CTET Application Process 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Where and How to Apply

Applying for CTET is a fully online process, done through the official CBSE portal at ctet.nic.in. CBSE runs the exam twice a year, usually a February session and a September session, and each one gets its own fresh notification with its own dates. So before you do anything else, go check the current notification on the official site. Dates shift from cycle to cycle, and relying on an old article (including this one, eventually) is how people miss deadlines.

For context, the September 2026 session had its notification released on May 11, 2026, with applications open from May 11 to June 10, and a short correction window right after, from June 15 to 18. The exam itself is set for September 6, 2026, with September 5 kept as a backup date in case the number of candidates makes a second day necessary.

Going Through the Steps

Start by visiting ctet.nic.in and finding the "Apply Online" link for the current session. If you're applying for the first time, you'll register fresh: enter your name, email, and mobile number, and the system will generate an application number and password for you. Write these down somewhere safe immediately. You'll need them again for the admit card, the result, basically every step after this one.

Once you're logged in, you'll fill out the actual application: personal details, your educational qualifications, and whether you're appearing for Paper 1, Paper 2, or both. You'll also be asked to pick a few exam city preferences, usually up to four. List them in the order you'd genuinely prefer, since CBSE allots centers based on availability and your ranked choices.

Next comes document upload: a recent passport-size photo and a scanned signature, both in the file size and format the portal specifies. These specs (usually JPG, with size limits in KB) are listed in the current bulletin, so check there rather than going by memory or an old post.

After that, you pay the application fee online through net banking, a card, or UPI. Before you hit submit, actually read through the form one more time. Most fields can only be changed later during the correction window, and the fee itself is non-refundable, so it pays to be careful here rather than fixing things after the fact.

Once you've submitted, download and save the confirmation page. That's your proof the application went through.

What It Costs

The fee depends on your category and whether you're applying for one paper or both.

General and OBC candidates pay 1,000 rupees for a single paper, or 1,200 rupees for both papers. SC, ST, and PwBD candidates pay 500 rupees for one paper, or 600 rupees for both. Banks may add GST or transaction charges on top of these amounts. As with the dates, fees are set fresh in each notification, so it's worth a quick check against the current bulletin before you pay.

Who's Eligible

For Paper 1, which covers Classes 1 to 5, you generally need to have passed Class 12 (Senior Secondary) with at least 50 percent marks, along with a two-year Diploma in Elementary Education, either completed or in its final year.

For Paper 2, which covers Classes 6 to 8, you need a graduation degree plus a B.Ed, or an equivalent qualification as laid out in the notification.

There's no upper age limit to apply, and no limit on how many times you can attempt the exam. That said, the notification lists several accepted qualification routes and equivalencies that are easy to misread from a summary like this one, so if your background is anything other than the standard path, it's worth reading the actual eligibility section of the bulletin rather than trusting a quick recap.

The Correction Window

A few days after applications close, CBSE usually opens a short window that lets you fix mistakes: wrong personal details, an incorrect paper selection, a document that didn't upload properly. It's genuinely short, often just three or four days, so don't treat it as a safety net. Get the form right the first time if you can.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Apply

Apply early rather than on the last day. The portal tends to slow down badly, or crash outright, when everyone tries to submit at once close to the deadline.

Hold on to your fee payment receipt even if the confirmation page doesn't generate right away. It's your evidence that the payment went through if anything gets disputed later.

Use an email address and phone number you actually check. Every official update, from admit card release to results, comes through these two channels and nowhere else.

And don't share your application password with anyone, no matter who they claim to be. CBSE won't ask for it, and neither should any "help center."

Once your application is in, the next things to watch for are the correction window, then the admit card a few days before the exam, and finally exam day itself. We've written separate posts covering the admit card download and what to carry on exam day, worth a look as your date gets closer.