TRCN Registration 2026: How to Register, Requirements, Fees & Categories
If you’re registering with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) for the first time, the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) is normally where the process begins. You register for the PQE, TRCN checks your qualification and assigns your category, and once you’ve passed you can move on to your certificate and teaching licence.
Registration is currently open for the November 2026 PQE. The process is online, and you don’t need to create a teacher account first.
This guide explains who can register, which category you should fall into, what the process costs and how to register — including what happens if you miss the November deadline.
Register on the official TRCN portalTRCN Pass is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with TRCN and cannot register you or take payment on TRCN’s behalf.
Deadline: 16 October 2026
| Current PQE | Next expected PQE | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam | November 2026 | May 2027 |
| Registration | OPEN | Not yet open |
| Deadline | TRCN’s system shows 16 October 2026 | Not yet announced |
| Exam date | November 2026 | Not yet announced |
Our advice: register and pay by 15 October. The deadline held in TRCN’s system falls at 01:00 WAT on 16 October, and your qualification has to be verified before payment opens. There is little benefit in leaving it until the final day.
Missed the deadline? TRCN normally holds the PQE in May and November, so the next expected opportunity is May 2027. TRCN has not yet announced the registration period or exam date for that round.
If TRCN changes the deadline, we’ll update this page. But don’t count on an extension.
See full exam dates and deadlinesWho can register for the TRCN PQE?
The important thing is not simply whether you have a degree. You need a recognised teaching qualification.
The minimum qualification is the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE). Education degrees such as a B.Ed, B.Sc (Ed) or B.A (Ed) also qualify.
Where candidates can get caught out is with degrees in non-education subjects. A B.Sc, B.A, Master’s or PhD in another field does not automatically make someone professionally qualified to teach. If your degree isn’t in education, TRCN expects you to also hold an accepted teaching qualification, such as a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) or NCE.
So, for example, someone with a B.Sc in Chemistry plus a PGDE can qualify. Someone with only a B.Sc in a non-education subject and no teaching qualification is not yet eligible through the normal PQE route.
If you’ve completed your qualification but are still waiting for the certificate itself, you may not need to wait. TRCN’s candidate portal allows candidates awaiting their certificate to provide their matriculation number instead.
Do you have the right teaching qualification?
NCE: eligible at NCE level.
B.Ed, B.Sc (Ed), B.A (Ed) or another education degree: eligible at degree level.
B.A/B.Sc in a non-education subject + PGDE, PDE or NCE: the additional teaching qualification can make you eligible at degree level.
B.A/B.Sc in a non-education subject, with no teaching qualification: not normally eligible yet.
Master’s or PhD outside education: the higher degree does not replace the need for a teaching qualification.
TRCN makes the final assessment of your qualifications and category before payment.
Have an HND?
An HND on its own isn’t a teaching qualification, so it isn’t enough to register for the TRCN PQE.
If you also have a recognised teaching qualification — such as a PGDE, PDE or NCE — you can be eligible. TRCN’s published guidance has historically placed HND holders with a recognised teaching qualification in Category C.
If you have an HND but no teaching qualification yet, you’ll need to complete one first. The Federal Government’s current teacher-professionalisation programme specifically provides a PGDE route for HND holders who need to become professionally qualified teachers.
TRCN’s current online category guidance doesn’t explicitly list HND, so we’ve asked TRCN to confirm the current category treatment. We’ll update this page when they reply.
Which TRCN category are you: A, B, C or D?
TRCN divides candidates into four categories. Broadly, the category reflects your highest academic qualification provided you also have the required teaching qualification.
| Category | Qualification level | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|
| A | PhD | PhD in Education; PhD + PGDE/PDE/NCE |
| B | Master’s | M.Ed; MA/M.Sc + PGDE/PDE/NCE |
| C | Bachelor’s / PGDE | B.Ed; B.Sc (Ed); B.A (Ed); B.A/B.Sc + PGDE/PDE/NCE; HND + PGDE/PDE/NCE (see the HND note above) |
| D | NCE | NCE |
The useful thing to know is that you don’t have to make the final category decision yourself. You submit your qualification and TRCN reviews it. Your category is set before the payment stage.
You should normally register using your highest qualification. If you later obtain a higher qualification, TRCN provides for category upgrades.
How much does TRCN PQE registration cost?
For the current PQE, the amount depends on your category. TRCN also adds a ₦100 processing charge.
| Category | PQE fee | Processing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| A — PhD | ₦12,000 | ₦100 | ₦12,100 |
| B — Master’s | ₦10,500 | ₦100 | ₦10,600 |
| C — Bachelor’s / PGDE | ₦9,000 | ₦100 | ₦9,100 |
| D — NCE | ₦7,500 | ₦100 | ₦7,600 |
Current PQE fees checked against TRCN’s 2026 candidate portal and Fee Calculator on 30 September 2026.
You don’t pay immediately when you submit the form. TRCN first verifies your qualification and assigns your category. Payment opens after that.
Payment is handled through Remita.
How much does the whole TRCN process cost?
The PQE isn’t the only payment on the journey. After passing, there are separate charges for your certificate, three-year teaching licence and induction.
- PQE
- Certificate
- Licence
- Induction
TRCN’s current online Fee Calculator uses the following schedule:
| Category | PQE incl. ₦100 processing | Certificate | 3-year licence | Induction | Total journey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | ₦12,100 | ₦25,500 | ₦45,000 | ₦10,000 | ₦92,600 |
| B | ₦10,600 | ₦19,500 | ₦36,000 | ₦8,000 | ₦74,100 |
| C | ₦9,100 | ₦15,000 | ₦27,000 | ₦7,000 | ₦58,100 |
| D | ₦7,600 | ₦7,500 | ₦18,000 | ₦6,000 | ₦39,100 |
Schedule dated March 2026 · last checked 30 September 2026.
The totals above include the ₦100 PQE processing charge. TRCN’s own Fee Calculator leaves that processing charge out of its whole-journey total — for example, it displays ₦58,000 for Category C rather than ₦58,100.
These certificate, licence and induction figures come from TRCN’s current online Fee Calculator. The PQE amounts also match TRCN’s live candidate portal.
If you pass the PQE, TRCN’s current portal says a single payment covers the certificate and 3-year teaching licence. The table shows the underlying fee components separately so you can see where the total comes from.
However, another, older page on TRCN’s website shows much lower registration and licence fees and uses different fee headings. We’ve asked TRCN to confirm which schedule applies and will update this page when they reply.
What do you need before you start?
For the PQE candidate registration route, have the following ready:
- your full name as it should appear on your official records
- an email address you can access
- your phone number
- your 11-digit National Identification Number (NIN)
- your highest qualification certificate, or your matriculation number if you’re still awaiting the certificate
- your TRCN number, but only if TRCN has already issued you one
Check your name before submitting. A mismatch between the name you enter and your NIN record can cause identity-verification problems, particularly if you’ve changed your name or your records use different spellings.
How to register for the TRCN PQE
The candidate registration process is fairly straightforward once you know which TRCN portal to use.
Go to the PQE candidate portal
Use TRCN’s official Candidate CBT Registration page and select the open November 2026 PQE.
Start PQE registrationYou don’t need to create a teacher account first. TRCN’s candidate portal is designed for people who aren’t yet registered teachers.
Enter your details
Complete the candidate form using your personal information and qualification details.
If you’ve already started an application, don’t create another one. Return to the candidate portal and choose Continue with your email.
Submit your qualification for verification
TRCN reviews the qualification you’ve provided and determines your category.
This happens before you pay, which is one reason not to start the process at the last minute.
Pay through Remita
Once your qualification has been approved and your category set, the payment option becomes available.
Pay the PQE amount for your assigned category using the payment options offered through Remita.
Get your exam number
Once payment is confirmed, TRCN issues your examination number.
Download your exam slip
You can then download your exam slip. Your slip shows your exam number and the centre you’ve been assigned. It’s the document to take with you on exam day.
Find out when and where you’ll sit the PQE
See the latest November 2026 exam information, how centres are assigned and what you need on exam day.
TRCN exam dates & centresIf something goes wrong with your registration
A problem on the portal doesn’t necessarily mean you need to start again or make another payment.
Money has left your account, but payment still shows as pending
Don’t immediately pay again. TRCN advises waiting 15–30 minutes. Remita payments usually confirm automatically. If it is still pending after that, keep your Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) and contact TRCN support so staff can investigate the original transaction.
Your NIN won’t verify
Check that you’ve entered all 11 digits correctly and that your details match your NIN record. If verification is still pending after 24 hours, contact TRCN support rather than repeatedly creating new registrations.
You used the wrong email or your sign-in code never arrives
TRCN provides self-service routes for correcting an email address.
If you’ve already been issued an exam number, use the candidate email-recovery route with your exam number and NIN.
If you haven’t paid yet and don’t have an exam number, use the “Update it with your NIN” option on the candidate registration page instead.
You can’t see where to pay
Check the status of your qualification first. PQE payment only becomes available after TRCN has verified your qualification and set your category. If your application is still awaiting review, the absence of a payment option does not necessarily mean anything is wrong.
What if you trained or live outside Nigeria?
There are two situations that are easy to confuse.
If you’re a Nigerian teacher living abroad, TRCN runs international/diaspora PQE routes. These have their own examination arrangements and substantially higher PQE fees than the domestic exam.
No international PQE is currently open for registration. The amounts below were the fees for 2026 international sittings and are included for guidance rather than as an invitation to register today.
| Category | International PQE fee | Processing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | ₦100,000 | ₦100 | ₦100,100 |
| B | ₦90,000 | ₦100 | ₦90,100 |
| C | ₦80,000 | ₦100 | ₦80,100 |
| D | ₦60,000 | ₦100 | ₦60,100 |
If your qualification itself was obtained outside Nigeria, you follow TRCN’s foreign-trained teacher process. TRCN’s current guidance says the foreign certificate must first be regularised by the Federal Ministry of Education. Additional documentation and verification requirements apply, and documents not in English need to be translated.
Official information for foreign-trained teachersAlready have a TRCN certificate?
If you’re already registered with TRCN and hold a printed certificate, don’t register for the PQE again just because you’ve never used the new online portal.
TRCN provides a separate Claim your TRCN certificate service that can link a historical record to the online system. Records can be searched using details including a registration number, certificate number, NIN or, for older records, name and date of birth.
Claim an existing TRCN recordIf you already have an online teacher account, simply sign in instead.
Register with TRCN, not an agent
Official PQE registration takes place through TRCN’s own candidate portal, and payment is handled through the official process.
Be cautious about anyone on WhatsApp, Facebook or elsewhere asking you to hand over your NIN, sign-in codes or payment details so they can “register you”, or anyone promising that they can guarantee you a pass.
TRCN Pass will never take a PQE registration payment from you.
Need help from TRCN?
If a problem can’t be solved through the candidate portal, TRCN’s support system is the best place to raise it. A support ticket also gives you a record of the issue and TRCN’s response.
- Online
- trcn.gov.ng/support
- Phone
- +234 905 446 8360
- Hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm WAT
- In person
- You can also visit your nearest TRCN state office.
When the problem concerns a payment, keep your RRR. If you’ve already been issued an exam number, include that too.
Open a TRCN support ticketRegistered? Now get ready for the PQE
Once your application and payment are complete, you can move on to the exam itself.