The Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan (KPB) has officially announced the exam dates and complete schedule for the Kerala Teacher Eligibility Test (KTET) 2026 February session. Serving as a crucial state-level certification for aspiring educators, qualifying for the KTET is a mandatory requirement for securing teaching positions and career advancements across government and aided schools in Kerala, as per Supreme Court mandates. Candidates can review the official notifications and details directly on the official portal via https://ktet.kerala.gov.in/ or check the Official Kerala TET February 2026 Notification PDF.
KTET 2026 February Exam Overview
The examination is conducted in an offline mode across four distinct categories. Review the summary table below for essential details regarding the exam administration:
| Kerala TET 2026 February Exam Summary | |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan |
| Exam Name | Kerala Teacher Eligibility Test (KTET) |
| Session | February 2026 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Exam Dates | 8th and 9th August 2026 |
| Certificate Validity | Lifetime |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Official Website | www.ktet.kerala.gov.in |
Exam Schedule and Timings
The examination spans across two days for Categories 1 through 4. Each paper lasts for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Consult the timetable below:
| Exam Dates | Exam Timing | Categories |
|---|---|---|
| 8th August 2026 | 10:00 am β 12:30 pm | Category 1 |
| 8th August 2026 | 2:00 pm β 4:30 pm | Category 2 |
| 9th August 2026 | 10:00 am β 12:30 pm | Category 3 |
| 9th August 2026 | 2:00 pm β 4:30 pm | Category 4 |
KTET Categories Breakdown
The exam is organized into distinct categories based on the teaching level:
| Categories | Details |
|---|---|
| Category I- Lower Primary (Classes 1 to 5) | For candidates who wish to teach students at the primary school level. |
| Category II- Upper Primary (Classes 6 to 8) | For candidates aspiring to teach at the upper primary level. |
| Category III β High School (Classes 9 and 10) | For candidates looking to teach at the high school level. |
| Category IV β Specialist Teachers | For language subject teachers (Hindi, Arabic, Urdu), Physical Education teachers, and other specialised teaching roles. |
Eligibility Criteria Checklists
Applicants must fulfill specific academic prerequisites depending on the chosen category:
Category 1 (Lower Primary Classes) Eligibility Requirements
- Must pass Higher Secondary/ Higher Secondary or equivalent at least with 45% and 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (by whatever name known), in accordance with the NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations 2002 or
- Higher Secondary/ Senior Secondary (or itβs equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.). or
- Higher Secondary/ Senior Secondary (or itβs equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 2-year Diploma in Education (Special Education).
Category 2 (Upper Primary Classes) Eligibility Requirements
- B.A/ B.Sc./ B.Com. and a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education/ Trained Teachersβ Certificate (TTC) [by whatever name known] conducted by the Board of Examinations, Govt. of Kerala or its equivalent. or
- BA/ B.Sc. / B.Com with at least 45% marks and one-year Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.), in accordance with NCTE (Recognition, Norms and Procedure) Regulations issued from time to time in this regard or
- Higher Secondary/ Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4 year Bachelorβs in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.). or
- Higher Secondary/ Senior Secondary (or its equivalent) with at least 50% marks and 4 years BA/ B.Sc.Ed or B.A. Ed or B.Sc.Ed.
Category 3 (High School Classes) Eligibility Requirements
- BA/ BSc/ B.Com with marks of at least 45% and a B.Ed. A degree in the subject concerned (from any of the universities in Kerala or from any other university recognised as equivalent)
- For those who have MSc. Ed. in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology, A degree with not less than 50 per cent of the marks of one of the Regional Institutes of Education funded by NCERT will be eligible to apply for the subject matter concerned.
- For the subjects of Botany and Zoology, those with MSc. Ed., Ed. It is possible to apply for a Degree in Life Science with not less than 50% marks from any of the Regional Institutes of Education.
- Candidates from SC/ST and differently-abled categories will be provided with a relaxation of 5% marks in the minimum qualifying marks.
- Candidates from OBC & OEC categories will be given a relaxation of 3% in the qualifying marks to appear for the K-TET III.
Category 4 Eligibility Requirements
- 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 XXXI of Kerala Education Act and Rules are eligible to apply for K-TET IV.
- Candidates from SC/ST and differently-abled categories will be provided a relaxation of 5% marks in the qualifying marks prescribed for the eligibility to appear for the K-TET IV.
Application Fees Structure
Application charges vary depending on applicant categories:
| Category | Application Fees |
|---|---|
| Unreserved | Rs. 500/- |
| SC/ST/PWD | Rs. 250/- |
Steps to Apply Online for Kerala TET Exam 2026
Ensure you follow these procedures accurately when submitting your application online:
- Navigate to the official KTET website at https://ktet.kerala.gov.in/.
- From the homepage, locate the K-TET February 2026 notification section and select the βRegistrationβ link.
- Fill out the online registration form, ensuring you correctly select the specific category for which you are applying.
- Provide your essential details, including full name, contact information, email address, and mobile number.
- Upload a recent photograph in the required format (JPEG/JPG, size between 20KB and 30KB).
- Upon successful submission, a unique application number will be sent to your registered email and mobile device.
- Visit the Candidate Login section and enter your application number along with your password to access your account.
- Verify all details and proceed to make the online payment of the application fee based on your category.
- Once payment is confirmed, download and print a copy of your completed KTET application form for future reference.
Exam Pattern Overview
The KTET examination comprises 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) carrying 1 mark each, with no negative marking for incorrect answers. Explore additional preparation tools like View the Updated KTET Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 and download Download KTET Previous Year Question Papers in PDF.
Category 1 Exam Pattern
| Part | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Child Development and Pedagogy (relevant to age group 6-11) | 30 | 30 |
| 1 | Mathematics | 30 | 30 |
| 1 | Environmental Studies | 30 | 30 |
| 2 | Language I-Malayalam/ Tamil/ Kannada | 30 | 30 |
| 3 | Language II- English/Arabic | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 | |
Category 2 Exam Pattern
| Part | Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Child Development and Pedagogy (relevant to age group 11-14) | 30 | 30 |
| 1 | (a) For Mathematics and Science teachers: Mathematics and Science or (b) For Social Science teachers: Social Science or (c) For any other teachers (a) or (b) | 60 | 60 |
| 2 | Language I-Malayalam/Tamil/Kannada/English | 30 | 30 |
| 3 | Language II-(Other than Language I) Malayalam/English | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 | |
Next Steps for Candidates
After successful registration and fee payment, candidates should regularly check the official portal for hall ticket announcements. Make sure to Download Your Kerala TET Hall Ticket 2026 Here as soon as it becomes available. Plan your travel logistics ahead of the exam dates to ensure timely arrival at your designated center.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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