National Certificate Examination

Autumn Paul Johnson 010

Picture: An illustration of Autumn by NCTJ-trained photographer Paul Johnson.

 

The National Certificate Examination (NCE) is currently available in four disciplines:

 

  • Reporters
  • Press photographers and photojournalists
  • Sub-editors
  • Sports reporters

 

The NCE is the professional senior qualification offered by the NCTJ that examines all-round competence in a range of fundamental skills.

 

To be eligible to sit the NCE, trainees must:

 

  • be registered with the NCTJ - please visit the Registrations page for more information
  • have achieved a grade C or above in the preliminary exams (Certificate or Diploma)
  • 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 law and public affairs exams are not more than five years old

 

Once registered, candidates are sent a letter with a proposed NCE date. This is the earliest date for sitting. The candidate’s logbook is also sent at this time.

 

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

 

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

 

NCE FOR REPORTERS, SUB-EDITORS AND SPORTS REPORTERS

 

National Certificate Examinations for reporters, sub-editors and sports reporters will be held on the following dates in 2012:

 

  • 9 March
  • 6 July
  • 9 November

 

NCE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

 

National Certificate Examinations for photographers will be held on the following dates in 2012:

 

  • 22 May - tbc