Performance of schools in November 2025 Nurses Licensure Examination

By Dr. Rex Casiple

The November 2025 Nurses Licensure Examination (NLE) marked the highest schools’ performance in all licensure examinations administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) this year. Forty thousand six hundred ninety-two (40,692) out of 45,156 examinees nationwide, or 90.11%, passed. So far, this is the highest NLE passing percentage. There were 38,973 first-time takers of the said examination. The passing percentage for first-time takers was 95.85%—or around nine (9) out of 10 passed. West Visayas State University and Central Philippine University ranked No. 1 in the national level, with 100% passing rates for schools with 100 or more examinees and at least an 85% passing rate. Likewise, Saint Paul University–Iloilo ranked No. 1 in the national level, with 100% passing for schools with 50 to 99 examinees and at least an 85% passing rate. University of Saint La Salle ranked No. 6 in the national level for schools with 100 or more examinees and at least an 85% passing rate. Aklan State University ranked No. 7 in the national level for schools with 50 to 99 examinees and at least an 85% passing rate.

In Western Visayas, 18 out of 20 nursing schools performed high or with a passing percentage higher than the national rate. Other high-performing nursing schools in Western Visayas with 100 or more examinees were Riverside College (99.29%), Colegio San Agustin–Bacolod (97.97%), University of Iloilo (96.64%), Iloilo Doctors College (96.33%), Filamer Christian University (95.74%), University of San Agustin (95.57%), Saint Anthony College of Roxas City (95.54%), State University of Northern Negros (95.33%), University of Negros Occidental–Recoletos (94.44%), and Saint Anthony’s College–Antique (90.85%). Other high-performing schools in Western Visayas with 50 to 99 examinees were Central Philippine Adventist College (97.18%), Aklan Polytechnic Institute (96.88%), and College of St. John–Roxas (95.92%).

There were nine (9) nursing schools in Western Visayas with successful examinees who garnered the 10 highest places: West Visayas State University with 36 topnotchers (2 ranked No. 1, 3 ranked No. 4, 6 ranked No. 5, 4 ranked No. 6, 2 ranked No. 7, 8 ranked No. 8, 7 ranked No. 9, and 4 ranked No. 10); University of Saint La Salle with one topnotcher (ranked No. 2); Riverside College with four topnotchers (1 ranked No. 6, 2 ranked No. 8, and 1 ranked No. 10); Colegio San Agustin–Bacolod with three topnotchers (2 ranked No. 8 and 1 ranked No. 10); State University of Northern Negros with one topnotcher (ranked No. 8); Central Philippine Adventist College with one topnotcher (ranked No. 9); University of San Agustin with one topnotcher (ranked No. 10); Saint Anthony’s College–Antique with one topnotcher (ranked No. 10); and Saint Paul University–Iloilo with one topnotcher (ranked No. 10).

Western Visayas produced 3,121 passers out of 3,227 takers, or a 96.72% passing rate. This is higher than the national passing percentage. Three thousand twenty-one (3,021) out of 3,068—or 98.4%—of the first-time examinees passed.

Final results showed that in Western Visayas, all state universities and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) autonomous and deregulated schools offering the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program performed well in the November 2025 Nurses Licensure Examination. Ninety-eight (98) out of 100 first-time examinees passed. Five (5) schools were included among the top 10 performing schools in the country. Forty-nine (49) successful examinees garnered the 10 highest places.

Therefore, it is safe to conclude the effectiveness of the nursing curriculum and the CHED implementation of the policies, standards, and guidelines required for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in Western Visayas—and in the country as a whole.