursing Licensure Examination scheduled in San Fernando, Pampanga and Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija was cancelled because of widespread flooding associated with heavy rainfall and the Southwest Monsoon. The PRC later announced that affected examinees would take the examination on September 11 and 12, 2026.
There was also a change in Metro Manila. The second day of the NLE scheduled for August 30 was cancelled because of adverse weather conditions and heavy rainfall warnings. The cancelled portion was rescheduled to September 12, 2026.
This is why you may see the latest examination described as either the “August 2026 Nursing Board Exam” or the “August–September 2026 Nurses Licensure Examination.”
Both generally refer to the same examination cycle.
Nursing Board Exam 2026 Topnotcher
Leading the August–September 2026 Nursing Board Exam was Dianne Tacazon Tolentino of the University of Northern Philippines–Vigan.
Tolentino earned a rating of 92.20%, placing first among the examinees.
Clifford Jay Patoc Cafe of Ateneo de Davao University placed second with a rating of 92.00%.
The PRC also released the official list of successful examinees who earned the ten highest places in the examination.
Saint Louis University was among the schools with several topnotchers. The university reported a 100% passing rate for its 248 examinees and seven graduates who placed within the top 10 rankings.
Complete List of Nursing Board Exam Passers 2026
With more than 28,000 successful examinees, the complete list of passers is understandably very long.
The PRC publishes the official roll of successful examinees alphabetically.
If you took the examination, the safest way to confirm your result is through the official Professional Regulation Commission website. Look for the announcement for the August–September 2026 Nurses Licensure Examination and open the official list of successful examinees.
Because names can be similar, double-check the spelling of your complete name before assuming that a result belongs to you.
You may also verify your individual examination rating once the PRC’s rating verification service becomes available for the examination.
How to Check Your Nursing Board Exam Result
If you are looking for your name, you can check through the PRC’s official online channels.
The basic process is simple:
- Visit the official PRC website and look for the August–September 2026 Nurses Licensure Examination results.
- Open the official list of successful examinees.
- Search the document using your surname or complete name.
- Check the PRC verification service when individual ratings become available.
- Rely on the PRC record as the official confirmation of your examination status.
Third-party board-exam websites may also republish the results, but when there is any discrepancy, the PRC announcement and official records should be treated as the primary reference.
When Can You Check Your Nursing Board Exam Rating?
Passing or failing examinees may eventually verify their individual board exam ratings through the PRC’s online verification system.
You will normally be asked to provide information such as the examination name, examination date, application number, first name, surname, and date of birth.
Keep your Notice of Admission and other examination records somewhere safe because some of the information may be useful when checking your rating or completing subsequent PRC transactions.
PRC Initial Registration for New Nurses
Passing the board exam is a major milestone, but appearing on the list of passers does not complete the professional registration process.
For the August–September 2026 NLE passers, PRC said online registration for the issuance of the Professional Identification Card and Certificate of Registration will start on October 13, 2026.
According to the latest PRC announcement reported following the release of the results, registrants are required to present a screenshot of the system-generated Registration Form and a valid government-issued ID. Successful examinees must also personally register and sign the Roster of Registered Professionals.
New RNs should still review the latest instructions from the PRC before going to their appointment because procedures, documentary requirements, or venue instructions may be updated.
What About the Oathtaking of New Nurses?
The oathtaking ceremony is another important step after passing the Nursing Board Exam.
As of the release of the August–September results, the PRC had not yet announced the final date and venue of the oathtaking ceremony for the new Registered Nurses.
Successful examinees should monitor the PRC’s official announcements for the face-to-face mass oathtaking, online oathtaking, or any special oathtaking arrangements that may later be offered.
Taking the professional oath is important because Republic Act No. 9173, or the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, requires successful candidates to take their professional oath before entering nursing practice.
There Were Two Regular Nursing Board Exams in 2026
The August–September examination was not the only regular NLE conducted in 2026.
The first regular Nursing Licensure Examination of the year was held on February 26 and 27, 2026.
For that examination, 3,611 out of 8,162 examinees passed. The PRC released the results on March 6, 2026, also five working days after the examination. Four examinees had their results withheld pending determination of their liabilities under examination rules.
Alyanna Marie Ramos Villegas of Saint Paul University–Tuguegarao topped the February 2026 PNLE with a rating of 92.00%, while Moises Alan Juntado Mahinay of the University of Mindanao–Davao City ranked second with 91.20%.
So if you are searching for “Nursing Board Exam Results 2026,” make sure you check which examination batch you need: February 2026 or August–September 2026.
February vs. August–September 2026 NLE Results
Here is a quick comparison of the two regular Nursing Licensure Examinations conducted during the year:
| NLE Batch | Examinees | Passers | Results Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | 8,162 | 3,611 | March 6, 2026 |
| August–September 2026 | 37,359 | 28,652 | September 18, 2026 |
The second NLE attracted considerably more examinees and produced more than 28,000 new board passers.
What Is the Philippine Nurses Licensure Examination?
The Philippine Nurses Licensure Examination, commonly called the NLE, PNLE, Nursing Board Exam, or Nurses Board Exam, is the professional licensure examination taken by qualified nursing graduates who want to become Registered Nurses in the Philippines.
The examination is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission and the Board of Nursing.
It assesses whether candidates possess the nursing knowledge, competencies, judgment, and professional standards necessary for entry-level nursing practice.
The examination covers major areas of nursing practice, including community health nursing; care of mothers and children; care of clients with physiological and psychosocial alterations; safe and quality nursing care; communication; collaboration and teamwork; health education; legal and ethical responsibilities; management; research; and quality improvement.
What Happens After You Pass the Nursing Board Exam?
Seeing your name on the list is the moment everyone waits for, but there are still a few administrative steps before everything is complete.
New board passers should monitor their PRC account and official announcements regarding initial registration, secure the required documents, complete their Professional ID and Certificate of Registration requirements, and wait for the official oathtaking announcement.
It is also a good time to start preparing professional documents such as your updated résumé, transcript and school records, government IDs, certificates, and other requirements commonly requested by hospitals and healthcare employers.
For many new nurses, passing the PNLE is the beginning of the next phase: applying for hospital positions, gaining clinical experience, pursuing specialty training, or eventually exploring nursing opportunities overseas.
A Major Milestone for the 2026 Nursing Graduates
Passing the Nursing Board Exam is more than simply seeing your name on a long list of successful examinees.
For nursing graduates, it represents years of studying anatomy, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, maternal and child nursing, psychiatric nursing, community health, and countless other subjects. It also comes after demanding clinical rotations and months of preparation for one of the biggest examinations of their professional lives.
For the August–September 2026 examination alone, 28,652 individuals reached that milestone.
Congratulations to all the new Registered Nurses.
For those who did not make it this time, the individual rating can help identify areas that may need more preparation before taking the examination again.
Final Reminder
The official source for Nursing Board Exam results remains the Professional Regulation Commission.
Results are frequently reposted on social media pages, review-center pages, and board-exam websites. These can be useful for quick updates, but examinees should verify their names, ratings, registration schedules, and oathtaking information through official PRC channels.
As of September 19, 2026, the latest confirmed result is the August–September 2026 Nurses Licensure Examination: 28,652 passers out of 37,359 examinees, equivalent to a 76.69% passing rate, with the results released on September 18, 2026.
For thousands of new nurses, the long wait is finally over. The board exam is finished, the results are out, and a new chapter in their nursing career can begin.
