The Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) is administered by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), the federal body under the Ministry of Education established via the TRCN Act CAP T3 of 2004.
The exam format is a computer-based test (CBT) consisting of 60 questions with a 60-minute time limit, typically administered twice a year in May and November. It evaluates candidates across five equal 20% weighted areas: Pedagogy, Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, and Safeguarding.
Registration happens through TRCN’s dedicated candidate CBT portal, a separate flow from general teacher registration that doesn’t require a teacher profile to get started. Verification and registration workflow typically takes 1 to 2 weeks, with results targeted for release within one week post-exam under updated service agreements.
That’s the registration process in five moves. The rest of this guide breaks down exactly what happens at each step, what documents to prepare, and what to expect from the exam itself.
Every teacher in Nigeria, across public and private primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, is legally required to be registered and licensed by TRCN, per the official TRCN Act (CAP T3 of 2004). This includes NCE holders, B.Ed. graduates, and non-education graduates who hold a PGDE or PDE.
The Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) is the qualifying exam that separates having a teaching qualification from being placed on the National Teachers’ Register. Passing the PQE is a mandatory milestone before you can be placed on the National Teachers’ Register and issued a practising certificate.
One of the most common mistakes applicants make is navigating to the wrong web address. TRCN operates two distinct online pathways:
1. The Candidate CBT Portal (teachers.trcn.gov.ng/cbt): Used exclusively for registering to sit the upcoming PQE. You do not need an existing teacher profile to use this page.
2. The General Registration Portal (trcn.gov.ng/registration): Used for full teacher certification, license renewals, and post-exam documentation.
If your immediate goal is to write the exam, start directly on the Candidate CBT Portal.
Head to the TRCN candidate CBT portal and click “Continue.” This is a self-contained candidate flow, and you don’t need to build out a full teacher profile beforehand.
If you’ve already started this process and just need to pick up where you left off, use the “Already started? Continue with your email” option on the same page instead of beginning again.
Enter your full name exactly as it should appear on official records, along with your email address, phone number, and NIN. TRCN uses this information to verify your identity, so accuracy here matters.
Upload your highest qualification certificate. If you’ve completed your programme but haven’t received the physical certificate yet, TRCN allows you to submit your matric number in its place while you wait.
TRCN needs to verify your submitted qualification before payment opens on your account. Your registration category is based on your highest qualification, following TRCN’s four-tier structure:
TRCN’s registration portal lists the general process, from eligibility check through document preparation to payment, as typically taking one to two weeks. It’s worth starting your registration well ahead of your intended exam batch.
Once your qualification is verified and your category confirmed, the portal opens for payment. TRCN’s registration portal includes its own fee calculator so you can generate the exact amount owed for your specific category.
Fee figures reported by third-party education sites vary noticeably depending on when they were published and whether they’re describing the exam fee, the certificate fee, or the licence fee, so this article won’t quote a specific naira amount.
Once payment is reflected, download and save your exam slip.
You can use any convenient payment channel via Remita (Internet banking, USSD, transfer or debit cards). Just ensure you copy the exact reference amount displayed on your portal invoice to prevent automatic payment processing failures.
No. TRCN's candidate CBT portal explicitly states you don't need a teacher profile to register for the exam. The full teacher registration and certification process comes after you've passed the PQE.
If you pass the exam, the next step is the separate teacher registration process at trcn.gov.ng/registration, where you formally apply for your TRCN Certificate and, eventually, your practising licence.
TRCN sends this information by SMS and email at least two weeks before your exam, according to the official PQE curriculum guide.
You can still start your candidate registration using your matric number in place of your certificate, and submit the certificate itself once you receive it.
TRCN’s PQE process has changed meaningfully since the 2025 digital portal launch and curriculum reform, and a lot of older guides online still describe the pre-reform version. Starting your registration on the correct candidate portal, with your documents ready, is the most reliable way to move through this quickly.
