The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released new registration guidelines for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and National Diploma in Agriculture (ND Agric) programmes, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session. Under the new rules, any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry (DE) process for candidates who opt for NCE will be suspended, and admissions into 100 or 200 level at Colleges of Education are banned.
Key Changes in NCE Admission Policy
According to a statement issued by JAMB via its X handle @JAMBHQ, the board's Registrar, Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, explained that candidates would be processed for only one mode of entry at a time. This means that if a candidate chooses NCE, any pending UTME or DE application will be put on hold. Candidates seeking to migrate from NCE to UTME must disclose any pending, approved, or previous NCE application.
With effect from the 2026/2027 session, no admission into 100 or 200 level is allowed into any College of Education. All entrants must go through the NCE programme. Additionally, no admission into any affiliated programme in any College of Education is permitted from the 2026/2027 session.
Registration and Admission Process Flow
The registration process involves two main stages: verification by examination bodies and candidate registration on JAMB's e-facility platform.
Verification by Examination Bodies
Every intending candidate for the NCE mode registration must visit the website of the relevant examination body (WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or NBAIS) to obtain an O-Level verification code. The process includes:
- Making payment for verification: N1,500 for a single sitting, N2,000 for two sittings (even across different exam bodies).
- Selecting the number of sittings (1 or 2) to be verified.
- Payments for a second sitting can be made through the platform of the first examination body.
- A verification code is generated after payment.
- Candidates must provide basic information such as year of exam, examination number, and subjects.
Candidate Registration on e-Facility
To enable seamless registration, every College of Education has an Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) with a minimum of two registration points, in addition to JAMB accredited CBT centers. The registration flow at any of these centers is as follows:
- Candidates must obtain a JAMB Profile Code by sending their NIN to 55019 or 66019 (if they do not already have one).
- The profile code is used to create a candidate profile account on e-Facility.
- The registration option selected on the portal will be NCE/Agric registration.
- ePayment includes an application registration fee of N3,500 and a CBT centre registration charge of N700.
- The O-Level verification code must be presented and uploaded at the CBT/PRC/IPRC.
- Upon successful payment and presentation of the verification code, candidates complete a template form and register at any CBT/PRC or IPRC.
- Candidates provide choice of institutions (1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices, all must be Colleges of Education), O-Level results (or indicate Awaiting Results), and biometric data (passport photograph and fingerprints).
- All registrations are transmitted to the handle of the College of 1st Choice.
Background on UTME Result Slip
JAMB had earlier announced that the printing of the 2026 UTME Original Result Slip would begin on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. The result slip features the candidate's photo, national ranking, and essential security details. JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin advised candidates to verify their details and keep a copy for future admissions.
