National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ/NCE)

The National Qualification in Journalism (NQJ) is the NCTJ’s professional senior qualification that examines all-round competence in a range of essential journalism skills.

The NQJ replaces the National Certificate Examination (NCE) for reporters. This follows a two-year process of review, consultation and revision.

The NCE qualification is currently available for press photographers and photojournalists, sports reporters and sub-editors and is under review for these disciplines.

To be eligible to sit the NQJ, trainees must:

  • be registered with the NCTJ - please visit the Registrations page for more information
  • have achieved a grade C or above in all the Diploma in Journalism exams and 100wpm shorthand
  • have undertaken a period of 18 months’ full-time employment on a newspaper or news agency (Johnston Press trainees are required to undertake 24 months)
  • ensure that results in media law and public affairs exams are not more than five years old.

Once registered, candidates are sent a letter with a proposed NQJ date. This is the earliest date for sitting. The candidate’s logbook is also sent at this time (a new electronic version of the logbook is currently in development and will be available shortly).

Registered candidates will need to complete an enrolment form to sit the NQJ. The enrolment form is available to download from the website approximately nine weeks prior to the exam date.

The NCTJ offers NQJ refresher courses, which feature useful hints and tips for the exam day itself and practical experience, with feedback, on all sections of the qualification. For more information on NQJ refresher workshops, please click here.

Candidates can download a sample exam and marking guide for 'media law and practice' and the new style 'news report' exam from the related documents section of this page.

NQJ FOR REPORTERS

The National Qualification in Journalism for reporters will be held on the following dates in 2013:

  • 8 March
  • 5 July
  • 8 November

Please contact the NCTJ for further details about dates for the NCE for sub-editors and sports reporters.

NCE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

The National Certificate Examination for photographers is scheduled for the following date in 2013:

  • 28 May
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