The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has officially announced the cancellation of the May 2026 Special Professional Licensure Examinations (SPLE) in all Middle East testing centers, citing safety and security concerns. Examinations in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan have been rescheduled to May 29-31, 2026.
What Happened?
In an advisory posted on March 27, 2026, the PRC announced a major change to the upcoming May 2026 SPLE schedule affecting thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) planning to take their professional licensure examinations abroad.
The commission cited the "safety and well-being of all those involved" as the primary reason for the cancellation, including examinees, PRC personnel, volunteers from testing centers, and staff from Philippine Embassies and Migrant Workers Offices in the affected countries.
Cancelled: All Middle East Testing Centers
The May 2026 SPLE has been completely cancelled in the following Middle East locations. No examinations will be conducted in these countries for the May 2026 schedule:
Rescheduled: Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan
The SPLE in these three locations has been rescheduled (not cancelled). New examination dates are confirmed:
Examinations will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (May 29-31).
Timeline of Events
32 Licensure Examinations Affected
The cancellation and rescheduling impacts a total of 32 professional licensure examinations across multiple disciplines. These include:
- Nursing (Nurse)
- Architecture (Architect)
- Accountancy (CPA)
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Geodetic Engineering
- Sanitary Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Medical Technology
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Radiologic Technology
- Dentistry
- Optometry
- Midwifery
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Social Work
- Criminology
- Guidance and Counseling
- Psychology
- Real Estate Service
- Teachers (LET)
- Master Plumbing
- Marine Deck Officers
- Marine Engineer Officers
- Customs Broker
- Interior Design
- Environmental Planning
- Landscape Architecture
What Should Affected Applicants Do?
Options for Affected Examinees
If you have already applied and paid through LERIS (Licensure Examination and Registration Information System), you have two options:
- Use your application for the next two consecutive SPLEs — Your paid fees remain valid and can be applied to either of the next two SPLE schedules abroad.
- Transfer to a local licensure examination — You may opt to take the exam in the Philippines instead, and your application will be valid for the next two scheduled local examinations.
Important: You do not need to pay again. Your existing LERIS application and payment will carry over.
Contact Information
For further queries or concerns regarding the May 2026 SPLE cancellation and rescheduling, affected examinees may contact:
- PRC Licensure Office: licensure.office1@prc.gov.ph
- PRC Licensure Division: licensure.division@prc.gov.ph
- PRC Regional Offices: View Regional Office contacts
Prepare for Your Board Exam
Whether you are taking the rescheduled SPLE or transferring to a local examination, preparation is key. RHC Engineering offers free resources to help you get ready:
- Board Exam Tester — Practice with our free Civil Engineering exam simulator featuring hundreds of questions across all subjects.
- Engineering Blog — Stay updated with the latest PRC board exam results, advisories, and technical articles.
- Engineering Spreadsheets — Download free structural design spreadsheets to sharpen your practical skills.
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