The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced new guidelines for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Agriculture-related National Diploma (ND) programmes. These guidelines, which take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, include mandatory O'Level result verification and revised admission procedures for Colleges of Education across the country.

No longer will candidates be admitted directly into 100 or 200 Level programmes in Colleges of Education. From the 2026/2027 academic session, all candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education must gain admission through the NCE route. Additionally, admissions into affiliated degree programmes in Colleges of Education will no longer be allowed from the 2026/2027 session.

The Board has also stated that candidates can only be processed under one admission mode at a time. Any candidate who applies through the NCE admission route will have any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended. Candidates seeking to migrate from NCE to UTME must disclose any previous or pending NCE application.

As part of the new admission process, all applicants must verify their O'Level results through the appropriate examination body before registration. Candidates will be required to obtain an O'Level Verification Code from the relevant examination body and pay ₦1,500 for one sitting or ₦2,000 for two sittings.

Interested candidates are required to obtain a JAMB Profile Code using their National Identification Number (NIN), create or update their profile on the JAMB e-Facility portal, and complete registration at any accredited CBT Centre or Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC). During registration, candidates will be required to provide their O'Level results, select up to three Colleges of Education as their choices, upload relevant documents, and complete biometric data capture.

All submitted O'Level results will be electronically verified through an integrated system. Institutions will recommend candidates for admission, while JAMB will validate the results and process admissions through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). Candidates offered admission will be required to either accept or reject the offer through CAPS before printing their admission letters.

The Board has disclosed that candidates who already applied through the 2026 UTME and selected Colleges of Education or Agriculture-related ND programmes will have their details automatically migrated to the appropriate institutions. Such candidates will only be required to obtain an O'Level Verification Code and pay a registration fee of ₦700 to update their records.

JAMB has also outlined options for candidates who applied for admission into affiliated degree programmes in Colleges of Education. Affected candidates may change their institution at no cost, transfer to the parent university of the affiliated programme, switch to their second-choice institution, or migrate to NCE programmes where applicable.

The Board has directed all Colleges of Education, CBT Centres, Institutional Professional Registration Centres, and relevant admission officers to strictly comply with the new guidelines. The measures are aimed at improving transparency in admissions, strengthening result verification, and ensuring that only qualified candidates are admitted into NCE and ND Agriculture-related programmes nationwide.