NDLE 2026: Verify Your Sitting Before You Plan
The Philippine Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Examination (NDLE) is administered by PRC and its Professional Regulatory Board of Nutrition and Dietetics. The official November 2026 program, approved August 3, 2026, schedules computer-based testing on November 12–13, 2026, with three four-hour subjects weighted 35%, 30%, and 35%. This independent reviewer connects that program to licensure rules, original calculation examples, and a practical review plan.
As of this article's October 29, 2026 update, the ordinary filing window has closed: the PRC 2026 calendar lists August 14–October 13 for applications and November 17 as the target result date, subject to PRC announcements. Confirm your Notice of Admission and assigned centre; this guide cannot register a candidate or determine eligibility. The 12-week plan below is a reusable planning example for candidates starting earlier or preparing for a later announced sitting, not twelve weeks remaining before this November exam.
Use free original NDLE practice questions to diagnose weak topics, then review explanations alongside the NDLE study guide. Practice scores are study feedback, not PRC ratings.
Governing Law: Republic Act No. 10862 vs. Legacy Statutes
A frequent pitfall among board exam candidates is studying from legacy review books that cite repealed laws. Understanding the governing legislation is essential not only for professional regulatory compliance questions on the exam, but also for understanding your rights, scope of practice, and scoring rules:
- Republic Act No. 10862 (Nutrition and Dietetics Law of 2016): This is the current, active governing law of the profession. Approved on May 25, 2016, RA 10862 modernized the practice of nutrition and dietetics in the Philippines. It established the modern Professional Regulatory Board of Nutrition and Dietetics, updated the definition of professional practice, and codified the passing and removal examination criteria.
- Presidential Decree No. 1286 (1977): PD 1286 previously regulated the nutrition and dietetics profession for nearly four decades. PD 1286 was expressly repealed by RA 10862. Update legal and licensure rules when using older materials; historical discussion or still-valid nutrition science need not be discarded merely because a book also cites the former law.
- Republic Act No. 2674 (1960): The earliest statutory framework for the practice of dietetics in the Philippines, which was repealed by PD 1286 and subsequently replaced by RA 10862.
RA 10862, Sections 15–17, is the controlling legal reference. Section 15 requires a recognized bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics or its equivalent, alongside citizenship/reciprocity, good-character, and conviction-related conditions. PRC evaluates the applicant’s documents; foreign qualifications require the appropriate CHED equivalency and authentication.
PRC NDLE Schedule, Format, and Subject Breakdown
The November 2026 program specifies a two-day computer-based licensure examination. Each of the following subject blocks lasts four hours; these are the actual program times, not a prediction for every future sitting. General instructions and form completion are scheduled for 7:00–7:45 a.m. on day one, and candidates must report before 6:30 a.m.
Official Examination Schedule
| Examination Day | Time Block | Board Subject Area | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (Morning) | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (4 Hours) | Nutritional Biochemistry and Clinical Dietetics | 35% |
| Day 1 (Afternoon) | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM (4 Hours) | Community and Public Health Nutrition | 30% |
| Day 2 (Morning) | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (4 Hours) | Foods and Food Service Systems | 35% |
Question Counts and Pacing: Do Not Infer a New Format
The August 3, 2026 examination program specifies subject times and weights but does not state an item count. Omission from that program does not establish that an older Table of Specifications has been superseded, nor does it announce a 100-, 150-, or 200-item replacement. Obtain the Board's applicable TOS and follow the actual examination instructions rather than turning a review-centre assumption into a PRC fact.
For practice only, divide the available time by the chosen block size: 240 minutes / 200 items = 72 seconds per item, whereas 240 / 150 = 96 seconds. Those calculations illustrate pacing; neither count is asserted as the November 2026 delivered inventory. Reserve a small part of a practice block for checks, and adapt to the actual interface and instructions rather than assuming that flagging or revisiting questions is available.
Passing Criteria, GWA Calculation, and Conditioned Status
Scoring and licensure eligibility for the NDLE are strictly governed by Section 17 of Republic Act No. 10862. Examinees must understand how their scores are aggregated and what criteria determine a full pass, conditional status, or complete retake.
The Two Core Passing Rules
To successfully pass the licensure examination, a candidate must satisfy two conditions simultaneously:
- General Weighted Average (GWA): The candidate must obtain a GWA of at least 75.00% across all three subjects.
- Minimum Subject Grade: The candidate must not receive a grade below 50.00% in any individual subject area.
Conditioned Status and Removal Examinations
Under RA 10862, an examinee who fails the examination may be granted conditioned status under specific statutory parameters:
- Section 17 says an applicant who fails to obtain a passing average, but earns at least 75% in at least one-half of the subjects—at least two of three—may be permitted a removal examination. Apply through PRC for the formal determination; the statute does not make a practice-score calculation an admission decision.
- The examinee is permitted to take a removal examination covering only the subject or subjects in which they failed.
- Section 17 provides a two-year period from the examination. The current profession-specific PRC checklist also states two years. This controls over the old PRC checklist that still says one year.
- To pass the removal examination, the candidate must obtain a grade of at least 75.00% in each removal subject taken.
- If the examinee fails the removal examination, or fails to take the removal examination within the two-year window, they must retake the entire licensure examination (all three subjects).
A passing GWA with a subject below 50% still fails the two-part passing test. Do not assume that this alone guarantees removal eligibility: the statutory proviso specifically refers to failure to obtain a passing average. Ask PRC/Board to determine that edge case.
Worked GWA Calculations: Three Scoring Scenarios
To see how the 35% / 30% / 35% weight distribution functions in practice, review the following candidate performance scenarios:
General Weighted Average (GWA) Formula:
GWA = (Subject 1 Score * 0.35) + (Subject 2 Score * 0.30) + (Subject 3 Score * 0.35)
Scenario A: Clear Pass
- Subject 1 (Biochemistry & Clinical Dietetics, 35%): 78.00% -> Contribution = 78 * 0.35 = 27.30
- Subject 2 (Community Nutrition, 30%): 72.00% -> Contribution = 72 * 0.30 = 21.60
- Subject 3 (Foods & Food Service, 35%): 76.00% -> Contribution = 76 * 0.35 = 26.60
- Final GWA: 27.30 + 21.60 + 26.60 = 75.50%
- Result: PASSED. The GWA is >= 75.00%, and no single subject falls below 50.00% (even though Subject 2 was 72.00%).
Scenario B: Conditioned Examinee (Eligible for Removal)
- Subject 1 (Biochemistry & Clinical Dietetics, 35%): 80.00% -> Contribution = 80 * 0.35 = 28.00
- Subject 2 (Community Nutrition, 30%): 78.00% -> Contribution = 78 * 0.30 = 23.40
- Subject 3 (Foods & Food Service, 35%): 48.00% -> Contribution = 48 * 0.35 = 16.80
- Final GWA: 28.00 + 23.40 + 16.80 = 68.20%
- Result: CONDITIONED in Subject 3. Although the GWA is below 75.00% and Subject 3 is below 50.00%, the candidate achieved >= 75.00% in two subjects (Subjects 1 and 2). The candidate qualifies to take a removal examination in Foods and Food Service Systems within two years.
Scenario C: Failed (Must Retake All Subjects)
- Subject 1 (Biochemistry & Clinical Dietetics, 35%): 74.00% -> Contribution = 74 * 0.35 = 25.90
- Subject 2 (Community Nutrition, 30%): 76.00% -> Contribution = 76 * 0.30 = 22.80
- Subject 3 (Foods & Food Service, 35%): 72.00% -> Contribution = 72 * 0.35 = 25.20
- Final GWA: 25.90 + 22.80 + 25.20 = 73.90%
- Result: FAILED. Even though no subject was below 50.00%, the GWA fell short of 75.00%, and the candidate only obtained >= 75.00% in one subject (Subject 2). Because the candidate did not reach 75.00% in at least two subjects, they do not qualify for conditioned status and must retake all three subjects.
PRC LERIS Application and Documentary Checklist
Registration for the NDLE is conducted online via the PRC Licensure Examination and Registration Information System (LERIS) at https://online.prc.gov.ph/.
Official Examination Fees
- Complete Licensure Examination: ₱900 (PHP 900)
- Conditioned / Removal Examination: ₱450 (PHP 450)
Documentary Requirements and Applicant Category
Use the current PRC Nutritionist-Dietitians checklist, not a generic board-exam list. It identifies these first-timer documents:
- Birth certificate: PSA certificate, with the checklist's RA 11909 qualification concerning certificates issued by NSO/local civil registries; original and photocopy.
- Marriage contract when applicable: For married female applicants unless they prefer to use their maiden name; original and photocopy.
- Transcript of Records: Scanned picture and the remark “For Board Examination Purposes”; original and photocopy.
- Valid NBI clearance: Original.
For degrees taken abroad, the checklist requires a CHED Certificate of Equivalency, appropriate authentication or apostille, and an official English translation when applicable. Follow LERIS photo/identity instructions and appointment requirements separately; do not add an unsupported school-seal or photo-age requirement to the profession-specific checklist.
Repeaters: The current list requires the applicable marriage contract and valid NBI clearance. Its waiver of personal filing and resubmission of TOR/birth certificate applies when the previous examination was from April 2012 onward, the name is exactly the same, and the course/examination is unchanged. A change of name or other mismatch needs PRC assessment rather than assuming the waiver always applies.
Subject 1 Breakdown: Nutritional Biochemistry & Clinical Dietetics (35%)
Nutritional Biochemistry and Clinical Dietetics forms the clinical core of the examination, accounting for 35% of your total score. This section integrates cellular metabolism with the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and evidence-based Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT).
High-Yield Biochemical Pathways
Examinees are expected to know substrates, end products, rate-limiting enzymes, cofactors, and hormonal regulation for:
- Carbohydrate Metabolism: Glycolysis (hexokinase/glucokinase, PFK-1, pyruvate kinase), citric acid cycle (isocitrate dehydrogenase), gluconeogenesis (pyruvate carboxylase, PEPCK, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase), pentose phosphate pathway (G6PD, NADPH production), and glycogen metabolism.
- Lipid Metabolism: Fatty acid synthesis (acetyl-CoA carboxylase), beta-oxidation (carnitine palmitoyltransferase system), ketogenesis (mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase), and lipoprotein metabolism (chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL, HDL).
- Protein Metabolism: Transamination (ALT, AST; pyridoxal phosphate / vitamin B6 cofactor), oxidative deamination, urea cycle (carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I; ammonia detoxification), and branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, valine).
The Nutrition Care Process (NCP / ADIME)
Every clinical scenario requires structured assessment and documentation:
- Assessment (A): Weight and growth history, intake, nutrition-focused physical findings, function, disease/inflammation, and relevant laboratory data. BUN, creatinine, electrolytes and CRP inform the clinical context. Albumin and prealbumin are influenced by inflammation and are not stand-alone nutrition or muscle-mass markers; see the ASPEN position paper.
- Diagnosis (D): Formulating standardized PES Statements (Problem related to Etiology as evidenced by Signs and Symptoms).
- Intervention (I): Food and nutrient delivery, nutrition education, nutrition counseling, and coordination of nutrition care.
- Monitoring and Evaluation (M/E): Tracking outcome indicators against measurable goals.
Clinical Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) Summary
| Clinical Condition | Nutrition Focus | Interpret the Population and Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes mellitus | Individualized carbohydrate intake, glycemic management and avoidance of hypoglycemia | For many nonpregnant adults, ADA 2026 uses HbA1c <7% and premeal glucose 80–130 mg/dL; goals vary with risk and circumstances. A carbohydrate exchange is approximately 15 g carbohydrate. |
| CKD G3–G5, not receiving dialysis | Adequate nutrition while avoiding excess protein and managing progression | KDIGO 2024 suggests about 0.8 g/kg/day. KDOQI 2020's 0.55–0.60 g/kg/day applies to selected metabolically stable adults without diabetes under supervision. Do not generalize protein restriction to unstable or undernourished patients; phosphorus/potassium plans depend on laboratory results and food sources. |
| Maintenance hemodialysis | Replace losses and prevent protein-energy wasting | KDOQI 2020 generally uses 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day in metabolically stable adults. Individualize energy, fluid, sodium, potassium and phosphorus using residual kidney function, laboratory values, losses, intake and the dialysis plan. |
| Cirrhosis | Prevent sarcopenia and minimize prolonged fasting | Protein is generally 1.2–1.5 g/kg/day; energy and the weight basis require clinical assessment. Hepatic encephalopathy is not a routine reason to restrict protein. |
| Cardiovascular disease / hypertension | A suitable heart-healthy dietary pattern | Emphasize vegetables, fruit, whole grains and appropriate unsaturated fats; individualize sodium and other targets. Avoid treating one fixed DASH sodium or fat cutoff as a universal prescription. |
| Major burns | Support wound healing without overfeeding | Use indirect calorimetry when feasible and reassess. Adult protein requirements are often 1.5–2.0 g/kg/day. Historical equations such as Curreri can overestimate needs and do not replace assessment. |
| Acute pancreatitis | Feed by the tolerated route rather than routine prolonged fasting | Begin oral food as tolerated in mild disease; if oral intake is not tolerated or sufficient, enteral feeding is preferred to parenteral nutrition when feasible. Nasogastric feeding is acceptable in appropriate cases; do not require jejunal feeding or wait for enzyme normalization by default. |
Sources matter when memorizing numbers: use the KDIGO 2024 CKD guideline, KDOQI 2020 nutrition overview, ADA 2026 glycemic goals, and ESPEN 2024 pancreatitis guidance. The ESPEN liver-nutrition guideline and major-burn recommendations support the corresponding population-specific ranges. These are study comparisons, not a substitute for an individual nutrition prescription.
Worked Clinical Calculation: Enteral Feeding Regimen
For this arithmetic exercise, a 60 kg adult has already been assigned goals of 25 kcal/kg, 1.2 g protein/kg, and 30 mL fluid/kg daily. These are supplied assumptions, not universal ICU requirements. A hypothetical formula provides 1.06 kcal/mL, 44 g protein/L, and 0.84 mL water/mL formula. A hypothetical protein supplement supplies 10 g protein, 40 kcal, and 50 mL preparation water. Real product labels, clinical stability and the care team's orders govern actual feeding.
1. Assigned goals
Energy = 60 × 25 = 1,500 kcal/day
Protein = 60 × 1.2 = 72 g/day
Fluid = 60 × 30 = 1,800 mL/day
2. Initial energy-based formula calculation
Volume = 1,500 / 1.06 = 1,415.09 mL/day
Protein at this unrounded volume = 1.41509 × 44 = 62.26 g/day
Initial protein gap = 72 - 62.26 = 9.74 g/day
3. Recalculate AFTER rounding the pump rate
Illustrative rate = 60 mL/hour × 24 hours = 1,440 mL/day
Formula energy = 1,440 × 1.06 = 1,526.4 kcal/day
Formula protein = 1.440 × 44 = 63.36 g/day
With the stated supplement = 1,566.4 kcal and 73.36 g protein/day
4. Account for every stated water source
Formula water = 1,440 × 0.84 = 1,209.6 mL/day
Supplement preparation water = 50 mL/day
Remaining water = 1,800 - 1,209.6 - 50 = 540.4 mL/day
Illustrative additional water = 90 mL every 4 hours = 540 mL/day
Total stated water = 1,209.6 + 50 + 540 = 1,799.6 mL/day
The rounded plan is slightly above the assigned energy/protein targets and approximately meets the fluid target; that difference must be reviewed, not hidden. Include medication flushes, intravenous fluid, oral intake, interrupted feeds and other sources when present. Tube-patency and medication flush requirements, water quality and volume tolerance need a separate clinical plan; the arithmetic example is not a tube-care order.
Subject 2 Breakdown: Community & Public Health Nutrition (30%)
Community and Public Health Nutrition carries 30% of the examination score. This subject evaluates your understanding of the Philippine nutrition delivery system, national policy frameworks, epidemiology, program design, and statutory nutrition mandates.
Philippine Nutrition Governance Architecture
- National Nutrition Council (NNC): Created as the highest policy-making and coordinating body on nutrition in the Philippines. Chaired by the Secretary of Health, the NNC formulates the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN), coordinates national nutrition policies across line agencies, and conducts periodic policy reviews.
- Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI-DOST): The principal research arm of the government on food and nutrition under the Department of Science and Technology. FNRI conducts national nutrition surveys, including the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) series, formulates the Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes (PDRI), and develops practical visual nutrition guides including Pinggang Pinoy.
- Department of Health (DOH): The primary national executive agency responsible for healthcare and health-sector nutrition service delivery, implementing infant and young child feeding programs, clinical nutrition standards, and micronutrient supplementation protocols.
Pinggang Pinoy Model for Filipino Adults
Developed by FNRI-DOST in collaboration with DOH, WHO, and NNC, Pinggang Pinoy translates nutrient recommendations into a practical plate format for healthy Filipino adults:
- Glow Foods (Vegetables & Fruits): Comprises one-half (1/2) of the plate. Use vegetables and fruits, with more vegetables than fruit; do not infer an exact subfraction from this simplified description.
- Go Foods (Rice, Bread, Corn, Root Crops): Comprises one-third (1/3) of the plate, prioritizing unpolished rice, whole grains, and starchy tubers.
- Grow Foods (Fish, Meat, Poultry, Eggs, Legumes): Comprises one-sixth (1/6) of the plate, prioritizing fish, lean meats, and plant-based legumes.
- Hydration: Water accompanies the plate; actual daily needs vary. The 2026 DOH-CAR explanation confirms the half/third/sixth proportions. Use the life-stage-specific FNRI guides for children, pregnant or lactating people, and other groups.
PDRI: Match the Reference to the Person
The FNRI PDRI 2015 summary tables, revised September 2018, distinguish reference values such as EAR, RNI, AI, UL and AMDR. They plan and assess intake in healthy populations; they are not interchangeable treatment goals. Check age, sex, life stage, units and footnotes. For example, the pregnancy energy increment is +300 kcal/day in the second and third trimesters, and the protein increment is +27 g/day. A question using a different population or a clinical condition requires the appropriate reference rather than a memorized universal allowance.
High-Yield Philippine Nutrition Legislation
| Statute | Official Title | Critical Examination Provisions |
|---|---|---|
| Republic Act No. 8976 | Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 | Mandates national fortification of staple foods: Milled rice fortified with Iron; Wheat flour fortified with Vitamin A and Iron; Refined sugar fortified with Vitamin A; Cooking oil fortified with Vitamin A. Promotes the voluntary Sangkap Pinoy Seal program for processed foods. |
| Republic Act No. 8172, read with RA 11985 (2024) | ASIN Law and Philippine Salt Industry Development Act | Salt iodization remains an IDD-prevention strategy. RA 11985 Section 24 makes iodization optional for artisanal/non-food-grade/export salt and allows artisanal salt in food establishments; avoid the obsolete claim that every kind of salt must be iodized. |
| Executive Order No. 51 | The Philippine Milk Code of 1986 | Strictly regulates the marketing and distribution of breastmilk substitutes, feeding bottles, and teats. Contains product-marketing, labeling, health-system and health-worker safeguards. Identify the product, audience and applicable rules rather than asserting an unlimited advertising ban. Exclusive breastfeeding for six months is also supported in current infant-feeding policy and RA 11148. |
| Republic Act No. 11148 | Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act | Directs comprehensive maternal, neonatal, and child health and nutrition interventions during the First 1,000 Days of life (from conception to a child's second birthday). |
| Republic Act No. 11037 | Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act | Establishes the National Feeding Program for undernourished children in public day care centers, kindergarten, and elementary schools through DSWD and DepEd. |
Read the primary texts for their exact scope: RA 8976 food fortification, RA 11985 salt-law exceptions, EO 51 Milk Code, RA 11148 first 1,000 days, and RA 11037 feeding program.
Public Health Assessment & Supplementation Protocols
- Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus: The annual national mass screening of children aged 0 to 59 months conducted by Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHW). It records weight and length/height to assess prevalence of underweight, stunting, wasting, and overweight using WHO Child Growth Standards.
- Universal Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS):
- Infants aged 6 to 11 months: A single oral dose of 100,000 IU (blue capsule).
- Children aged 12 to 59 months: An oral dose of 200,000 IU (red capsule) administered every 6 months.
- Postpartum policies require source attribution: An NNC Philippine postpartum-care page describes a single 200,000 IU dose within six weeks after delivery. This means within that period, not an instruction to wait until week four. In contrast, WHO’s 2025 maternal-health recommendations do not recommend routine postpartum vitamin A to prevent maternal/infant morbidity or mortality. For a policy question identify the named guideline; in care follow the current applicable DOH/local protocol and clinical indication rather than extrapolating a universal dose.
The FNRI ENNS program report describes the infant single-dose and older-child periodic program. Campaign age limits and therapeutic dosing for measles or malnutrition are separate questions; do not repeat a routine high dose without checking the previous dose and protocol.
Subject 3 Breakdown: Foods & Food Service Systems (35%)
Foods and Food Service Systems accounts for 35% of the total examination rating. It combines food chemistry, industrial food preservation, HACCP-based sanitation, and managerial accounting.
Food Science and Chemistry Principles
- Carbohydrate Functional Chemistry:
- Starch Gelatinization: Swelling of starch granules, melting of crystalline regions, and leaching of amylose when heated in water (typically 60°C–80°C).
- Gelation: Formation of a rigid three-dimensional gel network during cooling as amylose molecules associate through hydrogen bonds.
- Retrogradation (Staling): Re-association and recrystallization of amylose and amylopectin chains over time, leading to firmness, staling in bread, and water expulsion (syneresis or weeping).
- Protein Functional Chemistry:
- Maillard Reaction: Non-enzymatic browning between the carbonyl group of a reducing sugar and the free amino group of an amino acid or protein in the presence of heat; influenced by heat, pH, reactants and water activity. It often accelerates at intermediate water activity; extreme dryness or dilution can slow it.
- Enzymatic Browning: Oxidation of phenolic compounds to o-quinones catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase (PPO); controlled by lowering pH (acidulants like ascorbic or citric acid), blanching (thermal denaturation), or removing oxygen.
- Thermal Food Preservation Mechanics:
- D-value (Decimal Reduction Time): Time at a stated temperature required for a 90% (one-log) reduction in a microbial population; use the time units specified in the question.
- z-value: Number of degrees temperature change required to produce a ten-fold change in the D-value.
- 12D Concept in Commercial Canning: A twelve-decimal-reduction concept commonly discussed for C. botulinum spores in low-acid canned foods. It is not a universal time/temperature recipe or a guarantee for every hazard. A validated scheduled process depends on the product, container, heat transfer and relevant organisms; see the FDA scheduled-process guidance.
HACCP 7 Principles and Sanitation Control
- Conduct a hazard analysis.
- Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs).
- Establish critical limits.
- Establish monitoring procedures.
- Establish corrective actions.
- Establish verification procedures.
- Establish record-keeping and documentation procedures.
Name the applicable food-safety source. The Philippine DOH Chapter III sanitation IRR, provisions 3.6–3.8, states perishable storage at 7°C or below, food served cold below 7°C, and hot holding at least 60°C. Other institutional or outbreak-response protocols may impose stricter limits. Do not label a US 40–140°F mnemonic as the Philippine legal rule; apply the standard named in the question or actual food-safety plan. The HACCP principles require hazard-specific validated controls, monitoring and corrective action rather than one temperature slogan.
Essential Food Service Management Math
Examinees must memorize and fluidly execute formulas for yield percentages, purchasing specifications, and financial break-even analysis:
Core Food Service Formulas:
1. Edible Portion (EP) Weight = As Purchased (AP) Weight * (Yield % / 100)
2. As Purchased (AP) Weight Needed = EP Weight Required / (Yield % / 100)
3. Edible Portion Cost per kg = AP Cost per kg / (Yield % / 100)
4. Food Cost Percentage (%) = (Total Food Cost / Total Food Sales) * 100
5. Factor Method Selling Price = Raw Food Cost * (100 / Target Food Cost %)
6. Break-Even Point (Units) = Total Fixed Costs / (Selling Price per Unit - Variable Cost per Unit)
Worked Food Service Calculation: Hospital Menu Yield Analysis
A hospital dietary service is preparing a therapeutic lunch for 250 patients. Each portion requires 120 grams of cooked, trimmed boneless chicken breast (Edible Portion, EP). The culinary yield percentage of raw, bone-in chicken breast to trimmed cooked breast is 60%. The purchasing price of raw chicken breast is ₱240.00 per kilogram.
Step 1: Calculate Total Edible Portion (EP) Weight Required
Total EP Weight = 250 portions * 0.120 kg = 30.0 kg of cooked, trimmed chicken
Step 2: Calculate As Purchased (AP) Weight to Requisition
AP Weight Needed = EP Weight / (Yield % / 100)
AP Weight Needed = 30.0 kg / 0.60 = 50.0 kg of raw chicken breast
Step 3: Calculate Total Raw Food Cost
Total Purchasing Cost = 50.0 kg * PHP 240.00/kg = PHP 12,000.00
Step 4: Calculate Cost per Portion
Cost per Portion = PHP 12,000.00 / 250 portions = PHP 48.00 per patient portion
Step 5: Determine Selling Price with a 40% Target Food Cost
Using the Factor Method:
Pricing Factor = 100 / Target Food Cost % = 100 / 40 = 2.5
Illustrative Price of Chicken Component = Chicken Food Cost * Factor
Illustrative Price of Chicken Component = PHP 48.00 * 2.5 = PHP 120.00
The ₱48 is the chicken component’s food cost, not the cost of an entire lunch. Rice, vegetables, fruit and other ingredients must be added before pricing a complete meal; labor and overhead also matter. A target food-cost percentage is an exercise assumption, not a hospital patient-billing rule.
12-Week NDLE Comprehensive Review Plan
A structured study plan helps BSND graduates manage extensive content without burnout. This is a suggested schedule, not a PRC requirement or a validated prediction of passing. Keep all three subjects active every week even when one is the phase’s main focus. With ten review hours weekly, an initial allocation is 3.5 hours clinical/biochemistry, 3 hours community nutrition, and 3.5 hours foods/service; move time toward demonstrated weaknesses after each error review. The phase labels below do not themselves constitute a 35/30/35 allocation:
| Phase | Weeks | Subject Focus | Weekly Study Deliverables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Foundations | Weeks 1–3 | Nutritional Biochemistry | Map all macronutrient pathways; memorize rate-limiting enzymes; review micronutrient cofactors and deficiency syndromes; complete 150 practice questions weekly. |
| Phase 1: Foundations | Week 4 | Food Science Chemistry | Review starch, lipid, and protein reactions; memorize thermal processing metrics (D-value, z-value, 12D); review food preservation principles. |
| Phase 2: Core Applications | Weeks 5–6 | Clinical Dietetics (MNT) | Master NCP/ADIME formatting; drill MNT for diabetes, CKD, CVD, liver disease, and GI disorders; practice enteral/parenteral feeding formulas. |
| Phase 2: Core Applications | Weeks 7–8 | Community Nutrition & Laws | Memorize RA 8976, RA 8172, EO 51, RA 10862, and RA 11148; review NNC, PPAN, and OPT Plus indicators; practice Pinggang Pinoy and PDRI standards. |
| Phase 3: Operations & Integration | Weeks 9–10 | Food Service Management | Drill AP/EP yield, food cost percentage, and break-even math; review HACCP 7 principles and critical control points; run timed 4-hour mock exams. |
| Phase 4: Final Simulation | Weeks 11–12 | Full-Length Mock & Rapid Recall | Schedule feasible full-block simulations; review error logs; calculate pacing from each practice block’s stated item count; verify the Notice of Admission and current program. |
Test-Day Strategy for the PRC Computer-Based Exam
- Leverage the 4-Hour Time Allowance: Each testing session provides a full 4 hours. Pace yourself deliberately: calculate a working pace from the displayed count and available time, then follow the actual navigation instructions. Use a second-pass strategy only if that interface permits it.
- Watch for Negative Question Stems: When a practice or examination question uses negative wording such as "Which of the following is LEAST appropriate?" or "All of the following are clinical manifestations of nephrotic syndrome EXCEPT:" Mentally identify these qualifier terms to avoid selecting an otherwise true distractor.
- Double-Check Multi-Step Arithmetic: In food service and clinical calculations, double-check your unit conversions (e.g., converting grams to kilograms, milligrams to grams, or hours to minutes). Setting up clear dimension units prevents careless arithmetic errors.
- Follow the Exact November 2026 Program: Report before 6:30 a.m. on day one and wear the required school uniform. Bring the NOA, at least two No. 2 pencils, a black-ink pen, the specified long brown and long transparent/plastic envelopes, and food/water/necessary medications in clear packaging. Only one approved non-programmable calculator is allowed, subject to inspection/reset and the program’s attached PRC Resolution 1809 (2024) list. “Non-programmable” does not mean every model is allowed; check the exact model and exclusions. Keep phones, smartwatches, smart glasses, programmable calculators and prohibited bags/aids outside the examination premises as instructed. Read your NOA for any additional directions.
