Register a school or college as a KNEC examination centre
Kenya National Examinations Council · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Apply through your Sub-County Director of Education at least a year before you plan to register candidates, with your full Ministry of Education registration certificate and KNEC's centre application form. A KCSE centre needs at least 15 candidates.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Through your Sub-County Director of Education, who forwards the application to KNEC
What you need
- Full registration certificate from the Ministry of Education
- KNEC application form for a new examination centre
- Inspection questionnaire and report from the Sub-County Director of Education or KNEC
- Business and technical exam centres: a report from TVETA
Steps
- Apply to KNEC through your Sub-County Director of Education, at least one year before you plan to register candidates.
- Fill in KNEC's centre application form with your school's details. The Sub-County Director of Education completes Part II of the form.
- The Sub-County Director of Education or KNEC inspects the school and sends a questionnaire and report with recommendations.
- Once approved, register your candidates on the KNEC registration portal using your centre password.
Watch out
- Minimum candidates per centre: 15 for KCPE/KCSE and foreign exams, 10 for business, technical and teacher exams. Below that, your candidates sit at another centre.
- Moving to new premises? You must ask KNEC to inspect the centre again.
- KNEC says the last KCSE series will be in 2027. After that, exams move to the competency-based system.
Who can apply
- Schools and colleges registered by the Ministry of Education. For KCSE, secondary schools registered under the Education Act.
Official sources (4)
- Registration Of Centres knec.ac.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Revised Regulations for the KCSE Examination (2024) knec.ac.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Application for Approval as a KCSE Examination Centre (form KNEC/EA/EM/KCSE/REG/PLC/07/2019/REV 4.0) knec.ac.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Guidelines on Administration of the 2026 KCSE Qualifying Test (KNEC/GEN/EA/EMS/QT/KCSE/REG/2026/011, 18 June 2026) knec.ac.ke · read 3 Oct 2026