The College of Nursing Sciences, Birnin-Kebbi (KBCONS), formerly known as the Kebbi State School of Nursing and Midwifery, is a state-owned health training institution located in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. It was established in 2002 and was originally accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to run basic nursing and basic midwifery training. In 2021, the school was upgraded to full college status and received joint accreditation from the NMCN and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which allows it to now run National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in Nursing in addition to its original basic-level programmes.
The college operates under the motto “Service to Humanity” and trains students to become registered nurses and midwives who meet national and global standards of practice. This article explains every programme offered at the college, the school fees payable for each category of student, and the full admission requirements candidates need to meet before applying.
Programmes Offered at KBCONS
The college runs six distinct categories of programmes, each targeting a different stage of a nursing or midwifery career. Understanding the differences between them matters because eligibility, duration, and fees vary from one programme to another.
ND/HND Nursing
This is a four-year uninterrupted programme structured in two stages. The first stage is the ND Nursing programme, which runs for two years and is non-terminal, meaning graduates proceed directly into the two-year HND stage rather than exiting with a standalone qualification. By the end of the full four-year cycle, a candidate graduates as a Registered Nurse with an additional nursing specialty option, before proceeding for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Basic Nursing
This is a three-year programme delivered across six semesters. It trains students in practical nursing skills and clinical experience needed to become certified nursing professionals who can practice both independently and as part of a healthcare team.
Basic Midwifery
Also a three-year, six-semester programme, Basic Midwifery is approved by the NMCN and trains competent midwifery professionals equipped to serve communities, with an emphasis on improving maternal health outcomes and reducing pregnancy-related complications.
Post Basic Nursing and Post Basic Midwifery
These are conversion programmes designed for practitioners who already hold one qualification and want the other. Each programme runs for 18 months across three academic semesters. Applicants into Post Basic Nursing must already be registered midwives, and applicants into Post Basic Midwifery must already be registered nurses. In both cases, the candidate must hold a current, active NMCN practicing licence.
Community Nursing
This is a two-year programme aimed at producing a community-based cadre of nursing practitioners. Graduates typically return to serve in their home communities and existing community health facilities, delivering front-line nursing care at the grassroots level.
Community Midwifery
Also a two-year programme, Community Midwifery prepares a lower cadre of skilled midwifery practitioners who provide services to individuals and families primarily in homes and Primary Health Care centres within rural communities.
| Programme | Duration | Entry Point |
|---|---|---|
| ND/HND Nursing | 4 years (2+2) | Direct entry after O’Level/UTME |
| Basic Nursing | 3 years (6 semesters) | Direct entry after O’Level |
| Basic Midwifery | 3 years (6 semesters) | Direct entry after O’Level |
| Post Basic Nursing | 18 months | Registered midwives only |
| Post Basic Midwifery | 18 months | Registered nurses only |
| Community Nursing | 2 years | Direct entry after O’Level |
| Community Midwifery | 2 years | Direct entry after O’Level |
Admission Requirements
General O’Level Requirements
For the Basic Nursing, Basic Midwifery, Community Nursing, Community Midwifery, and ND/HND Nursing programmes, every applicant must hold a minimum of five credit passes obtained in not more than two sittings. The five subjects required are:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
These credits must come from any of the recognised examination bodies: the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO), or the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
Age Requirement
Candidates applying for the Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes must be at least 17 years old at the point of application. Applicants who do not meet this minimum age are not considered for admission, regardless of how strong their academic credentials are.
ND/HND Nursing Specific Requirements
Because the ND/HND Nursing track is run under NBTE accreditation alongside NMCN approval, candidates applying to this track generally also need to register for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and select the college where applicable, in addition to meeting the same five-credit O’Level requirement listed above. Prospective ND/HND applicants should confirm the current UTME subject combination and cut-off mark directly with the college’s admission office each session, since polytechnic-style nursing programmes of this kind can adjust their score benchmarks from one academic year to the next.
Requirements for Post Basic Programmes
Candidates applying for Post Basic Nursing must already hold registration as a midwife with the NMCN, and candidates applying for Post Basic Midwifery must already hold registration as a nurse with the NMCN. In both cases, the college additionally expects the applicant to present a current, valid practicing licence, and, going by standard practice for post-basic conversion programmes of this nature, a minimum number of years of relevant working experience after initial registration.
How to Apply
Admission into KBCONS follows an online application process rather than manual submission of forms. The steps are:
- Visit the college’s official application portal.
- Register and generate a payment reference for the applicable application fee.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee into the designated Kebbi State Treasury Single Account (TSA) — cash payments and payments into personal or individual accounts are not accepted.
- Complete the online application form with your bio-data, O’Level results, and any programme-specific documents required (such as an NMCN practicing licence for post-basic applicants).
- Submit the form before the stated deadline and await notification of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) or screening date.
Application fees differ by programme category. Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery applicants typically pay around ₦6,500, while Post Basic Nursing and Post Basic Midwifery applicants pay a higher fee of around ₦10,500, reflecting the additional verification of professional registration required for post-basic candidates. These figures can shift slightly from one admission cycle to the next, so applicants should always confirm the exact current amount on the college’s application portal before making payment.
School Fees at KBCONS
School fees at the college are charged per session and are paid after a candidate has been offered admission, which is separate from the non-refundable application fee paid at the point of applying. Based on the most recent published fee structure, indigenes of Kebbi State pay a considerably lower tuition rate than candidates who are not indigenes of the state, which is standard practice across state-owned nursing and midwifery colleges in Nigeria.
| Fee Type | Approximate Amount | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Application/registration fee (Basic programmes) | ₦6,500 | Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery applicants |
| Application/registration fee (Post Basic programmes) | ₦10,500 | Post Basic Nursing and Post Basic Midwifery applicants |
| School/tuition fee | ₦40,000 | Kebbi State indigenes, per session |
| School/tuition fee | ₦70,000 | Non-indigenes of Kebbi State, per session |
These tuition figures exclude other compulsory charges that students typically pay alongside school fees, which commonly include an acceptance fee for newly admitted students, identity card and departmental registration charges, clinical posting or uniform fees, library fees, and examination charges set by the NMCN or NBTE depending on the programme. Because nursing and midwifery training involves supervised clinical postings in hospitals and community health facilities, students should also budget for transportation, uniforms, and basic clinical equipment such as a stethoscope, which are not always included in the published tuition figure.
Fees at KBCONS are paid per session rather than as a single lump sum for the entire programme duration, and payment is made through designated banks or the state’s approved payment channels rather than directly to any individual staff member. Applicants and newly admitted students are strongly advised to avoid making any payment into a personal account, as the college’s own guidance identifies this as a common route through which prospective students lose money to impersonators.
Why the College Matters for Nursing Training in Kebbi State
KBCONS plays a central role in producing nursing and midwifery manpower for Kebbi State’s public health system. Its dual accreditation by the NMCN and NBTE means graduates of its ND/HND Nursing track leave with a nationally recognised diploma that satisfies both technical education standards and professional nursing registration requirements. This dual pathway is part of why the college attracts applicants not only from Kebbi State but from neighbouring states in Nigeria’s North West region as well, even though non-indigenes pay a higher tuition rate than indigenes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the school fee at College of Nursing Sciences, Birnin-Kebbi?
Indigenes of Kebbi State pay around ₦40,000 per session, while non-indigenes pay around ₦70,000 per session, excluding other compulsory charges such as acceptance and departmental fees.
What subjects are required for admission into KBCONS?
Applicants need five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained in not more than two sittings from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB.
Can I apply for Post Basic Nursing without a midwifery licence?
No. Post Basic Nursing is reserved for candidates who are already registered midwives with the NMCN and hold a current practicing licence. Post Basic Midwifery works the same way in reverse, requiring existing nurse registration.
Is there an age limit for admission?
Yes, for the Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes, applicants must be at least 17 years old at the time of application.
Does ND Nursing lead automatically into HND at KBCONS?
Yes. The ND/HND Nursing track is a single, non-terminal four-year pathway; graduates of the two-year ND stage proceed directly into the two-year HND stage rather than exiting with the ND alone.