If you scored a D plain or above in KCSE, there is a critical window open right now that you should not miss.
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has reopened its application portal for the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) March 2026 intake. A total of 31 health sciences programmes are available — open to any KCSE candidate who scored Grade D and above and has not yet been placed.
The application portal closes on March 13, 2026. That gives you a narrow window to act.
Who Is This For?
This opportunity targets two groups:
- Students who applied for the January 2026 KMTC intake but were not placed — you now have a second chance.
- Students who have never applied for KMTC — this is your first opportunity for the March intake.
Whether you scored a D plain, D+, C-, or C, there is likely a programme in this intake you qualify for.
Why KMTC Is Worth Serious Consideration
Many students and parents overlook KMTC because of the assumption that a meaningful health career requires a university degree. That is a costly mistake.
KMTC graduates are among the most employed professionals in Kenya. The country has a structural shortage of clinical officers, nurses, laboratory scientists, and community health workers. A diploma from KMTC can lead to:
- Direct government employment through the Ministry of Health or county health departments
- Well-paying positions in NGOs, private hospitals, and international organisations
- A clear upgrade pathway — many universities in Kenya accept KMTC diploma holders into degree programmes
For a student who scored a D or C, KMTC is not a consolation prize. It is often a faster, more practical route to a stable and respected career than waiting for a university placement that may not come.
Full List of Available Programmes
Diploma Courses
- Clinical Medicine and Surgery
- Mortuary Science
- Radiography & Imaging
- Medical Engineering
- Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Health Counselling
- Physiotherapy
- Community Health
- Nutrition & Dietetics
- Medical Social Work
- Health Records and Information Technology
- Orthopaedic & Trauma Medicine
- Emergency Medical Technology
- Public Health
- Orthopaedic Technology
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Community Oral Health
- Optometry
- Dental Technology
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Health Promotion
- Health Insurance Management
Certificate Courses
- Medical Engineering
- Orthopaedic Trauma Medicine
- Health Records and Information Technology
- Health Insurance Management
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Community Health Assistant
- Nutrition & Dietetics
- Public Health
What a D or C Grade Actually Means for Your Options
Let's be direct about what grades mean in Kenya's placement system. University degree programmes typically require a minimum of C plain — some as low as C-. KMTC diploma courses accept students from D plain upward.
But your grade is only one part of the equation. Your actual placement eligibility depends on:
- Cluster subjects — which specific subjects you sat and the grade in each
- Cluster points — each KMTC programme calculates a score from your best relevant subjects
- Cut-off points — the minimum cluster score that changes each intake and campus
A student with a D+ who sat Biology, Chemistry, and English could score enough cluster points for Clinical Medicine or Pharmacy. A student with a C could comfortably qualify for most of the 31 available programmes.
The grade on your certificate is a starting point — not the final word.
How to Apply — Step by Step
- Visit www.kuccps.ac.ke
- Click Student's Portal in the menu
- Log in using your KCSE index number and password
- Click View KMTC Programmes to browse available courses
- Click the Application tab
- Select your preferred programmes and complete the submission
The portal closes on March 13, 2026. Submit your application well before that date to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Know Your Cluster Points Before You Apply
One of the most common and costly mistakes students make is applying for a programme without knowing whether their cluster points are competitive — or settling for a lower programme when they actually qualify for something better.
KMTC uses a cluster point system that combines your grades in specific subject combinations for each programme. Your mean grade is a rough guide, but it is not what KUCCPS uses to rank you.
Use the free Orbit Careers Calculator to check your exact cluster points for every KMTC programme in under two minutes. It shows you exactly which programmes you qualify for based on your actual KCSE results — so you can apply with confidence.
The Bigger Picture
KUCCPS reopening this intake is not routine housekeeping. It reflects a deliberate government push to close Kenya's healthcare worker gap. The country needs clinical officers, community health workers, pharmacists, and medical laboratory scientists at a scale that universities alone cannot produce.
For students who scored lower grades and worry their options are limited, this reopening is a concrete signal: these pathways were designed for you. A D or a C is not a dead end. It is the starting point for a career that Kenya genuinely and urgently needs.
Act before March 13, 2026. The window is open now.
Source: KUCCPS official announcement, March 3, 2026.