NABTEB Announces 2026 Registration Deadlines for May/June Exams, Common Entrance Examination

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board has announced the official deadlines and registration procedures for the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) and the May/June In-School Certificate Examinations.

According to the examination body, registration for the National Common Entrance Examination will close on May 24, 2026, while registration for the 2026 May/June In-School Certificate Examinations will officially end on May 31, 2026.

The announcement was made in a statement issued in Benin City by the board’s Assistant Director of Media and Protocol, Uchechukwu Olisah.

The statement quoted the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr Mohammed Mohammed, as urging schools, parents, guardians, and candidates to complete all registration processes before the deadlines to avoid last-minute technical issues and delays.

The board explained that it has upgraded and simplified its registration process using dedicated online portals to improve efficiency and reduce stress for candidates and school administrators nationwide.

For the 2026 May/June In-School Certificate Examination, schools are expected to request registration slots through their respective NABTEB state offices before proceeding with biometric data capture using the board’s approved biometric software.

Schools are also required to complete the registration process through the official May/June portal provided by the examination body.

NABTEB further disclosed that schools must obtain login credentials through their state offices before making payments and finalising candidate registration on the school registration platform.

For candidates seeking registration for the National Common Entrance Examination, the board stated that Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) must first be obtained through NABTEB state offices before registration can be completed on the Common Entrance portal.

The examination body also introduced an independent online registration option, allowing candidates to create personal accounts, complete payments, and finalise registration digitally without physical assistance.

Schools conducting bulk registrations for candidates are expected to obtain official login details through state offices and complete the process through the designated student registration portal.

The board reiterated its commitment to deploying technology-driven solutions to strengthen examination administration, improve service delivery, and ensure smoother registration procedures across Nigeria.

NABTEB also advised candidates and school authorities to carefully verify all submitted information during registration to avoid errors that could affect examination records and result processing.

According to the board, the registration exercise initially commenced on January 26, 2026, while the National Common Entrance Examination is scheduled to hold nationwide on June 6, 2026.

Education stakeholders believe the increasing adoption of digital registration and biometric verification systems by examination bodies could help reduce examination malpractice, improve candidate verification, and enhance the credibility of technical and vocational education assessments in Nigeria.

Candidates and schools seeking additional information have been advised to contact the nearest NABTEB state office or visit the board’s official registration portals for guidance and clarification.