Before applying for the the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), candidates must carefully check the CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026 to ensure they qualify. The eligibility criteria cover educational qualifications, age limit, and other conditions set by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). Candidates who do not meet the required eligibility will not be allowed to appear in the examination. Read this article for the complete and detailed CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Paper I (Classes I to V) and Paper II (Classes VI to VIII).
CTET Eligibility Criteria— Overview
Organization: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Exam Name: Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) — September 2026 Edition: 22nd Paper I: For candidates seeking to teach Classes I to V Paper II: For candidates seeking to teach Classes VI to VIII
Is There Any Age Limit for CTET 2026?
One of the most frequently asked questions by candidates is whether there is an age limit for CTET 2026. The answer is — there is NO minimum or maximum age limit for appearing in the CTET examination. Any candidate who meets the educational qualification requirements is eligible to apply for CTET 2026 regardless of their age. This makes CTET one of the most accessible teacher eligibility exams in India for aspiring teachers of all age groups.
Also Read: CTET September 2026 Notification OUT @ctet.nic.in, Apply Online for 22nd Edition
CTET Eligibility Criteria for Paper I (Classes I to V)
Paper I of CTET is meant for candidates who wish to become teachers for Classes I to V (Primary Level). To be eligible for CTET Paper I, a candidate must fulfill any one of the following educational qualification criteria:
Qualification 1: Senior Secondary (Class 12 or equivalent) with at least 50% marks AND a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) — passed or appearing in the final year.
Qualification 2: Senior Secondary (Class 12 or equivalent) with at least 45% marks AND a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) — in accordance with the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations 2002.
Qualification 3: Senior Secondary (Class 12 or equivalent) with at least 50% marks AND a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) — passed or appearing in the final year.
Qualification 4: Senior Secondary (Class 12 or equivalent) with at least 50% marks AND a 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education) — passed or appearing in the final year.
Qualification 5: Graduation AND a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) — passed or appearing in the final year.
Note: A 5% relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks is available for candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, and Differently-Abled (PwD).
CTET Eligibility Criteria for Paper II (Classes VI to VIII)
Paper II of CTET 2026 is for candidates who wish to become teachers for Classes VI to VIII (Upper Primary / Elementary Level). To be eligible for CTET Paper II, a candidate must fulfill any one of the following educational qualification criteria:
Qualification 1: Graduation (in any discipline) AND a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) — passed or appearing in the final year.
Qualification 2: Graduation with at least 50% marks AND a 1-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) — passed or appearing in the final year.
Qualification 3: Graduation with at least 45% marks AND a 1-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) — in accordance with the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations notified from time to time.
Qualification 4: Senior Secondary (Class 12 or equivalent) with at least 50% marks AND a 4-year Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) — passed or appearing in the final year.
Qualification 5: Senior Secondary (Class 12 or equivalent) with at least 50% marks AND a 4-year B.A. / B.Sc. Ed or B.A. Ed / B.Sc. Ed — passed or appearing in the final year.
Qualification 6: Graduation with at least 50% marks AND a 1-year B.Ed (Special Education) — passed or appearing in the final year.
Note: A 5% relaxation in the minimum qualifying marks is available for candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, and Differently-Abled (PwD).
CTET 2026 Eligibility for Both Paper I and Paper II
Candidates who wish to teach at both levels — Classes I to V and Classes VI to VIII — are eligible to appear in both Paper I and Paper II. They must meet the eligibility criteria for both papers separately. There is no restriction on appearing in both papers simultaneously, and candidates can apply for both papers in a single application.
CTET Eligibility Criteria — Education Qualification Summary Table
Paper | For | Minimum Qualification Required Paper I | Classes I to V | 12th with 50% marks + D.El.Ed / B.El.Ed / D.Ed (Special Education), OR Graduation + D.El.Ed Paper II | Classes VI to VIII | Graduation + D.El.Ed / B.Ed (50%) / B.El.Ed (12th with 50%) / B.A.B.Ed / B.Ed (Spl. Ed.) Both Papers | Classes I to VIII | Must fulfill eligibility for both Paper I and Paper II
Note: Candidates appearing in the final year of the qualifying examination are also eligible to apply.
CTET 2026 Eligibility — Category-wise Relaxation in Marks
As per NCTE norms, the following relaxation in minimum qualifying marks in the educational qualification is available:
Category | Relaxation in Minimum Marks SC | 5% relaxation in qualifying marks ST | 5% relaxation in qualifying marks OBC | 5% relaxation in qualifying marks Differently Abled (PwD) | 5% relaxation in qualifying marks General | No relaxation — must meet the standard cut-off
This relaxation applies to the minimum marks required in the educational qualification (e.g., 50% becomes 45%) and not to CTET qualifying marks.
CTET 2026 Qualifying Marks — How Much Do You Need to Pass?
The CTET qualifying marks are separate from the eligibility criteria. To be declared as CTET pass, a candidate must secure the following marks in the examination:
Category | Qualifying Marks (out of 150) General / OBC | 60% i.e., 90 marks out of 150 SC / ST / Differently Abled | As per school management's reservation policy (generally 55% i.e., 82 marks)
Important Note: Qualifying CTET does not guarantee a teaching job. It is only one of the eligibility criteria for appointment. The final recruitment is done by the concerned school management or government authority.
CTET Certificate Validity
A major benefit for CTET aspirants is that the CTET qualifying certificate is now valid for a lifetime for all categories. This change was made by the Government of India, and there is no restriction on the number of attempts a person can take to acquire the CTET certificate. Candidates who have already qualified CTET in previous editions may also appear again to improve their scores.
Where is CTET Applicable?
The CTET certificate is valid and applicable for teaching posts in the following institutions:
- Schools under the Central Government: Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS), Central Tibetan Schools, etc.
- Schools under the administrative control of Union Territories: Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and NCT of Delhi.
- Unaided private schools affiliated with CBSE may also consider CTET scores.
- State Government schools: A State Government may also consider CTET if it decides not to conduct a separate State TET.
Important Points to Note for CTET Eligibility
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Candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree or diploma course are also eligible to apply for CTET 2026, subject to their completing the qualification before the document verification stage.
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The educational qualifications mentioned above must be from a recognized university or institution as per the NCTE norms.
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Candidates must satisfy their eligibility before applying and will be personally responsible in case they are found ineligible at a later stage.
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Being allowed to appear in CTET does not imply that the candidate's eligibility has been verified by CBSE. Final eligibility will be verified by the recruiting agency or appointing authority.
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The minimum qualifications for CTET are laid down as per the NCTE Notification dated 23rd August 2010, as amended from time to time. Candidates are advised to visit the NCTE website https://ncte.gov.in for the latest eligibility norms.
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If a candidate provides false or incorrect information regarding eligibility, it may lead to cancellation of the test result, forfeiture of the CTET certificate, and even prosecution.
How to Apply for CTET
Step 1: Visit the official website https://ctet.nic.in or https://www.cbse.gov.in. Step 2: Click on "Apply Online" and complete the registration. Step 3: Fill in the online application form with all required details. Step 4: Upload scanned photograph (JPG/JPEG, 10–100 KB) and signature (JPG/JPEG, 3–30 KB). Step 5: Pay the examination fee through Debit Card, Credit Card, or Net Banking. Step 6: Take a printout of the Confirmation Page for future reference.
Online Correction Window: 15 June 2026 to 18 June 2026 (no corrections after this date under any circumstances).
FAQs
Q1. What is the age limit for CBSE CTET?
Answer: There is no minimum or maximum age limit for CTET 2026. Any candidate who fulfills the educational qualification criteria can apply.
Q2. What is the minimum qualification for CBSE CTET Paper I?
Answer: Candidates must have passed Senior Secondary (Class 12) with at least 50% marks along with a 2-year D.El.Ed or 4-year B.El.Ed or equivalent diploma. Alternatively, graduates with a 2-year D.El.Ed are also eligible.
Q3. What is the minimum qualification for CBSE CTET ?
Answer: Candidates must hold a graduation degree along with a 2-year D.El.Ed, or graduation with at least 50% marks and a 1-year B.Ed, or Senior Secondary with 50% marks and a 4-year B.El.Ed or B.A.B.Ed.
Q4. Can I apply for both Paper I and Paper II of CTET?
Answer: Yes, candidates who wish to teach both Classes I to V and Classes VI to VIII can appear in both papers simultaneously by meeting the eligibility for each paper.
Q5. Is CTET certificate valid for life?
Answer: Yes, as per the Government of India's decision, the CTET qualifying certificate is valid for a lifetime for all categories.
Q6. Is there any relaxation in marks for reserved category candidates?
Answer: Yes, SC, ST, OBC, and Differently-Abled candidates get a 5% relaxation in the minimum marks required in their qualifying educational degree or diploma.
Q7. Can a candidate appearing in the final year of B.Ed apply for CTET?
Answer: Yes, candidates appearing in the final year of their qualifying degree or diploma (such as B.Ed, D.El.Ed, B.El.Ed) are also eligible to apply for CTET.
Q8. What is the CTET passing marks?
Answer: Candidates need to score at least 60% (90 marks out of 150) to be declared CTET qualified. Reserved category candidates may get concessions as per the school management's reservation policy.
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