BSc, HND, ND Holders Can Now Apply for FG’s 6-Month Teacher Certification Programme

The Federal Government has opened applications for a six-month teacher certification programme aimed at helping Nigerians who are already teaching but do not have professional teaching qualifications. The programme is known as the Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP).

According to information released by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), applications for the first batch of the programme are currently open and will close on September 18, 2026. The initiative is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education in partnership with the National Teachers’ Institute and TRCN.

The programme is designed for non-professional teachers working in public and private schools, as well as community instructors and volunteer educators who already have academic qualifications but lack formal teacher training. Applicants must have at least 24 months of classroom teaching experience.

Who can apply?

Holders of a bachelor’s degree or HND in a non-education field can apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) pathway. The programme runs for six months, consisting of four months of coursework and two months of supervised teaching practice.

ND and OND holders who are currently teaching can apply through the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) pathway, which also lasts six months and combines classroom learning with practical teaching experience.

Documents required

Applicants are expected to provide:

Valid National Identification Number (NIN)
Academic certificate
Evidence of teaching experience
Valid email address
Phone number
Acceptable proof of teaching experience includes appointment letters, employer attestations or other records showing active involvement in teaching.

What happens after completion?

Participants who successfully complete the programme, pass their teaching practice and meet all assessment requirements will be eligible to sit for the TRCN Professional Qualifying Examination.

Successful candidates can then register as professional teachers under the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

The programme fee is listed at ₦200,000 per participant, according to details on the ATPP platform.