Taking the board exam is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face on your journey to becoming a Registered Midwife (RM). It can be stressful and overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure where to start or what to review.
As midwifery graduates, you know passing the Midwifery Licensure Examination (MLE) takes extensive preparation to master concepts and tackle situational questions that arise in real-life settings. However, sometimes we don’t know where to begin.
In this article, you’ll learn what the MLE is, what it covers, and how it is scored.
What is the MLE?
The Midwifery Licensure Exam, commonly known as the MLE, is a licensing examination open to all aspiring midwifery graduates and Registered Nurses who have completed the required clinical case records. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board of Midwifery (BOM) administer and implement this exam.
Under RA 7392, also known as the Philippine Midwifery Act of 1992, Article III, Section 11 states that all applicants must pass the board exam before they can practice the profession.
The Midwifery Licensure Exam is a 2-day examination held twice a year in April and November.
Coverage for the Midwifery Licensure Exam
If you are an aspiring midwifery graduate or a Registered Nurse and want to pass the board, knowing the coverage is crucial. This tells you what subjects are included and their weighted average. It also helps you assess your learning across subjects.
For example, in your attempt, you found you scored low in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Infant Care and Feeding. You already know which subjects need more attention. Over time, you saw your scores improve in those subjects. That improvement happened because you assessed your weaknesses and strengths. That is why knowing the exam’s coverage is important. Because, aside from knowing the areas, you can assess your learning progress.
Below is the coverage for the Midwifery Licensure Exam.
Midwife Licensure Examination Coverage
Comprehensive breakdown of subjects, weights, and items for the Midwifery Board Exam (5 Subjects, 500 Total Items):
Obstetrics and Gynecology (100%)
Total Board Coverage Breakdown
| Topics / Coverage | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| A. Anatomy and Physiology Anatomy and Physiology of the Female Reproductive System | 12.00% | 12 |
| B. Prenatal, Labor, and Postpartum Care 1. Prenatal Care 2. Labor and Childbirth 3. Postpartum | 28.00% 23.00% 7.00% | 28 23 7 |
| C. Complications in Pregnancy Complications and Pathological Conditions in Pregnancy | 16.00% | 16 |
| D. Gynecology and Family Planning Gynecological Disorders and Family Planning Methods | 14.00% | 14 |
| TOTAL | 100.00% | 100 |
Infant Care and Feeding (100%)
Total Board Coverage Breakdown
| Topics / Coverage | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Provision of Infant Care Immediate Newborn Care and Neonatal Management | 50.00% | 50 |
| 2. Infant Feeding and Nutrition Breastfeeding, Weaning, and Nutritional Requirements | 40.00% | 40 |
| 3. Integrated Management of Illness Affecting Infants IMCI and Common Neonatal/Infant Illnesses | 10.00% | 10 |
| TOTAL | 100.00% | 100 |
Professional Growth and Development (100%)
Total Board Coverage Breakdown
| Topics / Coverage | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| A. Ethics 1. Demonstrates the Fundamentals of Ethics 2. Recognizes Personality Development 3. Be Well-Versed with the Midwifery Profession | 50.00% (10.00%) (20.00%) (20.00%) | 50 10 20 20 |
| B. Law 1. Recognizes the Importance of Law and Society 2. Observes the Civil Code of the Philippines 3. Practices Professional Adjustments 4. Current Developments Affecting the Practice | 50.00% (30.00%) (6.00%) (4.00%) (10.00%) | 50 30 6 4 10 |
| TOTAL | 100.00% | 100 |
Fundamentals of Health Care (100%)
Total Board Coverage Breakdown
| Topics / Coverage | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| I. Prenatal Prenatal Fundamentals and Assessment | 15.00% | 15 |
| II. Labor and Delivery Labor and Delivery Fundamentals | 15.00% | 15 |
| III. Postpartum Postpartum Fundamentals and Care | 10.00% | 10 |
| IV. Midwifery Procedures A. Clinical Midwifery Procedures and Interventions (Health Care Process, Vital Signs, Preventive & Comfort Measures, Community Health Skills & Epidemiology) B. Maternal and Child Health Care (Community Health Process, Clinic Activities, Home Visits) C. Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases | 60.00% (30.00%) (55.00%) (15.00%) | 60 18 33 9 |
| TOTAL | 100.00% | 100 |
Primary Health Care (100%)
Total Board Coverage Breakdown
| Topics / Coverage | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| A. Community Health Nursing and Concepts Principles and Concepts of Community Health Nursing | 30.00% | 30 |
| B. Family Planning and Reproductive Health Family Planning Methods and Reproductive Health Programs | 30.00% | 30 |
| C. Immunization and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Vaccine Administration and EPI Protocols | 20.00% | 20 |
| D. Environmental Health and Sanitation Water Safety, Waste Disposal, and Sanitation Standards | 10.00% | 10 |
| E. Health Education and Promotion Strategies and Promotion of Public Health | 10.00% | 10 |
| TOTAL | 100.00% | 100 |
DISCLAIMER: This Table of Specifications (TOS) framework is intended solely for review purposes. Due to missing pages and subject competencies in the official file released by the PRC Board of Midwifery—specifically the complete syllabus for Primary Health Care and certain sub-topics in Fundamentals of Health Care—reference standards from CHED CMO No. 33 Series of 2007 were utilized to complete the 5-subject, 500-item board exam criteria.
What is the passing score for the Midwifery Licensure Examination?
Republic Act 7392, Section 16 (Ratings in the Board Examinations), states that to pass the board exam, a candidate must meet the following:
1. A General Weighted Average (GWA) of seventy-five percent (75%)
2. No grade lower than fifty percent (50%) in any subject
This first condition doesn't mean you need to score 75% in each subject to pass. For instance, if you score 50 in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and your general average meets the 75% threshold, you still pass the exam. However, if you score below 50 in any subject, even if your general rating is 90, you are not eligible to pass.
Try This!
Throughout this article, we provide interactive online exams that we believe can help you boost confidence when taking the exam. This interactive online exam is different from other sites you may have seen. Currently, our site offers six (6) study modes to make your learning experience unique and meaningful.
Free MLE Reviewer - Interactive Online Exam
Examonics Review Hub
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Earn 5000 points to unlock premium course.
Welcome to Examonics Learning Hub
Midwifery Licensure Examination (MLE)
Let's make your review sessions much more engaging! Pick whichever mode fits your vibe—Study, Test, AI Challenge, Speed Drill, or jump right into Flashcards and Fact or Bluff. Rack up points, beat the ticking clock, and claim your spot at the top of the leaderboard!
Quiz Rules & Guidelines
- User Registration: Just type in your full name so we can get you started and keep track of your progress.
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Diverse Game Modes: Mix things up and choose how you want to review::
- Study Mode: Zero pressure; a chill space to check where you currently stand with your knowledge.
- Test Mode: A serious mock exam setup built to simulate the real boards pressure.
- AI Challenge: A fun, quiz-bee style face-off where you go head-to-head against a smart bot.
- Flashcards: Perfect for quick active recall and drilling down on essential terms.
- Fact or Bluff: A quick true-or-false mini-game to test your fast-thinking skills.
- Speed Drill: A fast-paced sprint designed to sharpen your reflexes and snappy decision-making.
- Countdown & Pacing: Every item comes with a built-in timer giving you roughly 30 to 60 seconds to answer.
- In-Game Lifelines: Stuck on a tricky question? Feel free to trigger helper boosts to nudge you toward the correct answer.
- Points & Leaderboards: Hit that 75% passing mark to collect ranking points and boost your tier. You can even trade your earned points for extra study materials!
- Important Note: Data tracks directly inside your device's local memory. Upgrading to another phone means your current history resets, though this setup ensures an ultra-fast experience using very little internet data.
If you have clarifications or have found some answer keys you think are incorrect, drop a comment or message us at [email protected]