TL;DR: The Radiologic Technologist Licensure Examination (RTLE) is administered by the PRC Board of Radiologic Technology under Republic Act No. 7431. It covers five subject areas and requires a weighted average of at least 75% with no subject below 60% to pass. A separate, narrower X-Ray Technologist (XTLE) exam exists for associate-diploma holders. The PRC reported a 59.5% passing rate for the December 2025 RTLE, versus 26.6% for the XTLE given the same period.
Introduction
If you're finishing a BS Radiologic Technology degree, the RTLE is the exam that turns your diploma into a professional license to operate imaging equipment on patients. Hospitals, diagnostic centers, and imaging clinics in the Philippines can only employ licensed radiologic technologists to run x-rays, CT scans, and related procedures, so this exam is the one hard gate between your degree and practicing the profession.
This guide covers who administers the exam, what you need to qualify, how the Radiologic Technologist exam differs from the X-Ray Technologist exam, what each covers, how much it costs, when it's given, and how recent passing rates have looked. Every figure here is sourced from Republic Act No. 7431 (the Radiologic Technology Act of 1992), official PRC schedule releases, and PRC results announcements — where a detail changes year to year, we point you to the PRC's own pages so you can confirm current numbers.
Who administers the RadTech board exam?
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) administers both the Radiologic Technologist and X-Ray Technologist licensure exams through the PRC Board of Radiologic Technology, currently chaired by Reynaldo Apolonio S. Tisado. The legal basis is Republic Act No. 7431, the Radiologic Technology Act of 1992, which was passed to protect the public from radiation hazards while regulating who may operate imaging and radiologic equipment.
Radiologic Technologist vs. X-Ray Technologist: what's the difference?
RA 7431 created two separate license tiers under the same Board, and they are tested through two separate exams:
| Radiologic Technologist (RT) | X-Ray Technologist (XRT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Education required | Bachelor's degree in Radiologic Technology | Associate diploma in Radiologic Technology |
| Scope of practice | Broader — x-rays plus other radiation modalities (e.g., ultrasound, radiofrequency) used in diagnosis and treatment | Narrower — diagnostic x-ray work only |
| Exam name | Radiologic Technologists Licensure Examination (RTLE) | X-Ray Technologists Licensure Examination (XTLE) |
| PRC application fee | ₱900 (baccalaureate-level exam) | ₱600 (non-baccalaureate exam) |
| December 2025 passing rate | 59.5% (2,629 of 4,419) | 26.6% (17 of 64) |
Both exams are given on the same dates at the same testing period, but they are scored and reported separately by the PRC. If you're weighing which path to take, note that far fewer candidates sit for the X-Ray Technologist exam, and its passing rate has historically run well below the RT exam's.
What are the eligibility requirements for the RT exam?
To sit for the RTLE, you need a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology from a CHED-recognized school, college, or university, including the clinical internship your program requires. For the XTLE, an associate diploma in radiologic technology from a recognized institution qualifies instead.
Beyond the academic requirement, RA 7431 requires applicants to be Filipino citizens of good moral character with no felony convictions. For first-time takers, the PRC typically asks for:
- PSA/NSO birth certificate
- PSA/NSO marriage contract (for married female applicants)
- Transcript of records with the "For Board Examination Purposes" remark and scanned photo
- Certificate of good moral character (barangay, school, church, or employer)
- Examination fee (PHP 900 for the RTLE, PHP 600 for the XTLE, per the PRC's 2026 Citizens Charter)
Requirements and fees change per school year — verify the current list with the PRC before you file.
What subjects are covered in the RTLE?
The RTLE tests five major subject areas, each carrying roughly equal weight in the PRC's Table of Specifications:
| Subject area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Radiologic Physics, Equipment, Biology, and Protection | Physics of radiation, machine components, biological effects, radiation safety |
| Image Production and Evaluation | Film/digital image formation, quality control, image critique |
| Radiographic Positioning and Radiologic Procedures | Patient positioning for standard and specialized studies |
| Patient Care and Management | Patient handling, emergency response, infection control |
| Radiological Sciences | Radiation therapy, ultrasound, CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine fundamentals |
The X-Ray Technologist exam covers a narrower version of this same list, focused specifically on diagnostic x-ray physics, positioning, and patient care, without the broader radiologic sciences component. Subject weights are set by the PRC Board of Radiologic Technology and can be revised, so confirm the current Table of Specifications with the PRC or your review center before you build your study plan.
What is the passing grade?
Under RA 7431, you need a weighted average of at least 75%, with no rating below 60% in any individual subject. If you meet the 75% overall average but fall below 60% in specific subjects, you can retake just those subjects in a later exam — you'll need a 75% score on the repeated subjects to pass. This conditional/removal provision is why the PRC lists a separate PHP 450 fee for retaking specific subjects rather than the entire exam.
When is the RadTech board exam, and what's next in 2026?
The RTLE and XTLE are generally offered once a year, in December, tested on the same dates at the same testing centers.
| Exam | Dates | Application window |
|---|---|---|
| RTLE & XTLE, 2026 | December 10-11, 2026 | September 11-November 10, 2026 |
Testing centers span NCR, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pampanga, Rosales, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga. Since exam dates and testing sites are released annually through a new PRC resolution, confirm the current schedule at prc.gov.ph rather than assuming these dates repeat every year. For the full 2026 PRC exam calendar across all professions, see our board exam schedule guide.
What is the passing rate for the RadTech board exam?
Passing rates vary by session and cannot be predicted in advance. For the most recent verified data point, the PRC announced: "2,629 out of 4,419 passed the Radiologic Technologists Licensure Examination and 17 out of 64 passed the X-Ray Technologists Computer-Based Licensure Examination," both given by the Board of Radiologic Technology in December 2025 across 15 locations. That works out to:
- RTLE: 59.5% passing rate (2,629 of 4,419)
- XTLE: 26.6% passing rate (17 of 64)
The top performer in that session was Diana May Ojascastro Thomas of De La Salle Medical & Health Sciences Institute, who scored 93.80%, according to GMA News. Holy Name University was reported as a top-performing school, with all 28 of its examinees passing. Passing rates depend on exam difficulty, examinee preparation, and the share of repeaters in each session, so don't treat one session's numbers as a guarantee for the next — check the PRC's official results releases for the latest figures.
How to become a licensed radiologic technologist: step by step
- Finish a BS Radiologic Technology degree (or an associate diploma if you're pursuing the X-Ray Technologist route instead) from a CHED-recognized school, including required clinical training.
- Secure your PRC application requirements early: birth certificate, transcript of records with the board-exam remark, certificate of good moral character.
- File your application within the PRC's posted window (roughly September to November for the December exam) and pay the fee.
- Review systematically, weighting your study time across all five subject areas since no single subject can fall below 60%.
- Take the two-day exam at your assigned testing center in December.
- Check results, typically released within a few working days of the last exam day.
- Register for your Professional Identification Card once you pass.
Tips for preparing for the RTLE
- Don't neglect any single subject. Because the passing rule requires no subject rating below 60%, a weak spot in one area (commonly Radiologic Physics or Radiological Sciences) can sink an otherwise strong average.
- Practice positioning and procedures hands-on, not just from notes. Radiographic Positioning and Radiologic Procedures is heavily practical knowledge, and mock clinical scenarios help more than memorization alone.
- Budget extra review time for Radiological Sciences. This subject folds in newer modalities (CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy) that your undergraduate coursework may have covered more lightly than core x-ray topics.
- Confirm which exam track fits your credential. If you hold an associate diploma rather than a bachelor's degree, you'll sit for the X-Ray Technologist exam, which has a narrower scope but has historically posted a lower passing rate — treat it as no less demanding.
- Compare review center options if you're considering formal review, and weigh that against self-review based on your study style and budget.
Disclaimer
Exam dates, fees, subject coverage, and passing rates are set and updated by the PRC and can change from year to year. Always confirm current details with the PRC (prc.gov.ph) before filing your application or finalizing your review plan.
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Sources
- PRC: December 2025 Radiologic and X-Ray Technologists Licensure Examinations Results Released in Three (3) Working Days
- PRC: 2026 Schedule of Examination
- Republic Act No. 7431, Radiologic Technology Act of 1992 (LawPhil)
- PRC Examination Advisory: RTLE Program of Examination, December 2025 (subject weights)
- PRC 2026 Citizens Charter (application fees)
- GMA News: PRC releases results of radiologic technologists, X-ray technologists licensure exams
- Filcil: Radiologic Technologist Licensure Board Exam — Application Requirements, Coverage, and Schedule
Related reading: PRC board exam schedule 2026, PRC license renewal guide, how long to review for a board exam, how to choose a review center.
