OFWs in the Middle East Can Take Special Licensure Exams This May 2026

  • Publish date: since 6 hours Reading time: 1 min read

PRC announces 2026 Special Professional Licensure Examinations for overseas Filipino workers in Middle East and select Asian countries.

Related articles
“Laban OFW”: How Filipinos in the Middle East Stay Strong
Philippine President Has a Message for Pinoy Expats on OFW Family Day
Legislation Proposed to Declare December 18 as 'OFW Day'

Filipino professionals working abroad will get a chance to take their Philippine licensure exams without flying home. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced that the 2026 Special Professional Licensure Examinations (SPLE) will be held from May 28 to 30, with online applications open from February 16 to March 16.

Testing Centers Across the Region

The exams will be conducted at multiple locations in the Middle East:

  • Bahrain

  • Saudi Arabia: Al-Khobar, Jeddah, Riyadh

  • Israel

  • Kuwait

  • Qatar

  • UAE: Abu Dhabi and Dubai

This setup allows qualified Filipino workers to secure their professional licenses while continuing their jobs overseas.

Professions Covered

The SPLE will cover 39 professions, including but not limited to:

  • Nurses, Midwives, Pharmacists, Medical Technologists

  • Engineers: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Aeronautical

  • Architects, Interior Designers, Environmental Planners

  • Accountants, Teachers, Social Workers, Psychologists

  • Veterinarians, Nutritionists-Dietitians, Radiologic Technologists

In the UAE, oral exams for Professional Electronics Engineers will be in Abu Dhabi (May 28-30), while Professional Mechanical Engineers will be in Dubai (May 24-29).


 

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their applications online through PRC’s Licensure Examination and Registration Information System (LERIS). Fees vary by profession:

  • P2,200 for baccalaureate degree courses

  • P1,700 for non-baccalaureate courses

  • P1,400 for removal exams

Required documents include:

  1. LERIS-generated application form

  2. Two passport-sized photos with white background and name tag

  3. Transcript of Records (TOR) and other Board-specific documents

  4. Valid passport; married female applicants need a marriage certificate

All documents must be submitted online by March 16. Physical copies are required at the testing centers upon arrival.

Additional Locations

SPLE will also be held on the same dates in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, giving more overseas Filipino workers the chance to take their exams abroad.

Related articles