The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for candidates aspiring to become teachers in Classes 1 to 8 in central government and CBSE-affiliated schools across India.
Candidates applying for CTET 2026 must carefully check the latest eligibility criteria for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 before filling out the application form. The eligibility conditions mainly include educational qualification, professional teaching qualification, and minimum marks requirements.
CTET consists of two papers:
- Paper 1: For candidates who want to teach Classes 1 to 5
- Paper 2: For candidates who want to teach Classes 6 to 8
Candidates interested in teaching Classes 1 to 8 can appear for both papers.
CTET Eligibility 2026 Overview
| Exam Name | Central Teacher Eligibility Test |
| Conducting Authority | Central Board of Secondary Education |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Papers | Paper 1 & Paper 2 |
| Eligibility Basis | Educational & Professional Qualification |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test |
CTET Paper 1 Eligibility 2026
CTET Paper 1 is conducted for candidates aspiring to become Primary Teachers for Classes 1 to 5. Candidates must fulfil any one of the following educational qualifications.
| Qualification Criteria |
|---|
| Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) |
| Senior Secondary with at least 45% marks and passed/appearing in 2-year D.El.Ed as per NCTE norms |
| Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) |
| Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in Diploma in Education (Special Education) |
| Graduation with passed/appearing in 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education |
CTET Paper 2 Eligibility 2026
CTET Paper 2 is conducted for candidates aspiring to become Upper Primary Teachers for Classes 6 to 8.
Candidates must satisfy any one of the following qualification conditions.
| Qualification Criteria |
|---|
| Graduation with passed/appearing in 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education |
| Graduation with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in B.Ed |
| Graduation with at least 45% marks and passed/appearing in B.Ed as per NCTE norms |
| Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in 4-year Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) |
| Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in 4-year B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed |
| Graduation with at least 50% marks and passed/appearing in B.Ed (Special Education) |
CTET Age Limit 2026
There is no upper age limit for appearing in the CTET examination. Candidates meeting the required educational qualifications can apply online.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | – |
| Maximum Age | No Upper Age Limit |
CTET Qualifying Marks 2026
Candidates need to secure the minimum qualifying marks prescribed by CBSE to qualify the CTET examination.
| Category | Minimum Marks | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| General Category | 90 out of 150 | 60% |
| SC/ST/OBC/PwD | 82 out of 150 | 55% |
Important Documents Required for CTET 2026
Candidates should keep the following documents ready while filling out the online application form.
- Class 10 Certificate
- Class 12 Marksheet
- Graduation Marksheet
- D.El.Ed/B.Ed Certificate
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
- Passport Size Photograph
- Signature
CTET Certificate Validity
The CTET certificate remains valid for lifetime as per CBSE guidelines. Qualified candidates become eligible to apply for teaching jobs in:
- Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS)
- Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS)
- Central Government Schools
- CBSE Affiliated Schools
Candidates preparing for CTET 2026 should carefully verify their eligibility criteria before submitting the application form to avoid rejection during the document verification process.