How to Register for JAMB UTME: A Step-by-Step Guide

By JAMB Advisor Editorial · 11 Nov 2026

Registering for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is the first official step towards admission into a Nigerian university, polytechnic or college of education. Most problems candidates face later — wrong subject combination, a missing O'Level result, a typo in a name — start at registration. This guide walks you through the process in order so you get it right the first time.

JAMB announces registration dates, fees and any changes to the process every year. Always confirm the current details on JAMB's official website and social media pages before you pay for anything.

Before you start: what you need

Gather these before you go anywhere:

  • Your National Identification Number (NIN). JAMB uses your NIN to create your profile. Your name on the NIN record must match the name you want on your admission documents. If it is wrong, correct it with NIMC first — fixing it later is much harder.
  • A working phone number that is not linked to another candidate's JAMB profile. JAMB sends your profile code and other messages to it.
  • A personal email address you can log in to.
  • Your O'Level details, or proof that you are awaiting results.
  • Your choice of course and institutions, already checked against the course's UTME subject requirements.

Step 1: Create your JAMB profile and get a profile code

You create your JAMB profile by sending your NIN by SMS to the official JAMB short code published in the registration notice. JAMB replies with a profile code — a 10-character code you will use to buy your registration PIN. Keep the message; you will need it again.

If you do not receive a code, make sure you used the exact format in JAMB's notice and that the phone number is not already used by another profile.

Step 2: Buy your e-PIN from an approved channel

Use your profile code to buy the registration e-PIN through JAMB's approved payment channels (banks, approved online platforms and accredited vendors listed by JAMB). The PIN is sent to the phone number on your profile.

Never buy a PIN from someone who asks for your password or offers a "special" PIN. There is only one kind.

Step 3: Register at an accredited CBT centre

Take your PIN, NIN slip and O'Level details to a JAMB-accredited CBT centre. There, your details are entered and your fingerprints and photograph are captured. This biometric record is what admits you into the exam hall later, so make sure the capture is clear.

During registration you will choose:

  1. Your four UTME subjects. Use of English is compulsory for everyone. The other three depend on the course you want — this is the single most important choice you make. Read our guide to choosing the right subject combination before you go.
  2. Your course and institutions. Pick choices you have actually researched. Your first-choice institution matters most, because that is the school that will consider you first.
  3. Whether you want to sit the optional mock UTME, if JAMB is running one that year.

Check every screen before you confirm. Ask the centre to show you a preview.

Step 4: Print and check your registration slip

After registration you receive a registration slip showing your name, subjects, course and institutions. Check it immediately:

  • Is your name spelled exactly as on your NIN?
  • Are the four subjects correct for your course?
  • Are your course and institutions correct?

If anything is wrong, raise it at once. Some details can only be changed through JAMB's correction process, which may cost money and has deadlines.

Step 5: Print your exam slip

A few weeks before the exam, JAMB opens the printing of exam slips. The slip shows your exam date, time and centre. Print it and visit the centre before the exam day so you know how long the journey takes.

Common registration mistakes

  • Choosing subjects that do not match the course. If your UTME subjects do not meet the course requirement, you will not be admitted to that course no matter how high your score is.
  • Using an agent's phone number or email. You will lose access to messages and your profile.
  • A name mismatch between NIN, O'Level and JAMB records. This causes delays at admission and when you print your admission letter.
  • Ignoring O'Level requirements. A high UTME score does not replace a missing credit in English or Mathematics.
  • Paying for "upgrades" or "special centres". These are scams. JAMB results cannot be bought.

After registration

Use the time before the exam well:

  • Study with the official JAMB syllabus for each of your subjects.
  • Practise in a timed computer-based environment so the CBT format is not new on exam day.
  • Track your plan — subjects, choices and key dates — in one place.

You can confirm your subject combination with our subject checker and practise timed questions in CBT practice.

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