Understanding the PRBOA syllabus: A complete breakdown
A detailed look at what topics to expect in each subject area of the Architect Licensure Examination.
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- Arkitekto Team
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The Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture sets the ALE syllabus, and it is long enough that most reviewees never read it end to end. That makes it easy to over-prepare in one area and arrive thin in another, such as professional practice. Below is the official structure of the exam (the ALE exam guide has the requirements and format at a glance), then the topic areas we group under each subject and what the exam rules tell you about how to prepare.
ALE (Architect Licensure Examination) structure
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), PRBOA administered
- 1
History & Theory of Architecture, Principles of Planning & Architectural Practice
30%Day 1, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
Philippine architectural heritage, Filipino architects, RA 9266 & professional practice
- 2
Utilities, Structural Conceptualization, Building Materials & Technology
30%Day 1, 2:00 PM–7:00 PM
NBC (PD 1096), BP 344, structural loads, typhoon/seismic-resistant design
- 3
Architectural Design and Site Planning
40%Day 2, 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Full-day subject with multiple design and site planning problems (non-drafting format since 2009)
A 70% weighted general average, with no subject rated below 50% (RA 9266, Sec. 15). The exam tests Philippine laws (RA 9266, PD 1096, BP 344), local climate considerations (typhoons, tropical heat), and Filipino architectural heritage.
How the ALE is structured#
The ALE is divided into three official subjects taken over two examination days. PRC's 2026 exam programs list them with these weights in your final rating:
- History & Theory of Architecture, Principles of Planning & Architectural Practice: 30% (Day 1, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM)
- Utilities, Structural Conceptualization, Building Materials & Technology: 30% (Day 1, 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM)
- Architectural Design and Site Planning: 40% (Day 2, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the only subject that day)
- Day 1 starts with general instructions and form filling from 7:00 to 7:45 AM, and the two exam days are not consecutive (for example, Monday and Wednesday in June 2026)
- To pass, you need a weighted general average of at least 70%, with no subject rated below 50% (RA 9266, Sec. 15).
Architectural Design and Site Planning#
Design is the subject most people find hardest, and it carries the largest weight. Topic areas to cover:
- Site analysis and environmental factors
- Space programming and functional relationships
- Building orientation and climate responsiveness
- Zoning regulations and setback requirements
- Accessibility compliance (BP 344)
- Sustainable design principles
- Design problems across building types: residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and mixed-use
Building Technology and Utilities#
Part of the Day 1 afternoon subject, with heavy emphasis on the National Building Code and technical systems (see our Building Technology review):
- NBC (PD 1096) and its 2004 Revised IRR: requirements and interpretations
- Fire safety systems and egress planning
- Plumbing and sanitary systems
- Electrical systems and lighting design
- HVAC and mechanical systems
- Building materials and specifications
- Construction methods and assemblies
- Energy efficiency and green building
Structural Conceptualization#
Also part of the Day 1 afternoon subject. PRC's title for this area is structural conceptualization, so expect concepts and system behavior more than full engineering design:
- Structural systems and how loads travel through a building
- Load types (dead, live, wind, seismic)
- Material properties (concrete, steel, timber)
- Foundation types and soil considerations
- Lateral force resisting systems
- Construction sequencing
- Detailing and connections
- Construction safety practices
History and Theory of Architecture#
Part of the Day 1 morning subject, covering both Philippine and Western architectural history (our Philippine architecture review covers the local half):
- Philippine architectural heritage and vernacular architecture
- Notable Filipino architects (Juan Nakpil, Leandro Locsin, etc.)
- Western architectural history (Classical to Modern)
- Architectural theories and design philosophies
- Contemporary movements and trends
- Indigenous building traditions
Principles of Planning#
Named in RA 9266 and in PRC's subject title, and easy to under-review because it shares a paper with history and practice:
- Planning theory and urban design concepts
- Urban planning history in the Philippines
- Land use, zoning, and comprehensive land use plans
- Subdivision planning standards (PD 957, and BP 220 for economic and socialized housing projects only)
- Site and community planning standards
Professional Practice#
Part of the Day 1 morning subject, covering the legal, ethical, and business side of practice:
- RA 9266: Architecture Act of 2004 and its IRR
- Code of Ethical Conduct for architects
- The 2010 Standards of Professional Practice (SPP), adopted by PRBoA Resolution No. 03, s. 2010
- Project delivery methods
- Methods of compensation and professional fees under the SPP
- Liability and professional insurance
- Client relations and project management
- Construction administration
Exam format and exam-day rules#
The format matters as much as the content here:
- Expect question-based papers built around concepts, computations, and situational (scenario) problems, so practice applying rules rather than only memorizing them
- Design and Site Planning: PRC Resolution No. 05, s. 2011 records that the Board moved this subject in 2009 from a single manual-drafting design problem to a non-drafting format with multiple design and site planning problems. The current program still lets you bring architect's scales, triangles, protractors, sketching tools, and graphing or bond paper on Day 2, so practice working problems out on paper
- On Day 2 you may also bring a printed copy of Rules VII and VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR of PD 1096, subject to inspection; any markings on it get it confiscated. Know your way around those two rules before exam day
- Only one non-programmable calculator from PRC's approved list is allowed, and it's inspected and reset before the exam
- Time management: History & Theory and the Utilities/Structural subject each run a 5-hour session, while Design and Site Planning runs a full 10-hour day
Topics worth extra attention#
Based on subject weights and on the code sections PRC lets you bring into the exam, these are the areas we'd prioritize:
- NBC occupancy classifications and requirements (Rule VII of the 2004 Revised IRR)
- Light and ventilation requirements (Rule VIII of the 2004 Revised IRR)
- Fire safety and means of egress
- Accessibility standards (BP 344)
- Methods of compensation and project procedures under the 2010 SPP
- Structural concepts: load paths and lateral force resisting systems
- Philippine architectural heritage
Key takeaways
Not every topic on the syllabus carries the same weight, but the 50% floor per subject means you can't trade one away entirely. Cover everything to a working level first, then spend your remaining hours on the priority list above. Arkitekto's quizzes are organized by topic, so you can work through the syllabus in roughly this order and watch where your scores drop off.
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