1,052 New Architects Emerge from January 2025 Licensure Exam, UST Leads Top Performing Schools

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has announced that 1,052 out of 1,792 examinees, or 58.70%, successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Architects (LEA) administered on January 21 and 23, 2025. The Board of Architecture, headed by Arch. Robert S. Sac, with Arch. Robert M. Mirafuente and Arch. Corazon V. Fabia-Tandoc, oversaw the examinations held in various testing centers across the country, including NCR, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pampanga, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga. The PRC released the results in just three working days.

This January 2025 LEA saw a noticeable dip in both the number of examinees and the passing percentage compared to recent years. The 58.71% passing rate contrasts with the following:

• June 2024: 62.14% (2,094 passers out of 3,370 examinees)
• January 2024: 61.68% (1,809 passers out of 2,933 examinees)
• June 2023: 61.12% (2,924 passers out of 4,784 examinees)

Despite the lower passing rate, the LEA remains a critical step for aspiring architects in the Philippines. It rigorously evaluates competency in architectural design, construction, building codes, and ethics, ensuring public safety and welfare. Passing the LEA grants the legal right to practice architecture, provides professional recognition, and opens doors to career advancement.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) emerged as the top-performing school in this examination, with four of its graduates securing spots in the top ten.

The top ten performing examinees are:

The full list of passers is available on the PRC website: https://www.prcboard.com/ale-result-january-2025-architect-licensure-exam-list-of-passers

Guide for New Architects:

License Registration:

• Online: Visit the PRC website (), create/log in, complete the application, choose an appointment, pay fees (if applicable), and print confirmation.
• On-Site: Bring your Notice of Admission (NOA), completed Oath Form, ID photos, documentary stamps, and a short brown envelope to your chosen PRC office. Submit documents, sign the Oath Form, pay fees (if applicable), and follow instructions for claiming your license. Remember to check the PRC website for updates, copy all documents, dress appropriately, be on time, and contact the PRC directly with questions.

Oath-Taking Ceremony Registration:

• Passers attending the face-to-face mass oath-taking must register online at http://online.prc.gov.ph by 12:00 PM the day prior.
• Those unable to attend the general oath-taking may request a personalized or virtual one. Check the official PRC website for announcements.
• Online oath-taking appointments can be scheduled at http://online.prc.gov.ph using the “E-OATH” transaction method. Online registration closes five days before the online oath-taking. Print the “OATH OF PROFESSIONAL” form from the PRC website (PRC Online Services). Secure an online appointment at http://online.prc.gov.ph for post-oath registration.

The January 2025 LEA covered History and Theory of Architecture, Planning Principles, Architecture Practice, Utilities Systems/Structural Conceptualization/Building Materials and Construction, and Architectural Design and Site Planning. 

The PRC’s rigorous examination process, as demonstrated by the LEA, plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of the Philippine architecture industry and ensuring the competence of its practitioners.