The College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, officially known as the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences (formerly the Taraba State College of Nursing and Midwifery), is the state-owned institution responsible for training nurses and midwives in Taraba State. This article covers the school fees for its programs, the full admission requirements candidates must meet, and the application process for the 2026/2027 academic session and beyond.
About the College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo
The college is located in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, and operates under the regulatory supervision of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), which accredits its nursing and midwifery programs. As a state-owned institution, the college receives subvention from the Taraba State Government, which keeps its tuition significantly lower than what students pay at private nursing schools in Nigeria.
The college trains students for professional certification as Registered Nurses (RN) and Registered Midwives (RM), and its graduates are eligible to sit for the licensing examinations conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria before they can practice professionally in hospitals, clinics, and public health institutions across the country.
Programs Offered at the College
The College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo runs several distinct academic programs, each with its own duration, entry requirements, and target candidates.
General Nursing Programme — a three-year program that trains candidates to become Registered Nurses. This is the primary and most sought-after program at the college, open to secondary school graduates from the science track.
Basic Midwifery Programme — a three-year program for candidates who wish to qualify as Registered Midwives, focused on maternal and child healthcare, antenatal care, and delivery procedures.
Community Midwifery Programme — a shorter program designed to train midwives specifically for community-level healthcare delivery, typically reserved for candidates who meet a set of slightly different entry requirements, including state indigene status in some admission cycles.
Post Basic Nursing Programmes — one-year programs open only to candidates who are already Registered Nurses. These specialized tracks include Accident and Emergency Nursing, Ophthalmic Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, and Community Health Nursing, allowing practicing nurses to specialize further in a particular clinical area.
Post Basic Midwifery Programme — a one-year advanced program for Registered Nurses who want to add midwifery qualification and certification to their professional profile.
School Fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo
School fees at the college are considerably lower than what private nursing schools charge, since the institution is government-subsidized. Based on the fee pattern reported across recent admission cycles, new students should budget within the following ranges.
| Fee Item | Estimated Cost (Per Session) |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Departmental Fees (Fresh Students) | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 |
| Application/Admission Form Fee | ₦8,000 |
| Hostel Accommodation (Self-Contained, Off-Campus/Town) | Approximately ₦120,000 |
| Aptitude Test/Entrance Examination Fee | Included in or charged alongside the application form fee, depending on the admission cycle |
Returning students typically pay a lower amount than fresh students in their first year, since first-year charges usually include one-off costs such as caution fees, medical screening, and identity documentation, which are not repeated in subsequent years. Candidates should treat the figures above as an estimate and confirm the exact current fee structure directly with the college’s bursary or admissions office before making any payment, since state-owned institutions occasionally review fees between academic sessions.
Admission Requirements for the General Nursing Programme
Candidates applying for the General Nursing Programme, the college’s flagship three-year course, must meet the following requirements:
- Possess at least five credit passes in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body), which must include English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
- Obtain these credits in not more than two sittings.
- Be at least 17 years of age at the point of admission.
- Pass the college’s entrance examination, which is typically referred to as an aptitude test and assesses basic literacy, numeracy, and general science knowledge.
- Pass a medical fitness examination, since nursing training involves physically demanding clinical work and direct patient contact.
- Submit a complete application, including a birth certificate or age declaration, credentials, passport photographs, and the required application fee.
Admission Requirements for the Community Midwifery Programme
The Community Midwifery Programme carries slightly different entry conditions from the General Nursing Programme. Candidates applying for this program generally need:
- A minimum of four O’Level credit passes, including English Language and Biology, obtained in not more than two sittings through WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB.
- Confirmation of Taraba State indigene status, since this program has historically prioritized candidates from within the state to strengthen community-level healthcare staffing in Taraba’s local government areas.
Candidates uncertain about which category they fall under should confirm directly with the admissions office, since indigene requirements and credit combinations can be adjusted from one admission cycle to another based on state health workforce needs.
Admission Requirements for Post Basic Programmes
Post Basic Nursing and Post Basic Midwifery programs are not open to fresh secondary school graduates. Eligibility for these one-year specialized programs requires:
- Current registration as a Nurse (for Post Basic Nursing tracks) or as a Nurse seeking midwifery certification (for Post Basic Midwifery).
- A valid practicing license from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
- Any additional clinical experience requirement the specific specialization demands, which candidates should confirm with the department offering that track before applying.
How to Apply
The College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo runs its admission process through an online portal rather than manual paper applications. The general application procedure follows these steps:
- Visit the college’s official admission portal and create an account using a valid email address and phone number.
- Log in with the newly created username and password.
- Make payment for the application form using an ATM card or the payment channel specified on the portal.
- Fill out the application form carefully with accurate personal, academic, and contact details.
- Submit the completed form online and print the payment slip, application form, and acknowledgment letter for personal records.
- Attend the entrance examination on the scheduled date, bringing along original copies of all academic documents for verification, since the college cross-checks credentials physically before candidates are allowed to sit the test.
Because admission form sales open and close within a specific window each cycle, candidates should regularly check the college’s official communication channels for the exact dates for the 2026/2027 session rather than relying on a fixed date from a previous year, since sales periods shift slightly from one session to the next.
What Happens After the Entrance Examination
Candidates who pass the entrance examination proceed to a screening stage that typically includes document verification and, in most nursing colleges in Nigeria, a basic medical fitness assessment. Successful candidates are then issued admission letters and given a payment deadline for their first-session tuition and departmental fees. Missing the payment deadline can result in the offer being withdrawn and given to another qualified candidate on the waiting list, so admitted candidates should treat the payment window as firm rather than flexible.
Career Outlook After Graduation
Graduates of the General Nursing and Basic Midwifery Programmes at the College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo qualify to sit for the licensing examinations conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Once licensed, graduates can practice as Registered Nurses or Registered Midwives in federal and state teaching hospitals, private hospitals and specialist clinics, primary healthcare centers, and public health agencies, including non-governmental organizations working in maternal and child health. Nigerian-trained nurses also frequently pursue international licensing pathways in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, where demand for qualified nursing professionals remains consistently high.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the O’Level requirements for the General Nursing Programme?
Candidates need at least five credits in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained in not more than two sittings.
How much does the application form cost?
The application form typically costs around ₦8,000, payable through the college’s official online portal.
Is the Community Midwifery Programme open to candidates from any state?
Historically, this program has prioritized candidates who are indigenes of Taraba State, though candidates should confirm the current admission cycle’s specific eligibility rules with the college.
Can a non-nurse apply for the Post Basic Nursing programs?
No. Post Basic Nursing and Post Basic Midwifery programs are exclusively open to candidates who already hold valid registration as Nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
What is the minimum age for admission?
Candidates must be at least 17 years old at the point of admission into the General Nursing Programme.
How much should I budget for a full academic session?
Fresh students should budget between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000 for tuition and departmental fees, plus around ₦120,000 more if off-campus, self-contained hostel accommodation is needed.