Overview
The NSTB skill test is Nepal's national test of practical, job-level skill in a specific occupation, such as electrician, plumber, tailor, barber, cook or mason. It is run by the National Skill Testing Board (NSTB), which works under Nepal's Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). Candidates who pass receive a National Skill Certificate for that occupation and level.
NSTB began in 1983 as the Skill Testing Authority and was placed under CTEVT in 1989. Its site now also uses the name National Vocational Qualification and Skill Testing Board. The test assesses what a person can do, however they learned it: through a training course, on the job, in a family trade, or while working abroad. NSTB has written skill standards for several hundred occupations, each set at a particular level.
Who can apply
NSTB's skill test page gives these entry routes for each level. Each route is an alternative, so you need to meet only one.
| Level | Routes to apply |
|---|---|
| Elementary | Completed 160 hours of vocational training in the occupation |
| Level 1 | Literate, with at least 1 year of work experience in the occupation; or completed 3 months (390 hours) of vocational training in it |
| Level 2 | Literate, with at least 3 years of work experience; or 1 year of training (at least 600 hours theory and 800 hours practical); or 1 year of work experience after passing Level 1 in the same occupation |
| Level 3 | Literate, with at least 5 years of work experience; or 2 years of work experience after 1 year of training; or 1 year of work experience after passing Level 2 in the same occupation |
| Level 4 | Listed for Ophthalmic Assistant only, after Level 3 or an equivalent ophthalmology certificate, plus 3 years of experience and 1 year of training |
The 2026 application round has slightly different minimums for Levels 1 and 2. It was announced in a notice dated 2083-04-21 in the Bikram Sambat calendar (August 2026):
Level 1: at least 1 year of work experience in the occupation, or 6 months of work experience together with training in it.
Level 2: at least 3 years of work experience, or a Level 1 pass in the occupation plus 1 year of work experience.
Only work experience gained after age 16 counts.
That round was open to Nepali citizens with work experience, including people who are self-employed and people who have returned from working abroad.
Exam pattern
The skill test is mainly a practical performance test, marked against the occupation's skill standard. The FAQ says it can include written and practical parts. NSTB's sample test for a Level 1 brick layer/mason runs about 4 hours 15 minutes:
Practical tasks (about 4 hours): for example, preparing the site, mixing mortar, and building a wall to a drawing.
Oral questions (15 minutes): questions about the trade, answered aloud.
A tripartite panel marks the test. Its assessors come from three sides: employers, training providers and professional organisations. They follow checklists, and the pass mark is shown as "standard met" rather than a numeric score.
You bring your own hand tools. In the 2026 notice, barber and beautician candidates must also bring their own materials and models.
Syllabus
There is no common syllabus. Each occupation has its own skill standard (an Occupational Skill Standard, Occupational Profile or National Occupational Skill Standard). It lists the tasks a worker at that level must be able to do. The skill standard list on the NSTB site shows each occupation's sector and level, so check the standard for your trade and level before you apply.
Marking and results
Candidates are marked as meeting or not meeting the standard. NSTB's certification unit prepares the results, the board approves them, and NSTB then publishes them and issues certificates. The FAQ says a certificate can be issued within about one month of the test.
Important dates
NSTB runs testing rounds through the year and announces each one in a notice on its website. In the 2026 round, application forms were due at the chosen centre by 2083-05-10 BS (late August 2026). Candidates are told the test date, time and place by SMS. They collect their admit card in person from the same centre on the day before the test. The Test Management Unit page says tests are usually held within about 1 week of applying in the Kathmandu valley and within 3 weeks outside it.
Fees
Fees from the 2026 application notice:
| Level | Regular fee | Concession fee |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Rs 500 | Rs 400 |
| Level 2 | Rs 1,200 | Rs 700 |
Women, Dalits, Janajatis, persons with disabilities and other groups named by the Government of Nepal pay the concession fee. Everyone except women must show a certifying document from the relevant authority. After passing, candidates pay Rs 150 to receive the skill certificate and a skill identity card.
How to apply
Download the notice and application form from the NSTB website, or collect them from a listed centre. Centres operate in all seven provinces.
Choose one occupation and one level. You can apply for only one at a time.
Attach two identical recent passport-size photos, your citizenship certificate, and proof of training or experience:
Training: a certificate from a CTEVT constituent, partner or affiliated institute, or from a government ministry or department.
Experience: a letter from a government or semi-government body, or from a private employer registered for VAT or PAN, giving the period you worked in the occupation.
If you are applying for Level 2 after passing Level 1, add your Level 1 certificate and an experience letter.
If you have returned from working abroad, add an experience letter from your foreign employer, translated into English if it is in another language, plus copies of your passport and visa.
If you have taken an NSTB test before, give your earlier registration number and tick the retest box on the form.
Submit the form and pay the fee at the centre before the deadline. Incomplete or late forms are cancelled. A test in an occupation goes ahead only if at least three applications for it are approved.
After the exam
Passing candidates receive a National Skill Certificate for the occupation and level. NSTB says employers and government bodies in Nepal recognise it, and that it can help people going abroad for work to be accepted as skilled workers. A Level 1 pass, plus one year of work experience, is one route into Level 2 in the same occupation, and the same pattern leads from Level 2 to Level 3.
Preparation tips
Read the skill standard for your occupation and level, and practise each listed task until you can do it without help.
Work through NSTB's sample performance tests to get used to the timed, task-by-task format.
Prepare to explain what you are doing and why, because the test can include oral questions.
Check your own hand tools before test day, and make sure your experience letters clearly state your dates of work.
FAQs
Is the NSTB skill test from Bhutan or Nepal?
Nepal. The National Skill Testing Board is part of Nepal's CTEVT and is based in Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur. Bhutan's vocational qualifications are run separately under its own framework.
Do I need formal training to take the test?
No. At each level you can qualify through work experience alone, as long as you have enough years in the occupation. Training shortens the experience you need.
Can I apply for two occupations at once?
No. The 2026 notice allows one occupation and one level per application.
What happens if not enough people apply for my occupation?
Under the 2026 notice, the test in an occupation is not held if fewer than three applications for it are approved.