CTET Eligibility

CTET eligibility criteria are set out in the official information bulletin.

Minimum educational qualification

The minimum qualifications for appearing in CTET are those notified by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). CBSE does not restate them in the Information Bulletin — it directs candidates to ncte.gov.in to confirm their eligibility, and holds the candidate personally responsible for applying only if eligible.

The qualification rules that apply

The Information Bulletin points to three sources: the NCTE Regulations on minimum qualifications for persons to be recruited as teachers, the recruitment rules laid down by the appropriate government where the school is situated, and the recruitment rules of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan or Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.

CBSE does not verify eligibility before the examination. A candidate who applies without holding the required qualification is personally responsible, and the candidature can be cancelled at any stage.

Structure of the examination

Paper I for candidates who intend to teach classes I to V, and Paper II for classes VI to VIII. A candidate who intends to teach at both levels must sit both papers.

CTET qualifies you to apply — it does not appoint you

The Information Bulletin is explicit: qualifying CTET does not confer a right to recruitment or employment. It is one of the eligibility criteria for appointment. Schools are directed to give weightage to the CTET score during recruitment, but the vacancy itself is filled through a separate process run by the school or its management.