How to Become a Teacher in India: Every Route, Course and Exam, Step by Step

All routes to teaching at a glance

Find the classes you want to teach in the first column. The second column shows the course you need, and the third shows the test. Reserved categories, such as SC, ST, OBC and persons with disability, get up to 5% relaxation in these marks rules.

Choose a college recognised by NCTE, the National Council for Teacher Education. Government notices, such as the KVS notice, ask for a B.Ed or D.El.Ed from an NCTE-recognised institution.

The main teacher training courses

• D.El.Ed (Diploma in Elementary Education): 2 years after Class 12. It prepares you for Classes 1 to 8. Some states use other names for it, such as JBT or BTC.
• B.El.Ed (Bachelor of Elementary Education): 4 years after Class 12, for Classes 1 to 8.
• B.Ed (Bachelor of Education): 2 years after graduation or post-graduation. Colleges usually ask for at least 50% marks in your degree. It is the main course for Classes 6 to 12.
• ITEP (Integrated Teacher Education Programme): 4 years after Class 12. You earn a dual degree, such as B.A. B.Ed. or B.Sc. B.Ed., in one course.
• Nursery teacher diploma: at least 2 years after Class 12. It has names such as NTT (Nursery Teacher Training), pre-school education or early childhood education.

A B.Ed alone does not make you eligible for Classes 1 to 5. In August 2023, the Supreme Court held that the qualification for primary teachers is the D.El.Ed, not the B.Ed.

ITEP is the newer route. NEP 2020 says a 4-year integrated B.Ed will become the minimum degree for school teachers by 2030. Admission is through NCET, a test run by the National Testing Agency (NTA). In 2026, NCET was held on 17 and 18 April.

In 2025, NCTE announced a plan to bring back a 1-year B.Ed, mainly for people with a 4-year degree or a master's degree. Before you apply, check the final rules on the NCTE website, ncte.gov.in.

CTET and state TETs

A TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) checks that you are ready to teach Classes 1 to 8. CBSE conducts CTET, the central test. Most states also hold their own TET.

• Paper I is for Classes 1 to 5. Paper II is for Classes 6 to 8. To teach both levels, take both papers.
• You pass with 60% or more. Schools may give concessions to reserved categories as per their rules.
• A CTET pass is valid for life. There is no limit on attempts, and you can take it again to improve your score.
• CTET applies to central government schools such as KVS and NVS, and to schools in Delhi and some union territories.
• State government schools and aided schools use the state TET. Private unaided schools may accept CTET.
• CBSE schools must hire teachers for Classes 1 to 8 who have passed CTET or a TET. This applies to teachers appointed from 6 March 2012.

Passing CTET does not give you a job. It only makes you eligible to apply.

PRT, TGT and PGT: what they mean

These are the three main teacher posts in government school notices. The table uses the 2025 KVS notice as an example. Other employers can set different rules.

In the same notice, the upper age limits were 30 years for PRT, 35 for TGT and 40 for PGT, with relaxation for some categories. All three posts asked for the ability to teach in Hindi and English.

Government school jobs: KVS, Navodaya and state recruitment

Kendriya Vidyalaya and Navodaya (KVS and NVS)

Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are central government schools. In 2025, CBSE ran one combined recruitment for both, through notification 01/2025 dated 13 November 2025. Watch kvsangathan.nic.in, navodaya.gov.in and cbse.gov.in for the next one.

For PGT, TGT and PRT posts in KVS, selection had two written tiers and then an interview of 100 marks. The final merit gave 85% weight to the Tier 2 marks and 15% to the interview.

Kendriya Vidyalayas also hire contractual teachers for one session through walk-in interviews. Each school posts its own notice on its website. Some schools ask you to register first on the KVS Samvida Sathi portal.

State recruitment

Each state hires teachers for its own schools through its own board or commission. State and aided schools use the state TET. Read the official notice for the exact rules, and never pay an agent for a job.

For example, DSSSB hires teachers for Delhi government schools. Its 2025 notice for Assistant Teacher (Primary) asked for Class 12 with a D.El.Ed or B.El.Ed, and a CTET pass. The post was at Pay Level 6, with an age limit of 30 years.

College lecturer: UGC NET

To teach in a college or university as an Assistant Professor, you need a master's degree with at least 55% marks. For OBC (non-creamy layer), SC, ST, PwD and third gender candidates, it is 50%. You also need to pass UGC NET, or a state eligibility test (SET).

The National Testing Agency conducts UGC NET. You can qualify for JRF and Assistant Professor, for Assistant Professor and PhD admission, or for PhD admission only. There is no upper age limit for the Assistant Professor categories.

A state SET passed from June 2002 onwards lets you apply only to colleges in that state. Any exemption from NET follows UGC regulations.

Private schools, coaching and online teaching

Private schools hire directly. They post jobs on their websites, in newspapers and on job sites. The NCTE qualification rules also cover private unaided schools, so the courses above still apply.

Many private schools hold a written test, a demo class and an interview. Our guide to teacher interview questions and answers shows how to prepare for each.

Coaching centres look for strong subject knowledge and good results. Under the Ministry of Education's 2024 guidelines, centres with more than 50 students should hire tutors who are at least graduates. You can also teach from home or online; see how to become an online tutor.

Steps to become a teacher after Class 12

Before you choose, think about the age group you enjoy. Our list of the qualities of a good teacher can help you decide.

1. Decide which classes you want to teach: young children, middle classes or senior classes.
2. For Classes 1 to 5, join a 2-year D.El.Ed or a 4-year B.El.Ed. You need at least 50% marks in Class 12.
3. For any school level, you can join ITEP. Apply for NCET when the National Testing Agency opens the forms.
4. Or take a normal degree in your favourite subject. Then do a 2-year B.Ed.
5. In your last year of training, apply for CTET or your state TET.
6. Apply to schools, and keep checking official government notices.

Steps after graduation, and for career changers

After graduation

1. Check your marks. B.Ed colleges usually ask for at least 50% in graduation or post-graduation.
2. Join a 2-year B.Ed at an NCTE-recognised college. To teach Classes 1 to 5, join a D.El.Ed instead.
3. Pass CTET Paper II, or Paper I if you have a D.El.Ed.
4. For PGT posts, finish a master's degree in your subject with at least 50% marks.
5. Apply to KVS, NVS, your state and private schools. Prepare for the written test and the interview.

If you are changing careers

• If you already have a degree, a 2-year B.Ed is still the main route to school jobs.
• Check age limits before you invest time. In 2025, KVS set 30 years for PRT, 35 for TGT and 40 for PGT, with some relaxations.
• Check the subject rules. For example, KVS asked a TGT (English) to have studied English as a main subject for three years of graduation.
• Private schools, coaching centres and online classes can hire you while you study. This gives you experience to show in interviews.
• Keep a short record of what you teach, to whom and with what results. It helps in every application.

Share your teaching on Sikhami

While you train or wait for a job, you can start sharing your teaching. Sikhami gives every teacher a free teacher profile, with your photo, a short intro, an about section, your subjects and your links. Learners can follow it, write reviews and ask questions. Institutes can invite a published teacher to teach on their courses.

On your own account, you can post clips, which are short videos, and notes. You can also earn from paid notes, paid clubs, meetups, study rooms with an entry fee, memberships and Super Chat. Joining and posting are free. To sell a video course, you create a free institute on Sikhami and add the course under it.