KTET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Category-wise, Age Limit, Relaxations

KTET Eligibility Criteria 2026

The official notification for the KTET February 2026 session examination contains detailed information regarding the eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, and more. Candidates can visit the official website of Kerala Teacher's Eligibility Test at ktet.kerala.gov.in to check the minimum qualifications required to appear for the KTET February 2026 exam.

To be eligible, candidates must have completed their Higher Secondary Education or Class 10+2 from a recognized board with a minimum aggregate of 45% marks. Before filling out the KTET 2026 application form, it is strongly recommended that candidates go through the detailed eligibility requirements to ensure they meet all the necessary criteria. Any application found to be non-compliant with the eligibility conditions set by Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan is liable to be rejected. Scroll down to go through the complete KTET February 2026 eligibility criteria, including category-wise eligibility requirements, age limit, nationality, total number of attempts allowed, and more.

KTET Category 1 Qualification Eligibility Criteria 2026

The minimum KTET exam qualification essential for KTET Category 1 [Lower Primary Classes (Class 1-5)] is given below:

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary or (or its equivalent) with at least 45% marks and two years trained Teachers’ Certificate (TTC) / D.Ed. (by whatever name known) conducted by Board of Examination, Government of Kerala or its equivalent.

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 45% marks and two-year Diploma in Elementary Education (by whatever name known) in accordance with NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure), Regulations 2002.

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and four years Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.).

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 2-year Diploma (by whatever name known) in Education (Special Education).

• Other equivalent qualifications.

KTET Category 2 Qualification Eligibility Criteria 2026

The minimum KTET qualification 2026 essential for KTET Category 2 [Upper Primary Classes (Class 6-8)] is given below:

• B.A. / B.Sc. / B.Com. and 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education or Trained Teachers’ Certificate TTC / D.Ed. (by whatever name known) conducted by the Board of Examination, Government of Kerala or its equivalent.

• B.A. / B.Sc / B.Com with at least 45% marks and 1 year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.), in accordance with NCTE (Recognition, Norms and Procedure) Regulations issued from time to time in this regard.

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4 years Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.).

• Higher Secondary / Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks 4-year B.A. / B.Sc.Ed or B.A.Ed or B.Sc.Ed.

• Other equivalent qualifications.

KTET Category 3 Qualification Eligibility Criteria 2026

The minimum KTET exam qualification essential for KTET Category 3 [High School Classes (Class 9-12)] is given below:

• B.A. / B.Sc. / B.Com with at least 45% marks and a B. Ed. Degree in the subject concerned (from any one of the Universities in Kerala, or from any other Universities recognized as equivalent thereof).

• For Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology, those who have M.Sc.Ed. degree in the subject concerned with not less than 50% marks from one of the Regional Institutes of Education sponsored by NCERT will be eligible to apply.

• For Botany and Zoology subjects, those with M.Sc.Ed. degree in Life Science with not less than 50% marks from any of the Regional Institutes of Education is eligible to apply.

• B.A. or equivalent with at least 45% marks and who passed in LTTC are eligible to apply.

• Other Equivalent qualifications.

KTET Category 4 Qualification Eligibility Criteria 2026

The minimum KTET 2026 qualification essential for KTET Category 4 [High School Classes (Class 9-12) for language subjects and specialist teachers in Physical Education/Art & Craft] is given below:

• Those who have acquired qualifications for the posts of Language Teachers of Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit & Urdu (up to Upper Primary level), Specialist teachers & Physical Education teachers as mentioned in Chapter 31 of Kerala Education Act And Rules.

• Other equivalent qualifications.

Candidates who have earned a Certificate, Diploma, or Degree in teaching in any subject and have been approved by Universities / NCTE / Boards of Examinations / the Kerala Government are also eligible to apply for K-TET Category IV.

KTET Age Limit 2026

As per the KTET eligibility criteria 2026, students must be at least 21 years old to be eligible to sit for the KTET 2026 entrance examination. The KTET age limit does not specify any upper age limit for the candidates.

KTET Age Relaxation 2026

Candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC/ST/OBC are eligible for age relaxation specific to their category. Check the table below to know the age relaxation applicable for KTET 2026.

KTET 2026 Total Number of Attempts

There is no limit on the number of attempts that a student can take for the Kerala Teacher’s Eligibility Test 2026. Students must meet the eligibility criteria and satisfy the age requirement to sit for KTET 2026. Along with this, students must carry the required documents for a smooth document verification process.

KTET Nationality 2026

The Kerala TET exam is open to any Indian citizen who meets the other eligibility requirements. Individuals who are permanent residents of Kerala are eligible for age relaxation based on the rules applicable to their respective categories. Students who are not citizens of India are not eligible to apply. However, students holding a domicile in Kerala will be given preference by the Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan.