JAMB Direct Entry 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Direct Entry is for candidates who already hold an OND, HND, NCE, A-Level, or degree and want to enter university at 200 level. This guide covers who qualifies, how registration works, and what to do after.

What Is JAMB Direct Entry?

Direct Entry lets candidates with certain qualifications skip 100 level and apply directly into 200 level at a Nigerian university, polytechnic, or college of education.

It is not a shortcut around JAMB. You still register through JAMB, still go through the full process, and still go through your school's screening. The difference is that your qualification replaces the UTME exam. You do not write the exam. Everything else still applies.

One important thing to know upfront: Direct Entry registration is done at a JAMB office, not a CBT centre. This is different from UTME registration. Make sure you are going to the right place.

Registered for UTME and now want to switch to Direct Entry?

You cannot register for UTME and Direct Entry at the same time. But there is a way to convert.

If you have already registered for UTME, you must write the exam first. Once you have written it, JAMB allows you to convert your UTME registration to Direct Entry. If you do not write the exam before trying to convert, it will not work.

If you are in this situation and not sure what to do next, send us a message. We will tell you exactly where you stand and what steps to take.

Ask About Converting to Direct Entry

Who Qualifies for Direct Entry?

You must hold at least one of the following:

OND (Ordinary National Diploma), Upper or Lower Credit
HND (Higher National Diploma)
NCE (Nigeria Certificate in Education), Merit or Distinction
First Degree from a recognised Nigerian or foreign university
A-Level certificate from IJMB, JUPEB, NABTEB (ANBC or ANTC), or Cambridge
International Baccalaureate (foreign certificates only)

You must also have:

A minimum of 5 O'Level credit passes in WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, at not more than two sittings
A birth certificate or age declaration
A Local Government Identification Certificate

One thing to check before you register: not every school accepts every qualification. The University of Ibadan does not accept IJMB or JUPEB for Direct Entry. If your qualification falls into that kind of category, confirm your specific school accepts it before you spend money registering.

There are other school-specific restrictions like this that are not always easy to find. Before you spend money on registration, it is worth confirming that your qualification, your school, and your course all line up correctly.

That is something we can help you verify before you register. Send us a message.

Ask Before You Register

How to Register for Direct Entry

Step 1: Create your profile code

Send NIN, then a space, then your 11-digit NIN to 55019. Example: NIN 12345678901. JAMB will reply with your profile code. If you registered with JAMB in a previous year, send RESEND to 55019 from the same number you used before and JAMB will send it back to you.

Step 2: Get your DE e-PIN

The Direct Entry e-PIN is different from the UTME e-PIN. The DE e-PIN costs ₦8,500. Buy it from an approved bank, NIPOST office, a licensed mobile money agent or Gift Consult. Tell them specifically you want a Direct Entry e-PIN. If you arrive at the JAMB office with a UTME e-PIN, you cannot register.

Step 3: Go to a JAMB office

Direct Entry registration is done at a JAMB office, not a CBT centre. Bring your profile code, your DE e-PIN, your qualifying certificate, your O'Level result, and a recent passport photograph. The officer will take your biometrics, photograph, and complete your registration.

Step 4: Collect your registration slip

After registration, you receive a slip with your registration number. Keep it safe. You will need it for everything that follows.

Step 5: Upload your credentials

Your qualifying certificate needs to be uploaded to JAMB CAPS after registration. You cannot do this from home. Go to an accredited JAMB CBT centre and they will handle it for you. If you are using A-Level results from IJMB, JUPEB, or a similar body, your awarding institution also needs to send verification directly to JAMB. Contact them immediately after registration and ask them to do this. If they do not send it before the portal closes, your registration will be incomplete.

Getting your DE e-PIN from the wrong source can cost you your registration.

The Direct Entry e-PIN can only be used once. If you buy from a roadside vendor or an unverified online seller and the PIN turns out to be invalid or already used, your registration cannot go through. The DE registration window is shorter than UTME. You have less time to recover from that kind of mistake.

But the PIN is only one part. Before you use it, you need to be sure your qualification is accepted at your target school, your course requirements match, and you are registering within the right deadline window. Getting the PIN from us means we confirms all of that with you before you walk into the JAMB office.

Gift Consult sells genuine Direct Entry e-PINs at the official JAMB rate through approved channels.

Price: ₦8,500

Get Your DE e-PIN and Verify Your Details

What Direct Entry Candidates Get Wrong

Assuming their qualification is accepted everywhere

JAMB sets the general requirements but every school adds its own on top. Some schools do not accept IJMB. Some require a minimum CGPA for OND or HND candidates. Some require a transcript before they will even consider your application. Registering without confirming your school's specific DE requirements is one of the most common ways DE candidates lose their admission.

Buying the wrong e-PIN

The Direct Entry e-PIN is sold separately from the UTME e-PIN. Some candidates arrive at the JAMB office with a UTME e-PIN and cannot register. Others buy from unverified sources and get a PIN that does not work.

Going to a CBT centre instead of a JAMB office

DE registration is done at a JAMB office. CBT centres handle UTME registration. Showing up at the wrong place wastes your time and can waste your e-PIN if it gets processed incorrectly.

Not getting their certificate verified on time

Candidates using A-Level qualifications from IJMB, JUPEB, or similar bodies need their awarding institution to send verification to JAMB. Many candidates do not know this step exists. If it is not done before the portal closes, the registration is incomplete.

Missing the school form deadline

After DE registration, each school opens and closes its own application form at its own time. Some close in under two weeks. If you are not actively watching, you miss them.

Not accepting their admission offer in time

When your name appears on an admission list, you have a limited window to log in to JAMB CAPS and accept the offer. Most schools give about four weeks. Miss it and the slot goes to someone else.