NCE Candidates Can Now Register Without UTME

Candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes and non technological agricultural programmes in polytechnics can now register without sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), following a directive from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

According to the Board, the exemption applies to candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education for NCE programmes, as well as those pursuing non technological agricultural courses in polytechnics nationwide, and forms part of a Federal Government decision to waive the UTME requirement for these specific categories.

JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, explained that eligible candidates only need to present their O’Level credentials to complete registration, with no requirement to write the annual UTME.

Registration can be completed at any Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) domiciled in Colleges of Education, or at any JAMB Professional Registration Centre (PRC) located across the country, provided applicants meet the O’Level credit requirements.

The Board stated that a robust admission process has been developed to guarantee that only qualified candidates gain entry into the affected programmes, stressing that academic standards would be maintained and enhanced throughout the exercise.

For candidates who already sat the 2026 UTME but wish to redirect their applications toward NCE or non technological agricultural programmes, JAMB disclosed that conversion can be carried out at any IPRC or JAMB PRC free of charge.

JAMB described the initiative as an effort to widen access to teacher education and non technological agricultural training, both of which it identified as critical sectors requiring expanded manpower development without compromising quality.

The Board urged all eligible and interested candidates to visit their nearest registration centres promptly to avoid missing out on the opportunity, noting that the process remains open at designated centres nationwide.