FG’s ATPP: How 250,000 Nigerian Teachers Can Get Professional Certification
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa
The Federal Government has introduced the Accelerated Teacher Professionalization Pathway (ATPP) to help serving Nigerian teachers without formal teaching qualifications obtain professional credentials and move towards TRCN recognition and licensing.
The programme, coordinated by the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), is expected to reach about 250,000 teachers. It is designed to allow eligible teachers to continue teaching while completing their professional training.
Who Can Benefit?
The ATPP is designed for serving teachers who lack formal professional teaching qualifications, including:
- Teachers with a non-Education bachelor’s degree or HND
- ND/OND holders currently teaching
- Community and volunteer educators
- Teachers working in public, private, TVET and other learning settings.
There are two pathways:
PGDE: For eligible holders of non-Education degrees or HNDs with at least 24 months of teaching experience.
PDE: For eligible ND/OND holders with at least 24 months of teaching experience.
How to Join and Benefit
1. Check your eligibility through the official ATPP portal.
2. Apply for the appropriate pathway—PGDE or PDE.
3. Complete the six-month programme, consisting of four months of hybrid study and two months of supervised teaching practice.
4. Complete the required assessments and teaching practice.
5. Sit and pass the TRCN Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE).
6. Become eligible for TRCN registration at the appropriate category after successfully meeting the programme requirements.
Important Deadline
Cohort 1 applications close September 18, 2026. Teachers interested in benefiting should verify their eligibility and apply through the official ATPP portal.
“Your professional recognition matters.” — Accelerated Teacher Professionalization Pathway
The ATPP is an important opportunity for Nigerian teachers who are already working in classrooms but need formal professional qualifications. Eligible teachers should check the requirements, choose the correct pathway, and complete their application before the current deadline.
