The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) and Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) are both exams that assess the eligibility of candidates to teach at the primary and upper-primary levels. However, there are some key differences between the two exams. In general, CTET is a more widely recognized exam than TET exams. This is because CTET 2023 is a central government exam, which means that it is valid for all states. TET exams, on the other hand, are only valid for the state in which they are taken.
Thus, if a candidate is interested in teaching in a central government school or a school that is affiliated with the CBSE, then CTET is the best option for them. Whereas if a candidate is interested in teaching in a state government school, then they should take the TET exam for the state in which they wish to teach.
CTET & TET: Introduction
The basic points about the CTET & State TET exam have been mentioned in the table below:
| CTET Exam | State TET Exam |
| The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) is a national-level exam conducted twice a year by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for candidates who want to become primary and elementary teachers in central government schools The CBSE has been authorized by the Union Ministry of Education to conduct the CTET exam | The TET exam is a state-level exam that is similar to the CTET. It is conducted by different state governments, such as UPTET, MAHA TET, REET, Bihar STET, PSTET, MP TET, KTET, TNTET, and others After qualifying for the TET exam, candidates become eligible to teach in schools run by the respective state governments. They are not eligible to apply for teaching jobs in central schools like KVS and NVS |
Differences between CTET & State TET
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) and the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) are both exams that are required to be qualified for teaching jobs in government schools. However, there are some key differences between the two exams.
- Conducting body: CTET is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), while TETs are conducted by the education boards of different state governments.
- Exam notification: CTET notification is released twice every year, while TET notifications are released once or twice a year, depending on the state.
- Age limit: There is no upper age limit to apply for the CTET exam, but different state governments may have different age criteria for TET exams.
- Medium of paper: Candidates appearing for CTET can choose any combination of languages, while candidates appearing for TETs must be fluent in the native language.
- Teaching jobs: CTET qualification allows candidates to apply for teaching jobs in centrally-run government schools, while TET qualification allows candidates to apply for teaching jobs in the respective state-run government schools.
- Certificate validity: The validity of both CTET and TET certificates has been extended to a lifetime by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
- Application fee: The application fee for CTET is INR 1,000 for a single paper and INR 1,200 for both papers. The application fee for TET exams varies from state to state, but is typically INR 400-500 for general candidates and INR 200-250 for reserved category candidates.
Similarities between CTET & State TET
The similarities between CTET and state TET exams are as follows:
- Type of Exam: They are both eligibility exams for teaching jobs in government schools. Candidates who qualify either exam are eligible to apply for teaching jobs in primary (classes I-V) and upper primary (classes VI-VIII) schools run by the central government or the respective state government.
- Exam Pattern: CTET exam pattern and TET exam pattern have the same exam pattern. Both exams consist of two papers: Paper-I for primary level teachers and Paper-II for upper primary level teachers. Each paper has 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with a total of 150 marks.
- Exam Syllabus: CTET syllabus and TET syllabus is the same. The syllabus covers topics such as child development, pedagogy, teaching methods, school administration, and curriculum.
- Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility criteria for both exams are similar. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university and a valid teacher training qualification such as B.Ed or D.El.Ed.
Candidates can appear for the CTET & state TET exams based on their preference, provided they satisfy the required eligibility criteria.
