TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) — Meaning, Definition & Examples (Sarkari Exam 2026)
Category: Eligibility
Short definition: A mandatory eligibility test introduced under the RTE Act 2009 that any candidate must pass before being recruited as a teacher in classes I–VIII in government, government-aided, or unaided schools.
What is TET (Teacher Eligibility Test)? (Detailed Explanation)
TET was made compulsory by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) in 2010 under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. It is conducted at two levels: Paper-I for those who want to teach Classes I–V (Primary), and Paper-II for those who want to teach Classes VI–VIII (Upper Primary). A candidate can appear for both papers if eligible.
TETs are conducted by both Central (CTET — Central Teacher Eligibility Test by CBSE) and State (UPTET, BTET, REET, KTET, etc.) authorities. CTET certificate is valid for recruitment in central schools (KVS, NVS, Army Public Schools), and most states accept CTET in addition to their own TET. Validity of TET certificate is now lifelong (revised by NCTE in 2021 from the earlier 7-year validity).
Qualifying marks: General candidates need 60% (90/150 marks); SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates need 55% (82/150). Just clearing TET does not give a teaching job — it only makes you eligible to apply for teacher recruitment exams (UPTET-Super-TET, BPSC TRE, KVS PRT, etc.). The actual recruitment is a separate process where TET marks may or may not be added to the merit list depending on the state/authority.
Live examples from Sarkari Exam notifications
- CTET — twice a year (July + December)
- UPTET Super-TET — recruitment after passing UPTET
- REET (Rajasthan) — separate Level-1 and Level-2
Frequently Asked Questions about TET (Teacher Eligibility Test)
Q1. Is TET required for private schools?
Under the RTE Act, all schools including unaided private schools recognised by the State must employ TET-qualified teachers for classes I–VIII. Enforcement varies by state.
Q2. Does TET certificate expire?
No, since 2021 NCTE made TET certificates lifelong-valid. Older TET certificates issued before 2021 with 7-year validity were also extended to lifelong via separate notification.
Q3. Can a B.Ed graduate take Paper-I (Primary)?
After the recent rules, B.Ed candidates can take Paper-I only if they complete a 6-month NCTE-recognised bridge course in Elementary Education within 2 years of joining. Otherwise, only D.El.Ed/D.Ed candidates can teach Classes I–V.
Where to learn more
Browse the full Sarkari Glossary for all 30 terms. Looking for a specific exam? Check our Sarkari Exam Profiles with detailed eligibility, syllabus, salary and recent vacancy data for SSC CGL, UPSC CSE, IBPS PO, RRB NTPC and 6 more major exams.