TET Mandatory for Teachers; In-service Teachers get two years to clear test: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, in its latest ruling, has made the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) qualification mandatory for teachers. Moreover, in-service teachers appointed before the RTE Act, 2009, and who have more than 5 years of service left, need to clear the TET exam in two years.

TET mandatory for Teachers: SC

Supreme Court has ruled that qualifying the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is mandatory for teachers seeking appointment as well as for in-service teachers appointed before the implementation of the RTE Act, 2009 and have more than 5 years of service left. The SC bench further clarified that those who have only 5 years of service left or less can continue to serve as teachers without the need to qualify the TET exam. However, such teachers will not be considered for promotion. Teachers who fail to clear the TET examination within two years will have to "quit service or be compulsorily retired".

The apex court held that the TET requirement for teachers will not apply to minority schools or institutions as of now. The larger bench of the court will decide the applicability of TET in minority schools.

The ruling was made by SC bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan on September 1, 2025, while hearing a batch of petitions on the TET qualification for teachers.

TET Applicability: RTE Act

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education, 2009 (RTE Act) states that obtaining the TET qualification is compulsory for teachers. This applies to all aspiring teachers as well as to in-service teachers.

Two Years for In-Service Teachers to Clear CTET or TET

The in-service teachers who have over 5 years of service left should clear the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) or any state TET exam, whichever is applicable, in the next two years to continue to serve. In failing to do so, such teachers will have to quit their services.

NCTE Decision on TET/ CTET

In 2011, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) made CTET or TET mandatory for candidates to be eligible to apply for teacher recruitment in government schools.

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