What the Nutrition and Dietetics (NDLE) board exam covers as of November 2026: the 3 subjects, their new names, weights, and the 75% passing rule.
Mariano Luiz King
Published November 5, 2026 · Updated November 9, 2026
The Nutrition and Dietetics (NDLE) board exam, officially the Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Examination, has three subjects: Nutrition and Dietetics (35%), Community and Applied Nutrition (30%), and Foods and Food Service Systems (35%). If those names look new, they are. PRC renamed two of the subjects for the November 2026 exam. This post covers what's official, what changed, and what I couldn't confirm.
Where this coverage comes from: The subjects, weights, and schedule are from PRC's revised program for the November 12 and 13, 2026 exam, and from its November 2025 program for comparison. The passing rule is from RA 10862. I checked them in November 2026. Unlike most PRC boards, the Board of Nutrition and Dietetics didn't have a Table of Specifications (a topic-by-topic blueprint) posted on its PRC page when I looked. So this post doesn't list item counts per topic. I'd rather leave them out than guess.
As of the November 12 and 13, 2026 exam:
| Detail | What PRC says |
|---|---|
| Format | Computer-based licensure examination |
| Subjects | 3 |
| Day 1 | Nutrition and Dietetics (8:00 AM to 12:00 NN), Community and Applied Nutrition (1:00 to 5:00 PM) |
| Day 2 | Foods and Food Service Systems (8:00 AM to 12:00 NN) |
| Attire | School uniform |
| Calculators | One non-programmable calculator from PRC's approved list |
| To pass | 75% general average, with no subject below 50% (RA 10862) |
| November 2025 program | November 2026 program | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional Biochemistry and Clinical Dietetics | Nutrition and Dietetics | 35% |
| Community and Public Health Nutrition | Community and Applied Nutrition | 30% |
| Foods and Food Service Systems | Foods and Food Service Systems | 35% |
The weights and the three-subject structure stayed the same. What I don't know is whether the topics inside each subject changed too. PRC's program lists only the subject names, and I didn't find a Board resolution explaining the renaming. If you're taking the exam soon, ask your school or review center whether they've seen an updated syllabus.
Since there's no posted TOS, here's what the subject names and the older titles tell you. Treat this as a guide, not an official list.
Nutrition and Dietetics (35%). The older title was "Nutritional Biochemistry and Clinical Dietetics." So expect the science of nutrients in the body, plus diet therapy for diseases.
Community and Applied Nutrition (30%). The older title was "Community and Public Health Nutrition." So expect nutrition at the population level: assessing groups, programs, and policies. "Applied" may signal more practical, case-based items, but that's my guess, not PRC's.
Foods and Food Service Systems (35%). Unchanged. The name covers food itself (its science and preparation) and running a food service operation.
RA 10862, the Nutrition and Dietetics Law of 2016, says you need a general or weighted average of 75%, with no subject below 50%.
There's a partial retake rule. If you fail overall but get at least 75% in at least half of the subjects, you can retake only the subjects below 75% within two years. If you fail those again, you retake all subjects next time.
Here's how the weighting works. Say you get 78% in Nutrition and Dietetics, 70% in Community and Applied Nutrition, and 76% in Foods. Your weighted average is 0.35 × 78 + 0.30 × 70 + 0.35 × 76 = 74.9%. That's just under 75%. But you got 75% or higher in two of three subjects, so you'd retake only Community and Applied Nutrition.
Watch out for an old number. Some pages still say the passing average is 70%. That was the rule under PD 1286, the older law. RA 10862 raised it to 75%.
If you don't pass, the retake rules are in what happens if you fail the board exam. Recent results are in board exam passing rates.
The two 35% subjects make up 70% of your grade, so they come first. But because of the renaming, I'd also check your review materials against the new subject names before you commit your schedule. Old reviewers organized under "Clinical Dietetics" and "Public Health Nutrition" may still be useful, just mapped to the new titles.
As of November 2026: Nutrition and Dietetics (35%), Community and Applied Nutrition (30%), and Foods and Food Service Systems (35%).
The names did. In November 2026, "Nutritional Biochemistry and Clinical Dietetics" became "Nutrition and Dietetics," and "Community and Public Health Nutrition" became "Community and Applied Nutrition." The weights stayed the same.
A general or weighted average of 75%, with no subject below 50%, under RA 10862.
Yes. PRC's program for the November 2026 exam calls it a computer-based licensure examination.
Ready to test yourself? Try the free Nutrition and Dietetics board exam reviewer. I built prepPH, so I'm biased, but every question there comes with an explanation. For a study plan, read how to review for the PRC board exam. When you're ready to apply, see how to apply for the PRC board exam online (LERIS) and how much the PRC board exam costs. To plan your weeks, see how long to review for the NDLE board exam, and to decide on a review center, see can you pass the NDLE board exam with self-review?.
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