TL;DR: Iloilo City's review center scene is built around five main options: CBRC Iloilo for LET and criminology, Merge Iloilo for nursing and pharmacy, Amici Iloilo for criminology, SLRC Iloilo for LET and NLE, and Gapuz Iloilo for nursing. There is no dedicated NMAT review center in Iloilo's directory yet, though Central Philippine University partnered with UNO Review Center on an NMAT program in January 2025.
Iloilo City is the main board-exam review hub for Western Visayas, drawing graduates from the region's nursing, education, and criminology programs. Unlike Manila or Cebu, Iloilo's review center scene is smaller and more concentrated — several of its centers sit within a few blocks of each other in the city proper.
This guide walks through five review centers with active branches in Iloilo, pulled from SchoolFinderPH's directory, covering exactly which board exam each one serves, where they're located, and what's known about pricing. It also addresses a common gap: NMAT review, which isn't offered by any Iloilo-based center currently in our directory.
What is the best review center in Iloilo City?
As with most cities, there's no single "best" review center in Iloilo — it comes down to your exam. CBRC Iloilo and SLRC Iloilo both cover LET, Merge Iloilo, SLRC Iloilo, and Gapuz Iloilo all serve nursing (NLE) graduates, and Amici Iloilo is the dedicated criminology option. The comparison table below breaks down exam focus and location at a glance.
Comparison: Review Centers in Iloilo City
| Review Center | Exam Focus | Location | Format | Published Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBRC Iloilo | LET, Criminology | Ground Flr., John Tan Bldg., Valeria St. | Face-to-face | ~PHP 5,000–8,000 (CBRC national range) |
| Merge Iloilo | NLE (Nursing), Pharmacy | Unit 103, Carlos Young Bldg., Solis St. | Face-to-face | Not published for Iloilo |
| Amici Iloilo | Criminology | 168 J. De Leon St., Iloilo City Proper | Face-to-face | Not published |
| SLRC Iloilo | LET, NLE | 2/F CAP Bldg., Gen. Luna St. | Face-to-face | Not published for Iloilo |
| Gapuz Iloilo | NLE (Nursing) | John Tan Bldg., Valeria St. | Face-to-face | Not published for Iloilo |
Fees are drawn from each chain's own published materials where available and are largely national rather than Iloilo-specific rates. Figures change per school year — verify current pricing with the branch before enrolling.
Does Carl Balita Review Center (CBRC) have a branch in Iloilo?
Yes. CBRC Iloilo sits on the Ground Floor of the John Tan Building on Valeria Street in Iloilo City Proper, and covers LET and criminology review — the same two specialties CBRC is best known for nationwide. CBRC markets itself as the Philippines' largest review center chain, with more than 180 branches, and the only ISO 9001-2015 certified review center network in the country, according to the company's own materials. Nationally, CBRC's published programs run roughly PHP 5,000 to PHP 8,000, though the company has not published Iloilo-specific pricing — confirm directly with the branch. For more on the chain's history and branch network, see our CBRC review center guide.
Where is Merge Review Center in Iloilo and what does it cover?
Merge Iloilo is located at Unit 103, Carlos Young Building, Solis Street, and is one of the few Iloilo centers to cover both nursing (NLE) and pharmacy licensure review. Founded in 2003, Merge — formally Multi-Educational Review Group Experts, Inc. — says on its own website that it has produced more than 30,000 board passers and 54 topnotchers over the past decade, including two Top 1/Top 2 placers. Beyond the local boards, Merge also offers NCLEX-RN, CGFNS, and IELTS preparation for nurses planning to work abroad.
What exam does Amici Review Center Iloilo cover?
Amici Iloilo, at 168 J. De Leon Street in Iloilo City Proper, is a criminology-only review center. It began operating in November 2020 under the tagline "Where Topnotchers Are Molded" and provides review materials spanning forensic science, crime detection and investigation, and criminal law, among other criminology board subjects. Because it's criminology-focused rather than multi-exam, it's a common second choice alongside CBRC for criminology graduates in Iloilo.
What does St. Louis Review Center (SLRC) offer in Iloilo?
SLRC Iloilo, on the 2nd Floor of the CAP Building along General Luna Street, covers both LET and NLE review. SLRC as a chain traces its roots to Baguio City in 1989, founded by nursing educator Dr. Roger Polo Tong-An, and has since grown into a network of more than 25 branches nationwide covering LET, NLE, criminology, and civil service. The Iloilo branch gives Western Visayas teachers and nursing graduates a local alternative to CBRC and Merge.
Is Ray Gapuz Review Center good for NLE prep in Iloilo?
Gapuz Iloilo, on Valeria Street — in the same immediate area as CBRC's branch — is a dedicated nursing (NLE) review center under the Ray A. Gapuz Review System, founded in 1994. The company describes itself as a market leader in Philippine nursing review and has received past recognition, including the 2004 Most Outstanding Review Center Award at the 19th Annual Parangal ng Bayan Awards. For nursing graduates in Iloilo who want a nursing-specialist option rather than a multi-exam chain, Gapuz Iloilo is a straightforward pick — read our full Gapuz review center guide for more on the chain's background.
Is there an NMAT review center in Iloilo City?
This is where Iloilo's directory has a real gap: none of the five review centers above list NMAT as a program. The closest structured option is a partnership between Central Philippine University and UNO Review and Tutorial Center, sealed through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on January 10, 2025, to run an NMAT review program in Iloilo. Aspiring medical students in Iloilo who can't access that program often turn to online NMAT review from Cebu- or Manila-based centers, or CBRC's nationwide NMAT offering (Iloilo-specific NMAT scheduling was not confirmed at the time of writing).
How to choose a review center in Iloilo
Confirm the exam match first. Amici is criminology-only, Gapuz is NLE-only, and Merge covers both nursing and pharmacy — don't assume a center handles your exam without checking.
Factor in proximity. CBRC and Gapuz Iloilo are both on Valeria Street, within walking distance of each other, which makes it easy to compare in person before enrolling.
Ask what the fee includes. Where pricing isn't published online, call the branch and ask specifically what's covered — materials, mock boards, and online access can be billed separately.
Check for online or hybrid options. If you're based outside Iloilo City proper — in nearby towns or other parts of Panay — ask whether the center offers online sessions to cut down on commuting.
Verify before you pay. Review center schedules and fees change by intake and school year. Confirm current details directly with the branch, not just from older online listings.
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