Discover the May 2025 Nurse Licensure Exam results in the Philippines. Meet the topnotchers, explore the top performing nursing schools, and uncover the ongoing challenges facing Filipino nurses today.
đź“Ł May 2025 Nurse Licensure Exam Results Are Out!
The May 2025 Philippine Nurse Licensure Exam (PNLE) results are finally in. Of the 10,770 examinees, a total of 6,935 passed, resulting in a national passing rate of 64.39%. The announcement has brought waves of celebration—but it also reignites national concern over the sustainability of the country’s healthcare system and the future of its nurses.
🏅 Top 10 PNLE May 2025 Topnotchers
The following examinees earned the highest scores in this year’s Nurse Licensure Exam:
- Angelica Ferrer Dator – Southern Luzon State University–Lucban – 90.00%
- Dorisse Ann Flores Laygo – Philippine Women’s University – Pangasinan – 89.80%
- Arielle Sabrina Abordo Natividad – Southern Luzon State University–Lucban – 89.40%
- Jonna Erosa Espina Villanueva – Iloilo Doctors’ College – 89.20%
- Coreen Nicole Valero Benitez – Southern Luzon State University–Lucban – 89.00%
Jaien Leewen Martinez Del Rosario – University of Pangasinan –89.00%
Bea Dominique Tenorio Pile – College of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – 89.00%
Kate Therese Tenorio Taron – University of Pangasinan – 89.00%
See the full list of topnotchers here: May 2025 Nurse Licensure Exam Topnotchers
See the full list of passers here: May 2025 Nurse Licensure Exam List of Passers
These achievers are more than just passers—they’re symbols of academic excellence and dedication to service.
🏫 Top Performing Nursing Schools – May 2025
Nursing Schools with 100+ Examinees:
- University of Pangasinan – 349 successful examinees out of 350 (99.71% passing rate)
See the list of every school’s performance for May 2025 Licensure exam for Nurses in alphabetical order as per R.A. 8981, otherwise known as PRC Modernization Act of 2000 Section 7 (m) or “to monitor the performance of schools in licensure examinations and publish results thereof in a newspaper of national circulation: Performance of Schools for May 2025 Nurse Licensure Exam
🎓 The Real Cost of Becoming a Nurse in the Philippines
Becoming a licensed nurse in the Philippines often comes with a financial burden. Students in private nursing schools typically pay ₱36,000 to ₱50,000 per semester, not including board exam fees, uniforms, and review center costs.
For many families, this means years of sacrifice—only to be met with starting salaries as low as ₱8,500 to ₱15,000/month in public and private hospitals. The return on educational investment is far from ideal, pushing many nurses to look for work overseas.
🌍 The Global Demand vs. the Local Nurse Shortage
Despite producing thousands of nurses annually, the Philippines is currently short by over 127,000 nurses—a number expected to rise to 250,000 by 2030, according to the World Health Organization.
Meanwhile, over 28,000 Filipino nurses took the U.S. NCLEX in 2024 alone, showing how local talent is rapidly being exported. The Philippine healthcare system is being drained, particularly in underserved rural areas.
đź’” Why Filipino Nurses Are Leaving
Key reasons Filipino nurses choose to work abroad include:
- Low salaries
- Poor working conditions
- Lack of professional growth
- Overwork and understaffing
In countries like the U.S., Canada, and the UK, nurses are paid up to 10 times more and are given better tools, benefits, and career paths.
🧠What Can Be Done?
While we honor the achievements of the May 2025 PNLE passers, it’s vital that we also confront the deep systemic issues:
- Increase starting salaries for nurses
- Improve nurse-patient ratios
- Invest in hospital infrastructure
- Offer scholarships and loan forgiveness programs
If we don’t act now, the Philippines risks training the world’s best nurses—only to lose them to foreign shores.
âś… Honoring the Badge, Demanding the Change
The May 2025 Nurse Licensure Exam is a proud moment for thousands of Filipino families. But it also shines a spotlight on a healthcare system in crisis.
Let’s turn these victories into fuel for change. The Filipino nurse deserves not just a license, but a future worth staying for.