KTET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit and Educational Qualification

The Kerala Teacher Eligibility Test (K-TET) is conducted by the Office of the Commissioner for Government Examinations, Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram. The test establishes minimum teaching eligibility for appointments in Lower Primary, Upper Primary, High School, and Language or Specialist teacher posts across government and aided schools in Kerala.

With the release of the official notification for the KTET September 2026 cycle, candidates must verify the category-specific educational criteria, academic relaxations, and age requirements before submitting the application form.

KTET Eligibility 2026 Overview

The table below outlines the core parameters governing candidate eligibility:

KTET Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess the requisite academic degree and professional teacher training certification according to the specific category they target. Final-year students in the 3rd or 4th semester of D.El.Ed, D.Ed, or B.Ed programs can also apply provisionally.

1. KTET Category 1 Eligibility (Lower Primary: Classes 1 to 5)

Candidates must fulfill any one of the following criteria:

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary (or equivalent) with at least 45% marks along with a 2-year Trained Teachers Certificate (TTC) or Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and a 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and a 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education).

2. KTET Category 2 Eligibility (Upper Primary: Classes 6 to 8)

Applicants must satisfy any one of the following combinations:

• Bachelor degree (B.A., B.Sc., or B.Com) and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) or Trained Teachers Certificate (TTC).

• Bachelor degree with at least 45% marks and a 1-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed).

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks along with a 4-year Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed).

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary with at least 50% marks and a 4-year B.A./B.Sc.Ed or B.A.Ed/B.Sc.Ed integrated degree.

3. KTET Category 3 Eligibility (High School: Classes 8 to 10)

Aimed at High School general subjects:

• B.A., B.Sc., or B.Com degree with at least 45% marks and a B.Ed degree in the subject concerned from a university recognized in Kerala.

• For Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology: M.Sc.Ed degree in the concerned subject with at least 50% marks from an NCERT Regional Institute of Education (RIE).

• For Botany and Zoology: M.Sc.Ed degree in Life Science with at least 50% marks from an NCERT RIE.

• B.A. or equivalent with at least 45% marks and a pass in Language Teachers Training Certificate (LTTC).

4. KTET Category 4 Eligibility (Language and Specialist Teachers)

Covers specialist cadres and language teachers up to Upper Primary classes:

• Language Teachers (Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu): Qualifications prescribed under Chapter XXXI of the Kerala Education Rules (KER) along with a Certificate, Diploma, or Degree in teaching approved by NCTE or the Government of Kerala.

• Specialist Teachers (Art, Craft, Music, Sewing): Prescribed qualification under KER Chapter XXXI plus specialized certification from recognized boards.

• Physical Education Teachers: Certificate, Diploma, or Degree in Physical Education recognized by the Kerala Education Department.

KTET Age Limit and Relaxations

The rules set by the Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan regarding candidate age and qualifying score reductions are straightforward:

Upper Age Limit

There is no upper age limit to appear for the KTET examination. Candidates of any working age who hold the requisite academic and professional qualifications can register.

Academic Mark Relaxations

A relaxation in minimum qualifying marks for the basic educational degree or diploma is granted to reserved categories:

• SC and ST Candidates: 5% relaxation in minimum marks required in the qualifying examination.

• OBC and OEC Candidates: 3% relaxation in minimum marks required in the qualifying examination.

• Differently Abled (PH) Candidates: 5% relaxation in qualifying academic marks.

Additional KTET Eligibility Conditions

• Nationality: Applicants must be citizens of India. Preference in appointment is governed by local state domicile norms during actual school recruitments.

• Number of Attempts: There is no restriction on the number of attempts. A candidate who has already cleared KTET can reappear in subsequent sessions to improve scores.

• Prior Teaching Experience: Prior teaching experience is not required. Fresh graduates and final-year teacher-training trainees can appear.

• Validity of KTET Certificate: Once cleared, the KTET certificate remains valid for a lifetime.