Criminologist Licensure Examination (CLE) Reviewer
Pass the CLE and earn your license as a Registered Criminologist. Practice with 100 original board-style questions.
Overview
The Criminologist Licensure Examination (officially the Licensure Examination for Criminologists, or LEC) is the board exam given by the Professional Regulatory Board of Criminology under the PRC. It is governed by RA 11131, the Philippine Criminology Profession Act of 2018, which replaced the old RA 6506.
Passing the CLE lets you register as a Registered Criminologist and receive your PRC Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card. RA 11131 and its IRR give registered criminologists preference in appointments to criminal justice agencies and allow lateral entry into the PNP, BJMP and BFP, among other privileges.
The exam takes three days and covers six subjects: Criminal Law and Jurisprudence, Law Enforcement Administration, Crime Detection and Investigation, Forensic Science, Criminology, and Correctional Administration. To pass, you need a weighted average of at least 75% with no subject below 60%.
Who should take it
- Graduates of a CHED-recognized Bachelor of Science in Criminology program
- Criminology graduates aiming for the PNP, BJMP, BFP, BuCor, PDEA, NBI or other criminal justice agencies where a criminologist license gives preference or lateral entry
- Aspiring criminology instructors (subjects in the licensure exam must be taught by registered criminologists)
- Repeaters, including those who failed five times and have completed a CHED-recognized refresher course
- Deferred examinees who reached a 75% average but got below 60% in a subject and need to retake it
Exam format
Who can apply (eligibility)
- Citizen of the Philippines, or a foreign citizen whose country has reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of criminology
- Of good moral character, good reputation and sound mind and body, as certified by your school and your barangay
- Holder of a bachelor's degree in criminology from a CHED-recognized school (or an equivalent foreign degree recognized by CHED)
- Has not been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude
- If you have failed the exam five times (consecutive or cumulative), you need proof that you completed a refresher course from a CHED-recognized institution
Requirements
- First-timers: PSA birth certificate (and PSA marriage certificate for married female applicants)
- Transcript of Records with scanned picture, Special Order number (unless not required) and the remark 'For Board Examination Purposes'
- College diploma showing date of graduation and SO number (plus CHED Certificate of Equivalency if applicable)
- CHED Certification, Authentication and Verification (CAV)
- Valid NBI clearance
- Regional Trial Court (RTC) clearance
- Two certificates of good moral character: one from the Dean of the Criminology program (with the college's dry seal) and one from the barangay where you live
- Repeaters: TOR, diploma, NBI clearance, RTC clearance and the two good moral certificates. After five failures, add proof that you completed a refresher course
- Documentary stamp and other basic requirements under the PRC Citizen's Charter. Check your LERIS application for the final checklist
Fees
How to apply
- 1Gather your documents first: PSA birth certificate, TOR with 'For Board Examination Purposes', diploma, CHED CAV, NBI and RTC clearances, and two good moral certificates.
- 2Create or log in to your PRC LERIS account at online.prc.gov.ph. Use your exact name as it appears on your PSA birth certificate.
- 3Choose 'Examination', select the Licensure Examination for Criminologists, the exam date, and your preferred testing center, then upload a recent 2x2 photo and any required documents.
- 4Pay the ₱900 examination fee through the payment channels offered in LERIS, and keep your receipt or reference number.
- 5Print the system-generated application form and go to your chosen PRC office on your appointment date to have your documents verified.
- 6Get your Notice of Admission (NOA). Two to three working days before the exam, check your school and room assignment on the PRC website and visit the venue ahead of time.
- 7On exam day, report before 6:30 AM on the first day wearing the required attire (tucked-in white collared shirt or blouse without logos, and decent pants, slacks or skirt) and bring only the allowed items.
Schedule
As of October 2026
In 2026 the PRC gave the CLE twice: February 4–6 and August 1–3, 2026. Both 2026 sittings are done. The PRC has not yet announced the 2027 CLE dates. It released the 2026 calendar (PRC Resolution No. 2113, s. 2025) in November 2025, so expect the 2027 schedule around November–December 2026. Recent years have followed a February/August pattern, but wait for the official resolution before planning. Filing usually opens about 3½ months before the exam and closes about 1½ months before it.
Where to apply & take the exam
File your application online through LERIS, then have your documents verified at the PRC regional office or service center you chose. The August 2026 exam was held in more than 30 testing centers nationwide.
Tips to pass
Study by weight. Criminal Law, Crime Detection and Criminology are 20% each, so spend about 60% of your review time on them. Don't skip Correctional Administration (10%), though, since any subject below 60% gets you deferred.
Read the codals, not just reviewers: the Revised Penal Code Book 1, the 1987 Constitution's Bill of Rights, and the Rules of Criminal Procedure (Rules 110–127). Many items test exact numbers like 10-day search warrants and Rule 112 thresholds.
Make a 'special laws' cheat sheet with RA numbers and short titles (RA 9165, 10640, 9344/10630, 10175, 8353, 9262, 6975/8551, 11200, 10575, 10592, 10707, 11917). Number-matching questions come up often.
For Forensic Science, practice with an actual magnifying glass on fingerprint and questioned-document images. The program allows an ordinary magnifying glass or horseshoe microscope, so bring one.
Learn theories as 'theorist + key idea + keyword' triplets (e.g., Merton – strain – innovation; Hirschi – social bond – attachment). Criminology items often hinge on matching these.
Do timed mocks. On Day 1 AM you get 3½ hours for a 20% subject, so practice keeping a steady pace and leave 20 minutes to review and shade.
Check your school and room assignment on the PRC website 2–3 working days before the exam, and visit the venue ahead of time. Late examinees are not admitted, and you must report before 6:30 AM on Day 1.
Follow the dress code strictly: a tucked-in white collared polo or blouse with no logo, plus decent pants, slacks or skirt. Long hair must be in a ponytail for female examinees.
Bring your NOA, No. 2 pencils, black-ink ballpens with transparent casing, a long brown envelope, a transparent plastic envelope, and food and water in clear containers. Calculators, smartwatches, phones and bags are prohibited.
Answer every item. There is no stated penalty for wrong answers in the program, so use elimination and never leave a blank.
If you are deferred (75% average but a subject below 60%), you get one retake of that subject within two years and must score at least 80% on it. Don't let the deadline lapse.
Criminology Board Exam sample questions with answers
Try these, then tap to reveal the answer. Want more? Take the full free practice test.
1. Criminal Law and Jurisprudence
Pedro shot Juan in the chest intending to kill him. Juan was rushed to the hospital and survived only because of timely surgery. What crime did Pedro commit?
- A.Frustrated homicide
- B.Attempted homicide
- C.Consummated homicide
- D.Physical injuries only
Show answer
Answer: A. Frustrated homicide — Under Art. 6 of the Revised Penal Code, a felony is frustrated when the offender performs all the acts of execution that would produce it, but it is not produced because of causes independent of his will. The fatal wound was inflicted; only medical help prevented death.
2. Law Enforcement Administration
Under the Constitution and RA 6975 as amended by RA 8551, which agency exercises administrative control and operational supervision over the Philippine National Police?
- A.Department of Justice
- B.Commission on Human Rights
- C.National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM)
- D.Armed Forces of the Philippines
Show answer
Answer: C. National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) — The Constitution provides for one police force, national in scope and civilian in character, administered and controlled by a national police commission. RA 6975 as amended gives NAPOLCOM administrative control and operational supervision over the PNP.
3. Crime Detection and Investigation
The three tools of criminal investigation, often called the 'three I's', are:
- A.Identification, inspection, and indictment
- B.Information, interrogation, and instrumentation
- C.Intelligence, interview, and incarceration
- D.Inquiry, investigation, and intervention
Show answer
Answer: B. Information, interrogation, and instrumentation — Investigators gather information from people and records, question suspects and witnesses (interrogation and interview), and apply science and equipment to physical evidence (instrumentation).
4. Forensic Science
Which fingerprint pattern type is the most common in the general population?
- A.Whorl
- B.Arch
- C.Accidental
- D.Loop
Show answer
Answer: D. Loop — Loops make up roughly 60 to 65 percent of all fingerprint patterns, whorls about 30 to 35 percent, and arches only about 5 percent.
5. Criminology
Which criminologist, known as the 'Father of Modern Criminology', proposed the idea of the 'born criminal' marked by atavistic physical traits?
- A.Cesare Beccaria
- B.Jeremy Bentham
- C.Emile Durkheim
- D.Cesare Lombroso
Show answer
Answer: D. Cesare Lombroso — Lombroso, leader of the Italian Positivist School, argued that some criminals were biological throwbacks (atavism). Beccaria and Bentham belong to the Classical School.
Frequently asked questions
What is the passing rate needed for the CLE?
You need a weighted general average of at least 75% with no grade below 60% in any subject (RA 11131 IRR, Sec. 17). If you fail three or more subjects, you fail the whole exam.
What happens if I get 75% average but below 60% in one subject?
Your result is deferred. You may retake only that subject (or subjects) once within two years from the exam, and you must get at least 80% on it. If you miss the two-year window or score below 80%, you must retake all subjects.
How many times a year is the CLE given?
In 2025 and 2026 it was given twice a year, in February and August. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet. Watch the PRC website for the 2027 Schedule of Licensure Examinations.
How much is the exam fee?
₱900 for baccalaureate-level exams like the CLE, paid through LERIS. After passing, initial registration (Certificate of Registration and ID) costs ₱1,050.
I have failed five times. Can I still take the exam?
Yes, but you must first complete a refresher course from a CHED-recognized institution and submit proof (a TOR or Certificate of Completion) with your application.
Can I bring a calculator or magnifying glass?
All kinds of calculators are prohibited. An ordinary magnifying glass or horseshoe microscope is allowed and listed among the items to bring. Digital or modified magnifying lenses are not allowed.
What are the six CLE subjects now?
Under Board Resolution No. 01 (s. 2021) and the current exam program: Criminal Law and Jurisprudence (20%), Law Enforcement Administration (15%), Crime Detection and Investigation (20%), Forensic Science (15%), Criminology (20%), and Correctional Administration (10%).
Official sources
- PRC — Program of the Licensure Examination for Criminologists, August 1–3, 2026
- PRC — Resolution No. 2113 (s. 2025), Schedule of Licensure Examinations for 2026
- Board of Criminology — Resolution No. 02 (s. 2020), IRR of RA 11131 (qualifications, rating, deferment)
- Board of Criminology — Resolution No. 01 (s. 2021), revised subjects and relative weights
- Board of Criminology — Resolution No. 06 (s. 2025), amendments to Res. No. 02 (s. 2024) on the Criminology subject area
- PRC — List of Requirements (Criminology first-timers and repeaters)
- PRC — Citizen's Charter 2025 (examination and registration fees, LERIS steps)
- PRC — Advisory extending filing deadline for February 2026 LEC
- PRC — Naga City designated as additional testing center, August 2026 LEC
- PRC — Regional Offices Contact Information
- PRC LERIS — Online application portal
LearnDigitalPH is an independent review platform, not affiliated with or endorsed by Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) — Professional Regulatory Board of Criminology. Practice questions are original and are not actual exam items. Requirements, fees and schedules can change — always confirm with the official agency before applying.