JAMB Makes NCE Only Route for CoE Admission

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a major reform that will reshape admissions into Colleges of Education across Nigeria Beginning with the 2026/2027 academic session, the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) will become the exclusive route for admission into these institutions

The new policy effectively abolishes admissions directly into 100 and 200 levels, marking a significant shift aimed at improving teacher education and strengthening the credibility of the admission process The announcement has generated widespread interest among prospective students, parents, and education stakeholders nationwide

JAMB Introduces NCE as the Sole Admission Pathway

Under the revised admission framework, applicants seeking to study in Colleges of Education must enroll through the Nigeria Certificate in Education program Existing pathways that allowed direct admission into 100 level or 200 level programs will no longer be available

According to the new guidelines, the reform is intended to promote uniform admission procedures, eliminate irregular practices, and reinforce the core responsibility of Colleges of Education in producing professionally trained teachers

Affiliated Degree Admissions to Be Discontinued

JAMB also announced that admissions into degree programs operated through affiliated Colleges of Education will no longer be processed under the previous arrangement

Students interested in such programs will have alternative options, including transferring to parent universities, selecting another institution, moving to a second choice institution, or switching to the NCE pathway where applicable

New O’Level Verification Process for Applicants

As part of the reforms, every NCE applicant must complete an O’Level verification exercise before registration

Candidates are expected to obtain an official verification code from recognized examination bodies such as WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or NBAIS The verification fee is set at ₦1,500 for candidates using results from one sitting and ₦2,000 for those presenting results from two sittings

Registration will be conducted through accredited Computer Based Test (CBT) centres and Institutional Professional Registration Centres established within Colleges of Education

Registration Requirements

Applicants will be required to:

• Generate a JAMB profile code
• Pay an application fee of ₦3,500
• Pay a registration charge of ₦700
• Select their preferred institution and program
• Upload their O’Level results
• Complete biometric capture before processing

Admissions to Be Processed Through CAPS

• JAMB stated that all admissions into Colleges of Education will be processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS)
• The platform will electronically verify applicants’ credentials directly with examination bodies before admission recommendations are made Candidates awaiting results must upload their final results before their applications can be considered

Regularisation for Previously Admitted Students

The Board also introduced a condonement process for candidates admitted outside its official admission framework during the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions

Affected students will be expected to obtain the required verification codes, pay the prescribed fees, and complete the regularisation process through the JAMB portal to validate their admissions

What the Changes Mean for Existing UTME Candidates

Candidates who previously applied to Colleges of Education or agriculture related non technology National Diploma programs through the 2026 UTME will have their records automatically transferred to the new platform

These applicants will only need to obtain the required verification code and pay the ₦700 registration charge, since the application fee would have already been covered during UTME registration

Meanwhile, Direct Entry candidates affected by admissions into affiliated Colleges of Education are expected to exercise their available options within the timeline specified by JAMB