CTET Eligibility Criteria

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has established the CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Paper 1 & Paper 2.

Candidates may find the comprehensive CTET Eligibility 2026 rules here, covering all official regulations such as nationality, age restrictions, educational qualifications, qualifying marks, and reservation criteria. See below for more information on the CTET 2026 eligibility framework.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has successfully closed the registration process for the September 2026 edition of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET). In order to take the exam, candidates were required to complete the CTET registration 2026. The CBSE only processes exam seat allocations for candidates who meet the prescribed CTET qualifying criteria 2026. Before completing the CTET Application Form 2026, candidates should have reviewed the entire eligibility handbook. The CBSE determines CTET eligibility in 2026 for Paper 1 & Paper 2 based on the teacher eligibility norms updated by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

CTET Paper 1 is designed for candidates who want to teach Classes 1–5, whereas CTET Paper 2 is for candidates who want to teach Classes 6–8. Candidates who want to teach across all grades from 1–8 must take both papers. The eligibility criteria for CTET Paper 1 differ from those for CTET Paper 2. The CTET Paper 1 and Paper 2 eligibility criteria, alongside the educational qualification rules, age limits, and reservation standards, are detailed in the official information bulletin of the exam. Some of the essential prerequisites for CTET eligibility criteria 2026 include passing the Senior Secondary (Class 12) examinations or graduating with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks, depending on the chosen teaching level.

CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Educational Qualification for Paper 1 & 2

The Minimum qualifications for appearing in the CTET are as notified by NCTE. The minimum qualifications for the teaching staff should be in accordance with the following:

1. National Council for Teacher Education (Determination of Minimum Qualifications for Persons to be recruited as Educated Teachers and Physical Education Teachers in Pre-Primary, Primary, Upper Primary, Secondary, Senior Secondary  or Intermiediate Schools or Colleges) Regulations as amended and notified from time to time.

2. Minimum qualifications laid down in the Recruitment Rules for the teachers by the Appropriate Government where the school is situated or the Recruitment Rules for the teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan or Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.

3. The candidate should satisfy his / her eligibility before applying and shall be personally responsible in case he / she is not eligible to apply as per the given eligibility criteria. It is to be noted that if a candidate has been allowed to appear in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test it does not imply that if the candidate has been allowed to appear in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test it does not imply that the candidate's eligibility has been verified. It does not vest any right with the candidate for appointment. The Eligibility shall be finally verified, by the concerned recruiting agency / appointing authority.

NOTE : As notified by NCTE, relaxation up to 5% in the qualifying marks in the minimum Educational Qualification for eligibility shall be allowed to the candidates belonging to reserved categories, such as SC / ST / OBC / Differently-abled.

The eligibility shall be finally verified, by the concerned recruiting agency/appointing authority. The aspirant should satisfy his/her eligibility before applying and shall be personally responsible in case he/she is not eligible to apply as per the given eligibility criteria.

Candidate must possess Minimum Educational Qualifications for becoming a teacher for Class I to V and VI to VIII. The following persons are eligible for appearing in the CTET 2026 examination:

Minimum educational qualifications for becoming the teacher for Classes I-V:

• Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in final year of 2 years Diploma in Elementary Education OR
• Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 45% marks and passed or appearing in final year of 2 years Diploma in Elementary Education (by whatever name known), in accordance with the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure), Regulations, 2002 OR
• Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in final year of 4- year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) OR
• Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in final year of 2- year Diploma in Education (Special Education) OR
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and Bachelor or Education (B.Ed).

  A). Who has acquired the qualification or Bachelor of Education from NCTE recognised institution shall be considered for appointment as a teacher in classes I to V provided the person so appointed as a teacher shall mandatorily undergo a six month Bridge Course in Elementary Education recognized by the NCTE, Within two Year of such appointment as primary teacher".

Minimum educational qualifications for becoming the teacher for Classes VI-VIII:

• Graduation and passed or appearing in final year of 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (by whatever name known) OR
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) OR
• Graduation with at least 45% marks and passed or appearing in 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed), in accordance with the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations issued from time to time in this regard OR
• Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in final year of 4- year Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) OR
• Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in final year of 4- year B.A/B.Sc.Ed or B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed. OR
• Graduation with at least 50% marks and passed or appearing in 1-year B.Ed. (Special Education) OR
• Any candidate having qualified B.Ed. Programme recognized by the NCTE is eligible to appear in TET/CTET. Morever, as per the exisiting TET guidelines circulated vide NCTE letter dated 11-02-2011, a person who is pursuing any of the teacher education courses (recognised by the NCTE or the RCI, as the case may be) specified in the NCTE Notification dated 23 August 2011 is also qualified to appear in the TET/CTET.

CTET Eligibility 2026: Nationality

Look at the CTET Eligibility requirements 2026 in terms of nationality below:

• To be eligible to take the CTET 2026 Exam, candidates must be Indian Citizens.

CTET Age Limit 2026

Check the CTET Age limit 2026 below:

• CTET 2026 Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• There is no age restrictions for applying for the CTET Exam.

CTET 2026 Exam Eligibility: Number of Attempts

There is no set number of attempts in the CTET 2026 Examination. Candidates may retake the CTET Exam as many times as necessary until they achieve the appropriate results.

CTET Eligibility 2026: Qualifying Marks

Candidates who achieve the minimum qualifying marks in the CTET Exam are declared qualified. Candidates in the General Category must obtain 60%. Reserved categories such as Scheduled Caste (SC), Schedule Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), and Differently Abled receive a 5% reduction. Candidates from the OBC / SC / ST groups must score at least 55%.

CTET 2026 Eligibility: Associated Parameters

Other CTET eligibility criteria are listed below:

• Candidates should earn a diploma / degree in teacher education that is mandatory recognized by NCTE.
• Only a teacher education course accredited by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) would be acceptable for a Diploma in Education (Special Education) and BEd (Special Education).
• After being appointed, a candidate with a Diploma in Special Education must complete an NCTE-recognized six-month Special Programme in Elementary Education.
• Applicants are chosen as Physical Education Teachers in accordance with NCTE laws & standards.
• Othe school administration and state government norms apply to teachers of Art Education, Craft Education, Home Science, Work Education, and other subjects until NCTE establishes its minimum eligibility.

Note:

1. Relaxation up to 5% in the qualifying marks in the minimum educational qualification for eligibility shall be allowed to the candidates belonging to reserved categories, such as SC/ST/OBC/Differently abled.

2. Diploma / Degree Course in Teacher Education : For the purposes of this Notification, a Diploma / Degree Course in teacher education recognized by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) only shall be considered. However, in case of Diploma in Education (Special Education) and B.ED (Special Education), a course recognized by the Rehabiliation Council of India (RCI) only shall be considered.

3. Training to be undergone : A Person with D.Ed (Special Education) or qualification shall undergo, after appointment, an NCTE recognized 6 Month Special Programme in Elementary Education.

4. The minimum qualifications referred above apply to teachers of Languages, Social Studies / Social Science, Mathematics, Science etc. In Respect of teachers for Physical Education, the minimum, qualification norms for Physical Education teachers referred to the NCTE Regulation, dated 3rd November, 2001, (As amended from time to time) shall be applicable. For teachers of Art Education, Craft Education, Home Science, Work Education, etc. The existing eligibility norms prescribed by the State Governments and other school managements shall be applicable till such time the NCTE lays down the minimum qualifications in respect of such teachers.

5. A person who is pursuing any of the teacher education courses (recognized by the NCTE or the RCI, as the case may be) Specified in the NCTE Notification dated 29th July, 2012 shall be eligible for appearing in the CTET.

6. The candidate should satisfy his / her eligibility before applying and shall be personally responsible in case he / she is not eligible to apply as per the given eligibility criteria. It is to be noted that if a candidate has been allowed to appear in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test it does not imply that the candidate's eligibility has been verified. It does not vest any right with the candidate for appointment.

The Eligibility shall be finally verified, by the concerned recruiting agency / appointing authority.