The Philippines is well known for sending nurses to health systems abroad, but it also has a strong local demand for nurses. In recent years, the government used annual deployment ceilings for newly hired health care workers, including nurses, during COVID-19-related workforce planning; anyone planning overseas work should check the latest Department of Migrant Workers advisories. If you’re a nurse or are studying to be a nurse, this is a country you might want to consider working in.
Working in the Philippines has several advantages. English is one of the country’s official languages and is widely used in education and professional settings, although Filipino or local-language ability can still help with patient communication. The work culture here also encourages collaboration: if you’re new, more experienced colleagues can help you settle in. Besides this, you get to enjoy the country’s famous beaches and cuisine.
The biggest challenge you’ll face, especially as a foreign applicant, is meeting licensing and work-authorization requirements. The country is facing a nurse shortage, but employers may still prioritize candidates who already hold a Philippine nursing license and meet local hiring requirements. Whether you’re a foreigner or a local, relevant international education or experience can still help you compete in the job market.
This guide will set you on your way as we talk about the basic steps of how to become a nurse in the Philippines.
How to Become a Nurse in the Philippines
Step 1. Get a Degree in Nursing
As with almost every other country, getting a relevant college degree is the first step to becoming a nurse in the Philippines. If you’d like to study in the Philippines, look for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which is a four-year degree. Some nursing universities you can consider are the University of Santo Tomas, the University of the Philippines through UP Manila for nursing, and Far Eastern University.
Nursing programs in the Philippines include a related learning experience (RLE). An RLE involves practical training with practicing nurses and supervised work in hospitals or other health settings, helping you apply the skills you’ve learned in class in real-life situations while still under careful guidance. You can think of it as supervised clinical training rather than a separate optional internship.
Graduates from foreign universities may be considered, but you should not assume that any three- or four-year nursing course automatically qualifies. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) lists special requirements for degrees taken abroad, including a Certificate of Equivalency from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and authenticated or apostilled documents with English translations when needed. Check PRC and CHED requirements before applying for the licensure exam.
Further studies such as a master’s degree are not required to become a registered nurse, but they can help you stand out when looking for a job and may help you qualify for higher-level roles later.
Step 2. Take the Nursing Licensure Exam
The Nursing Licensure Exam (NLE) is the Philippines’ licensure exam for aspiring nurses. It is administered by the Professional Regulation Commission through the Board of Nursing. The PRC publishes the exam calendar each year; the schedule lists February and August NLE sittings in testing centers across the Philippines.
While most test takers are Filipino, the NLE can be open to foreign nationals only if reciprocity exists between the Philippines and the applicant’s country. PRC says foreign applicants must establish reciprocity for professional practice, and a positive Board or Commission resolution is required before the applicant may file online and be included in the list of examinees. This requirement can be confusing, so it’s best to check directly with PRC before making plans.
The exam is organized into five parts covering areas such as community health nursing, maternal and child nursing, medical-surgical nursing, infectious diseases, nutrition, endocrine disorders, mental health, and life-threatening conditions. Reviewers are available both online and in print. Pass rates vary significantly by exam cycle, so it is better to check PRC’s latest official results than rely on a fixed annual average.
Step 3. Find a Job
Although the Philippines needs more nurses, finding the right role can still take time, especially for new graduates or foreign-trained nurses. Most new nurses begin with entry-level, trainee, or probationary hospital roles after licensure. Check whether any training period is paid and compliant with local labor rules before accepting an offer.
If you study in the Philippines, your best bet for finding employment is through your university’s job board or your professors. Universities often have ties with hospitals. You can also apply directly to employers through sites like JobStreet, PinoyJobs Online, and Indeed.
Many kinds of organizations hire nurses. The most obvious are hospitals. These include public and private hospitals, with the latter often offering better-paid positions. Besides this, you can also work for NGOs, nursing institutions, community health organizations, or private health care providers.
Step 4. Get a Visa (for Foreigners)
If you’re a foreigner who wants to work as a nurse in the Philippines, you’ll need to get your visas and work authorization sorted out. This normally happens once you’ve already secured a job, as your employer usually needs to sponsor or petition for the appropriate work visa.
Several steps may be involved in acquiring work authorization in the Philippines. A foreign national who will work in the country generally needs an Alien Employment Permit (AEP), which is issued by the Department of Labor and Employment. Under current DOLE rules, a complete AEP application is acted upon by the regional office within 15 working days, although the total timeline can vary based on document readiness, employer steps, and immigration processing. If the related 9(g) visa application is pending, a Provisional Work Permit (PWP) may be available.
After securing the appropriate employment basis, the employer may petition for a 9(g), or Pre-Arranged Employment Visa. The Bureau of Immigration describes the 9(g) commercial visa as a working visa for Philippine employers hiring foreign nationals whose skills, qualifications, and experience may be in short supply in the country. Initial validity may be one, two, or three years depending on the employer-employee contract. There is also a non-commercial or missionary route for foreign nationals engaged in missionary, social, rehabilitation, or similar work.
Full-time employment for foreign nurses is case-by-case. Before making plans, confirm your eligibility with PRC, DOLE, the Bureau of Immigration, and the hiring hospital or organization.
We hope that you found this article on how to become a nurse in the Philippines informative and helpful. For more tips on how to have a successful and enriching international student journey, visit our Study in the Philippines Page! You can also discover additional program options available in the country on our available courses for international students!
