1.1 NDLE Format, Scoring Rules, and RA 10862 Licensure Requirements

Every NDLE question ultimately tests whether you can practice safely under Philippine law, so the logistics and legal rules in this section are both exam content and practical survival knowledge. Questions on the licensure law are common in the Foods and Food Service Systems paper, whose table of specifications asks examinees to "explain and apply the laws in the practice of the profession and its code of ethics."

The Legal Basis: RA 10862

Republic Act No. 10862, the Nutrition and Dietetics Law of 2016, was approved on May 25, 2016. It repealed Presidential Decree No. 1286 (the Nutrition and Dietetics Decree of 1977) and now governs nutrition and dietetics education, the licensure examination, registration, the scope of practice, and continuing professional development.

The law creates the Professional Regulatory Board of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Board) under the administrative supervision and control of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Examination Structure

Section 16 of the law lists the examination subjects as Nutrition and Dietetics, Foods and Food Service Systems, and Community and Applied Nutrition, and allows the Board, with PRC approval, to revise subjects and their tables of specifications. The Board's examination programs use these titles and weights:

The Board's tables of specifications (Board Resolution No. 01, series of 2013) were written for 200 items per subject and break each subject into weighted competency areas. Nutritional Biochemistry and Clinical Dietetics covers anatomy and physiology (13%), biochemistry (15%), basic nutrition (12%), and two clinical nutrition areas (25% each), plus nutrition updates (10%). PRC's current program does not publish an item count, so do not assume a fixed number of questions.

Passing Rules and the Limited Retake

Section 17 sets two conditions for passing:

1. A general weighted average (GWA) of at least 75%, and
2. No subject rating below 50%.

The GWA uses the subject weights:

$$\text{GWA} = 0.35(\text{NBCD}) + 0.30(\text{CPHN}) + 0.35(\text{FFSS})$$

The same section adds a limited retake provision. An examinee who fails to obtain the passing average but who rates at least 75% in each of at least one-half of the subjects may be permitted to take, within two years from the examination date, another examination covering only the subjects rated below 75%. Failing that retake requires the examinee to take all subjects in the next examination. With three subjects, "at least one-half" means at least two subjects at 75% or higher.

Who May Take the Examination

Section 15 requires the applicant to prove that he or she:

• is a citizen of the Philippines, or of a country with a reciprocity policy for Filipino nutritionist-dietitians (Sec. 31);
• is of good moral character;
• holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics or its equivalent recognized by CHED, from a duly authorized school here or abroad; and
• has not been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude.

PRC's filing requirements add documents such as a PSA birth certificate, a transcript of records marked "For Board Examination Purposes," and a valid NBI clearance. PRC lists the examination fee for baccalaureate-level examinations as ₱900 and the fee for a conditioned examination as ₱450.

Examination-Day Rules

The November 2026 program lists what examinees must bring and what is banned:

• Bring: the Notice of Admission, two or more No. 2 pencils, a ball pen with black ink, a long brown envelope, a long transparent envelope for valuables, and packed food, water, and medicines in transparent containers.
• Calculator: one non-programmable calculator from the list in PRC Resolution No. 1809 (s. 2024). Calculators are inspected and reset; the Casio FX-991ES, FX-991ES Plus, and FX-570ES Plus are not allowed.
• Prohibited: books, notes, and review materials; programmable calculators; smart watches, smart eyeglasses, phones, and other electronic devices; and bags of any kind.
• Attendance: report to the assigned building before 6:30 a.m. on the first day and wear a school uniform. Late examinees are not admitted.

After Passing

1. Report of ratings: the Board submits ratings to PRC within 10 days after the last examination day, unless extended for a valid cause (Sec. 18).
2. Oath: successful examinees take the professional oath before the Board or an authorized PRC officer before practicing (Sec. 19).
3. Registration: PRC issues the certificate of registration, which stays valid unless withdrawn, suspended, or revoked, and the professional identification card, which is renewed every three years with CPD compliance (Sec. 20). PRC lists the registration fee for baccalaureate professions as ₱600 plus a ₱450 annual registration fee.
4. Non-registration: the Board will not register a successful examinee convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, found guilty of violating the General Instructions to Examinees, or declared of unsound mind by a court (Sec. 21).