CTET Eligibility 2026: Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Nationality

CTET Eligibility 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will release the eligibility requirements for CTET exam 2026 along with the official notification on the official website at ctet.nic.in. Candidates must know that the CTET eligibility criteria for papers 1 and 2 are different from one another. While the eligibility there are several factors included in it. 

There are various CTET eligibility factors, including age limit, nationality and educational qualification. Candidates have to fulfil all the criteria laid by the NCTE, then only they can fill the CTET 2026 application form. Checking the CTET eligibility criteria is the first and foremost essential step for a candidate aspiring to appear for the examination. 

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CTET 2026 exam is for those candidates who wish to pursue their careers as teachers. The teacher eligibility test has two paper levels. If the candidate qualifies the first level then they will be eligible to teach students of classes 1 to 5. On the other hand, a candidate qualifies the paper 2, then they will be eligible to teach students in classes 6 to 9. If in case an aspirant wishes to teach students of classes 1 to 8, then they have to appear for both papers of CTET.

CTET Eligibility 2026

It is an essential part for candidates to check the CTET eligibility criteria before submitting their CTET Application Form 2026. Applicants who wish to appear for the CTET exam must fulfil all the eligibility criteria laid by the NCTE. Since the CTET exam has two papers, the eligibility criteria mentioned for both of them are different from one another. 

CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Nationality

The nationality of the candidate is an important parameter for CTET eligibility. The candidate should be an Indian citizen in order to appear for the CTET exam. 

Also Read: CTET Syllabus 2026

CTET 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit 

Candidates must fall in the age bracket as prescribed by NCTE in the official notification in order to appear for the exam. Candidates should be in the age bracket as declared by the official board. 

Candidates must have a minimum age of 17 years in order to fulfil the CTET age limit criteria. The maximum age limit for taking the CTET exam is not specified in the CTET Eligibility. 

CTET New Eligibility Criteria 2026

The eligibility criteria for students who are already pursuing the Teacher Training Courses (TTC) have been revised by the National Council for Teaching Education (NCTE). Candidates are advised to go through the revised CTET eligibility requirements.

• As per the NCTE, the students undergoing any Teacher Training Course(TTC) can be referred to as “Pursuing”. These students are further eligible to apply for the TET exam. 
• Those candidates are also eligible to appear in the exam whose appointment was challenged
• Candidates who have a post-graduation degree with a minimum of 55 % or other 3-year equivalent integrated B.Ed.-M.Ed are also eligible to apply. 
• Minimum qualifications laid down in the Recruitment Rules for the teachers by the Appropriate Government where the school is situated or the Recruitment Rules for the teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan or Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.
• Students should note that the CTET exam certificate does not promise students any requirements as it is just a qualifying exam for the teacher posts.

Also Check: CTET 2026 Exam Pattern

CTET Eligibility 2026 For Paper 1 (Primary Level)

Candidates who wish to become teachers for classes 1st to 5th in primary schools are required to appear for the CTET paper 1. Candidates need to meet the eligibility criteria in order to appear for the exam.

Take a look at the list of CTET paper I eligibility criteria here : 

• Candidate holding a degree of senior secondary or equivalent to it with at least 50 per cent marks and qualified for the exam in the final year of Diploma in  Diploma in Elementary Education (2 years duration) 

OR 

• Aspirants having a degree of senior secondary or equivalent with a minimum of 45 per cent and passed or appearing in the final year exam of Diploma in Elementary Education (2 years duration)

OR

• Candidates having a senior secondary or equivalent degree with minimum marks of 50 per cent and qualified or appearing for the final year exam of  Bachelor of Elementary Education with the duration of 4 years 

OR

• Aspirants having a degree of senior secondary or equivalent with a minimum of 50 per cent and passed or appearing in the final year exam of Diploma in  Education with the duration of 2 years 

OR 

• Candidates having a bachelor's degree with a BEd degree

CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026 For Paper 2 (Upper Primary Level)

Candidates who wish to become eligible for teaching at the upper primary level (for classes VI to VIII) are required to appear for CTET Paper 2. It is important for candidates to meet the basic educational qualifications required to apply for paper 2. 

Take a look below at the CTET Eligibility 2026 for paper 2 here: 

• Candidates who have a graduation degree or have qualified or appearing in the final year of the diploma exam in  Elementary Education for a duration of 2 years. 

OR

• Aspirants who have a graduation degree with a minimum of 50 per cent marks and have qualified or appeared in the final year examination of BE.d 

OR 

• Applicants with a graduation degree qualified with 40 per cent or appearing in the final year of BEd as per the given regulation of NCTE regulations

OR

• candidates must have a degree of senior Secondary or its equivalent exam and have qualified for the exam with 50 per cent or appearing in the final year exam of B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed or B.A/B.Sc.Ed. 

OR

• Candidates should have a graduation degree and have qualified for the exam or appeared in 1-year duration of the BEd program 

Read More: CTET Preparation 2026

CTET Eligibility 2026: Reservation Criteria

CTET Reservation criteria are applicable in teacher eligibility exam as per the rules and regulations laid down by the government. Candidates belonging to the General Category are required to score at least 60% in the CTET exam to qualify/become eligible. 

On the other hand, candidates from the reserved categories, including scheduled caste (SC), scheduled tribe (ST), other backward class (OBC), and differently-abled, get a 5% relaxation, and with that, they are required to score at least 55% in the CTET 2024 exam. 

CTET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Number of Attempts 

Candidates should note that there is no specific number of attempts for candidates. Further, candidates can appear in the exam as many times as they want until they score satisfactory marks. 

NOTE:  Those candidates who will successfully fulfill the eligibility criteria will be eligible to fill out the CTET application form. Further, those candidates will be eligible to get their CTET Admit Card 2026.