The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has kicked off registration for the November 2026 Business and Technical examinations, calling on training institutions to complete the exercise within the set timelines and ensure every candidate meets the required conditions before submission.
The registration targets learners pursuing technical and vocational courses after completing either primary or secondary education in accredited institutions across the country.
Eligible candidates include those studying in National Polytechnics, Technical Training Institutes (TTIs), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, as well as Vocational Training Centres.
According to KNEC, the entire registration process will be conducted through its online examination portal and must be handled by accredited institutions on behalf of their candidates.
The council has maintained its long-standing position that there will be no late registration window, meaning institutions that fail to complete the process within the specified period risk locking out their candidates.
In guidelines published on its website, KNEC said paying examination fees and entering candidate details into the online system does not automatically complete the registration process.
"All other conditions must also be fulfilled like meeting the minimum entry requirement for a course, for one to be deemed registered for an examination," the council said.
KNEC has also directed heads of institutions to thoroughly verify every candidate's information before forwarding it, saying they will be held accountable for the accuracy and completeness of all registration records.
Institutions have further been instructed to upload passport-size photographs for every candidate through the registration portal. The photographs will be used to confirm candidates' identities during the examination period.
The council also warned repeat candidates against registering for both a referred paper and the next module in the same examination series, saying such combinations will not be accepted.
The Business and Technical examinations are conducted twice every year, in July and November, to assess learners pursuing technical and vocational programmes while preparing them with practical knowledge and workplace skills.
The examinations also offer learners a clear academic progression route, allowing them to move from Certificate level to Diploma and Higher Diploma qualifications.
Candidates who successfully complete Diploma programmes become eligible to apply for degree courses at universities and other recognised institutions of higher learning.
KNEC administers the examinations under the Business and Technical Examinations Programme (BTEP) and the Business and Vocational Training Examinations (BVTET), which examine learners enrolled in technical and professional courses offered by accredited institutions.
The examinations are offered under two categories.
One is the Single and Group category, where candidates sit individual papers and gradually build their qualifications. Once all the required papers have been completed, the results are combined into elementary, intermediate and advanced certificate levels.
Learners who attain the advanced certificate can proceed to Higher Diploma studies or enrol for degree programmes, depending on the admission requirements of their preferred institutions.
The second category is the Artisan level, which focuses mainly on practical competence. Under this pathway, candidates are assessed largely through practical examinations and are awarded certificates, diplomas or higher diplomas after meeting the required standards.
The latest registration exercise comes as the country continues to strengthen technical and vocational education to prepare more skilled workers for manufacturing, industry and other sectors of the economy.