Certify. Build. Get Career-Ready.

Two divisions: the Junior Division (ages 13–22) and the Open Division (university students and recent graduates, up to age 25). Junior-age students may also enter the Open Division. Open to any school or institution, in any province.

Yes. Enter as many tracks as you like — each track is a separate entry with its own certification and capstone. In Microsoft Office Specialist and Adobe Certified Professional, each student enters one category only. IC3 Digital Literacy can be one of your tracks.

It depends on the track. The certification exam is always sat individually, but the capstone is Individual, Team (2–4) or Flexible (solo or a pair) depending on how the field is practiced — shown on each track card. Every member of a team must hold that track’s certification by 1 October 2027, when teams are locked. Need a teammate? Join the EPCON partner pool →

US$100 per track. You can pay it in three installments of $45, then $35, then $30. Entering more than one track yourself? You get 10% off two different tracks and 15% off three or more when you pay them in full together. Schools and clubs entering 10 or more learners on one invoice pay US$90 per entry. The group rate and the multi-track discount don’t combine; each learner gets whichever is better. Request an invoice on WhatsApp: +263 781 004 006. A retake, if you need one, is US$25.

Yes, if you’re financially disadvantaged or going through a rough patch. Choose your track and register first, then apply for sponsorship from your EdgeCircle profile and describe your financial situation. Sponsoring institutions choose directly from the applicant pool and we don’t influence their decisions, so sponsorship isn’t guaranteed. We recommend paying the $45 installment deposit so you can start preparing early. If you’re selected, we refund you.

Yes. IC3 is EPCON’s Foundation track and is open to everyone in both the Junior and Open divisions, not only beginners. Entrants certify, build a capstone and pitch like every other track, and compete for the Digital Literacy title in their division. You can enter it on its own or as one of your multiple tracks, at the same US$100 per track. IC3 is three exams, and all three are included in that entry.

Yes. AI, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Networking, Cloud Computing and Web Development each accept more than one qualifying certification, listed on each track card. Pass any one of them to compete.

Two ways: directly as an individual student, or through your school as part of a group. Either route gets you the same package and place in the championship.

The ten best in each of the nine Microsoft Office Specialist and Adobe Certified Professional categories are invited to the world qualifiers at the December finals. The best six MOS and best three ACP competitors, selected on certification results (highest score, then shortest exam time), follow the Certiport World Championship pathway to the USA in 2028 (Junior Division, per Certiport’s age rules). Entrepreneurship (ESB) builders take their venture to the NFTE World Series of Innovation — a free global innovation challenge (ages 5–24, entered individually or as a team) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which our ESB capstone is built to feed.

EPCON 2027 opens for registration on 1 November 2026. You certify and build through the year — exams are due by 17 September 2027, retakes by 1 October, and you can build your capstone from the day you register until 5 November 2027. Capstones are submitted online by 5 November 2027 for national judging, and the national finals and awards ceremony take place on 3–4 December 2027 at St John’s College, Harare.

No. Every certified entrant builds and submits a capstone, and every capstone is judged nationally. The four strongest in each track are shortlisted to pitch live at the December finals, where one Best Capstone winner is chosen per track. The four finalists in each track also go up for a People’s Choice vote on EPCON, EPCON SkillHack and EdgeCircle.

All rankings come from certification results and follow Certiport World Championship rules: the highest score ranks first, and where scores are tied, the shorter exam time ranks higher. The top 10 in each track are named for every province, the provincial #1 in each track wins a prize, and the national top 3 in each track win prizes. Capstones do not affect rankings; they are judged separately for the Best Capstone and People’s Choice awards.

Schools can register as a Certiport Authorized Testing Center for free, and school and club entries are invoiced. Schools and clubs entering 10 or more learners on one invoice pay US$90 per entry. When at least 5 learners from a school or club register and pay for a track, the teacher who coaches them, whether a subject teacher or a club patron, gets a complimentary bundle for that track: LearnKey materials, a practice test, the certification exam and a retake. One bundle for every 5 paid learners, up to 3 per track per school, for registrations by 31 March 2027.

Yes. Many clubs make their capstone the club’s project for the year. Every team member registers and certifies in the track by 1 October 2027, when teams are locked, and teams follow the track’s format. A club can enter several teams in different tracks. Rankings stay individual, and the strongest club in the country wins Club of the Year at the national finals.

Teachers, club patrons, mentors and judges. Partner mentors and judges work with learners only through their school or club, with a teacher or patron present or copied in, and never ask learners for personal contact details. Learners keep ownership of their capstone work unless their school agrees otherwise. Parent or guardian details are required for entrants under 18. Learners under 18 should approach companies through their school or club, with a teacher or patron copied in.

Yes. Registered students can use an EPCON study lab for US$15 a month, whenever no classes are running. Use one of our computers, or bring your own laptop and use our internet. It’s there for students without internet at home or affected by power cuts. Book a slot on WhatsApp first and we’ll confirm your nearest lab: +263 781 004 006. Registered students can pay for lab access online.

No. Students write their exams at school. Where a school has no computer lab, we are arranging Certiport Authorized Testing Centers (CATCs) nearby, and students not in school write at the nearest CATC. Every ranking is published online, and everyone meets once, at the national finals on 3–4 December 2027 at St John’s College, Harare.

Rankings use your first attempt only, so prepare well before you sit. If you don’t pass, you can retake for US$25. You can retake any time before 1 October 2027, even before the 17 September exam deadline. Pass the retake and you are certified, so you can still build, submit a capstone and pitch if you are shortlisted. Registered students can pay for a retake online.