NABTEB sets the NBC (National Business Certificate) and NTC (National Technical Certificate) — O’level qualifications equivalent to WAEC and NECO SSCE, built around 40 business and technical trades. This site lists the full NABTEB subject combination and trade code for every trade, so you know exactly which papers you will sit.
Start with your trade below, or read the guides: registration fee & deadlines · NBC vs NTC · grading system · Nov/Dec 2026 timetable.
Engineering trades
- Agricultural Equipment and Implement Mechanic Works (010)
- Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works (020)
- Automobile Electrical Works (030)
- Electrical Installation and Maintenance Works (040)
- Fabrication and Welding (050)
- Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice (060)
- Electronics Works (070)
- Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Works (080)
- Vehicle Body Building (090)
- Light Vehicle Repair Works (100)
- Instrument Mechanics Works (110)
- Appliance Maintenance and Repairs (120)
- Foundry Craft Practice (130)
- Marine Engineering Craft (150)
- Ship Building Craft Practice (160)
- Computer Craft Studies (170)
- Animal Husbandry (180)
- Fisheries (200)
- Photographic Practice (400)
Construction trades
- Blocklaying, Bricklaying and Concreting (210)
- Carpentry and Joinery (220)
- Furniture Making (230)
- Machine Wood Working (240)
- Painting and Decorating (250)
- Plumbing and Pipe-Fitting (260)
- Draughtmanship Craft Practice (270)
Business trades
- Secretarial Duties (410)
- Book-Keeping (420)
- Salesmanship (430)
- Tourism (440)
Garment, craft and service trades
- Men’s Garment Making (320)
- Ladies Garment Making (330)
- Cosmetology (310)
- Catering Craft Practice (340)
- Leather Trade (350)
- Printing Craft Practice (360)
- Textile Trade (370)
- Graphic Arts (380)
- Ceramics (390)
When are NABTEB exams written?
Twice a year. The May/June exam is for in-school candidates (registration on mayjune.nabteb.gov.ng); the Nov/Dec exam is for external and private candidates (novdec.nabteb.gov.ng). Both lead to the same NBC/NTC certificates. See the registration guide for current fees and deadlines.
How many subjects will I write?
Most NABTEB candidates sit between 7 and 9 subjects, depending on the trade. For technical trades, NABTEB’s official entry guide makes English Language (O01), Mathematics (O02), Physics (O04) and Chemistry (O05) compulsory, alongside your trade-related and trade group papers.
How electives work
Electives listed for technical candidates are ICT (O08), Economics (O03) and Literature-in-English (O07). Two special rules from the entry guide: Biology is permitted only for Catering Craft Practice, Ladies and Men’s Garment Making, Cosmetology, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry; and Introduction to Building Construction (211) is compulsory for carpentry, painting, plumbing and draughtsmanship trades. Pick electives that feed your next step — Economics if you are heading for business courses, ICT for computing.
More reading
Writing UTME as well? Read why most candidates fail JAMB — and what to do about it.