Karnataka TET Eligibility 2026: Qualification Guide

Karnataka TET eligibility is set out in the KARTET notification issued by the School Education Department, Government of Karnataka, in line with the minimum qualifications fixed by the NCTE. The rules differ for Paper 1 (Classes 1 to 5) and Paper 2 (Classes 6 to 8), and each route combines a base qualification with a recognised teacher education course. The details on this page come from the KARTET 2025 notification of 18 October 2025 and its amendment of 30 October 2025, the latest official rules as of 21 October 2026.

The most important change in the 2025 cycle was the removal of the graduation plus B.Ed route for Paper 1. Some older pages still show it. Below you will find the qualification routes for each paper, the marks relaxation for reserved categories, the rule for candidates still pursuing a course, and the common reasons applications fail.

Table of Contents

Eligibility at a glance

Paper 1 educational qualification

To write Paper 1, which makes you eligible to teach Classes 1 to 5, you need one of the following. In each case, the teacher training course can be completed, in its final year, or in progress.

The original 2025 notification also listed graduation with 50 percent plus a B.Ed as a Paper 1 route. The amendment notification of 30 October 2025 withdrew it. If you hold only a B.Ed, apply for Paper 2.

Paper 2 educational qualification

Paper 2 makes you eligible to teach Classes 6 to 8. You need one of the following combinations.

The B.El.Ed route is the only Paper 2 route that starts from PUC rather than graduation. Every other Paper 2 route needs a degree with at least 50 percent, or 45 percent for the relaxed categories.

If you want to be eligible for both levels, you must meet the conditions for both papers and qualify in both. A candidate with graduation, a D.El.Ed and the required percentage, for example, fits route 4 of Paper 1 and route 1 of Paper 2.

Candidates pursuing a teacher training course

The notification quotes an NCTE letter dated 4 August 2022 on the meaning of "pursuing". A candidate who has been admitted to a teacher training course and is undergoing it can be treated as pursuing that course, and is eligible to appear in the TET even if they have not yet written the course exams by the last date of application.

• What this means for you: First-year D.El.Ed, B.Ed or B.El.Ed students can apply, as long as they are admitted and studying.

• Keep proof ready: Keep your admission documents safe, as the details you enter in the form must match your records.

Relaxation in qualifying percentage

This relaxation applies to the marks in your base qualification, such as PUC or graduation. It is separate from the relaxation in the TET qualifying marks, where SC, ST, Category-1 and candidates with disabilities need 55 percent instead of 60 percent. The notification does not say how percentages are rounded or how CGPA is converted. If your marks sit just below 50 percent (or 45 percent), check the next notification or ask the CAC helpline before applying.

Age limit and number of attempts

The KARTET 2025 notification does not prescribe a minimum or maximum age for the test. Age limits, where they apply, come from the separate teacher recruitment notifications. There is also no limit on attempts. You may apply as many times as you like, and qualified candidates can reappear to improve their score.

Other conditions

• Recognised courses only: Only diploma and degree courses recognised by the NCTE count for KARTET. Diploma in Education (Special Education) and B.Ed (Special Education) recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) are also accepted.

• Subject teachers covered: The minimum qualifications apply to candidates and teachers for languages, Mathematics, Science and Social Science.

• Accurate application details: Category, date of birth, qualification and relaxation are decided only on the details you enter in the online form.

• Paper and medium are fixed: You must answer in the subject and medium you chose while applying.

Eligibility examples

The table below applies the 2025 rules to some common profiles. It is a guide only; your own marks and course recognition decide the final answer.

Where the KARTET certificate applies

The notification states that the KARTET certificate applies to schools run by Karnataka government departments and local bodies, and to aided and unaided schools in the state. It is valid for life, as confirmed in the department's notice of 13 January 2026, and certificates for every cycle from 2014 to 2025 can be downloaded from the TET portal.

Remember that KARTET is a minimum eligibility condition, not a recruitment test. To be appointed, you still need to apply and be selected through a separate teacher recruitment notification, which sets its own conditions.

Checks before you apply

1. Confirm your percentage: Check your base qualification marks against the 50 percent (or 45 percent) rule.

2. Confirm course recognition: Make sure your D.El.Ed, B.Ed or B.El.Ed institution is recognised by the NCTE, or the RCI for special education.

3. Pick the right paper: Match the paper to your qualification and to the classes you want to teach.

4. Keep documents ready: Have your marks cards, course admission proof and category certificate at hand while filling in the form.

Who is not eligible

• No minimum qualification: Candidates without one of the qualification routes above cannot appear.

• B.Ed holders for Paper 1: A B.Ed on its own no longer makes you eligible for Paper 1 after the 30 October 2025 amendment.

• Unrecognised courses: Teacher training courses not recognised by the NCTE (or RCI for special education) do not count.

• False information: If eligibility is found to be based on wrong information, or exam rules are broken, the CAC can cancel the eligibility certificate.

Fee and documents

These are the KARTET 2025 fees, with bank charges extra. You need a passport-size photograph (up to 50 KB) and a signature in black ink (up to 40 KB). If the photo, signature or name is unclear, the notification says you will not be allowed to write the exam. Read the full rules in the KARTET 2025 notification on the School Education Department website.