NABTEB sets the NBC (National Business Certificate) and NTC (National Technical Certificate) — O’level qualifications equivalent to WAEC and NECO SSCE, built around 39 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: result checker, registration fee & deadlines · NBC vs NTC · grading system · Nov/Dec 2026 timetable.
NABTEB subject combination at a glance (2026/2027)
Every trade carries English Language (001) and Mathematics (002). The 35 technical trades — engineering, construction, garment, craft and service — add Physics (004) and Chemistry (005); the four business trades add Economics (003). On top of those you sit your trade’s related subjects, then pick electives from your trade’s list. Search the table for your trade, or open it for the full combination with electives.
| Trade (code) | Trade-related subjects | Electives | General education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Equipment and Implement Mechanic Works 010 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works 020 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Automobile Electrical Works 030 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Electrical Installation and Maintenance Works 040 | Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Fabrication and Welding 050 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice 060 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Electronics Works 070 | Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Refrigeration and AirConditioning Works 080 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Vehicle Body Building 090 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Light Vehicle Repair Works 100 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Instrument Mechanics Works 110 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Appliance Maintenance and Repairs 120 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Foundry Craft Practice 130 | General Metal Work 191, General Wood Work 192, Building /Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Marine Engineering Craft 150 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Ship Building Craft Practice 160 | General Metal Work 191, General Wood Work 192, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Computer Craft Studies 170 | Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Animal Husbandry 180 | General Wood Work 192, Biology 006 | 10 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Fisheries 200 | Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Biology 006 | 11 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Blocklaying/Bricklaying and Concreting 210 | Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Carpentry and Joinery 220 | General Wood Work 192, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Furniture Making 230 | General Metal Work 191, General Wood Work 192, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Machine Wood Working 240 | General Wood Work 192, Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Painting and Decorating 250 | General Wood Work 192, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Plumbing and Pipe-Fitting 260 | General Metal Work 191, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Draughtmanship Craft Practice 270 | General Metal Work 191, General Wood Work 192, Building/Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Cosmetology 310 | Basic Electricity 194, Biology 006 | 11 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Men’s Garment Making 320 | Basic Electricity 194, Biology 006 | 11 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Ladies Garment Making 330 | Basic Electricity 194, Biology 006 | 11 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Catering Craft Practice 340 | Basic Electricity 194, Biology 006 | 11 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Leather Trade 350 | Building /Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Printing Craft Practice 360 | Building /Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Textile Trade 370 | Building /Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Graphic Arts 380 | Building /Engineering Drawing 193 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Ceramics 390 | Building /Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Photographic Practice 400 | Building/Engineering Drawing 193, Basic Electricity 194 | 12 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Physics 004, Chemistry 005 |
| Secretarial Duties 410 | Commerce 421 | 11 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Economics 003 |
| Book-Keeping 420 | Commerce 421 | 11 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Economics 003 |
| Salesmanship 430 | Commerce 421 | 11 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Economics 003 |
| Tourism 440 | Commerce 421, Geography 196 | 10 to pick from | English Language 001, Mathematics 002, Economics 003 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Built from each trade page on this site, checked October 2026.
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.