The Higher Education Commission (HEC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication (MoITT), PSEB, Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), and the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC), has undertaken a structured consultative process to address the industry–academia skill gap. This initiative is centered on aligning computing education with industry needs, enhancing assessment credibility, and improving graduate employability.

The Virtual University of Pakistan (VU) shall serve as the testing body for conducting the computer-based test. Coordination, verification, and facilitation shall be carried out through a Secretariat established at NCEAC, under the oversight of HEC, MoITT, PSEB, and P@SHA.

Eligibility Criteria

All students enrolled in the 7^th and 8^th semesters of Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and other relevant computing programs at HEC-recognized universities shall be eligible.

Competency Areas to be Assessed

The test shall be based on industry-endorsed competency areas, finalised through a dedicated Technical Committee led by P@SHA, comprising representatives from industry, academia, accreditation bodies, and relevant stakeholders. The finalised Competency Areas are available on the following link:

Areas of Competencies for National Skills Competency Test

Schedule of Test

The test is scheduled to be conducted on April 04–05, 2026.