March 26, 20268 min read

How to Become a Government Teacher: CTET, TET, KVS, NVS — Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Full roadmap to becoming a government teacher in India — qualification path for PRT/TGT/PGT, CTET and State TET, KVS, NVS, DSSSB recruitment, salary at each level, and career growth.

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Government teaching is one of the most stable and respected career options in India. With a fixed salary, summer/winter vacations, pension (in some states), and genuine job security — it's no surprise that lakhs of candidates appear for CTET and State TETs every year.

Here's the complete path to becoming a government teacher, from the qualifications you need to the exact recruitment routes for central and state schools.

Three Levels of Government Teachers

Government schools recruit teachers at three main levels, each with different qualification requirements:

Level	Full Form	Classes Taught	Minimum Qualification
PRT	Primary Teacher	Class 1-5	12th (50%) + D.El.Ed / B.El.Ed / B.Ed (Primary)
TGT	Trained Graduate Teacher	Class 6-10	Graduation (subject-specific) + B.Ed
PGT	Post Graduate Teacher	Class 11-12	Post-Graduation (subject-specific) + B.Ed

Qualification Breakdown

For PRT (Primary Teacher):

12th pass with at least 50% marks, AND
D.El.Ed (Diploma in Elementary Education, 2 years) OR B.El.Ed (Bachelor of Elementary Education, 4 years) OR B.Ed with primary specialization
CTET/State TET Paper 1 qualification

For TGT (Trained Graduate Teacher):

Bachelor's degree with the teaching subject as a major (e.g., B.Sc. with Physics for Physics TGT), AND
B.Ed (Bachelor of Education, 2 years)
CTET/State TET Paper 2 qualification

For PGT (Post Graduate Teacher):

Master's degree in the teaching subject (e.g., M.A. History for History PGT), AND
B.Ed
No TET required for some recruitments (KVS PGT doesn't mandate CTET), but having CTET is always an advantage

Step-by-Step Path to Government Teaching

Step 1: Complete Your Degree

Choose a subject you want to teach. For TGT, a bachelor's degree in that subject is sufficient. For PGT, you need a master's degree. Common subjects with high demand: Mathematics, Science, English, Hindi, Social Studies.

Step 2: Complete B.Ed (Mandatory)

B.Ed is a 2-year professional degree in education. Admission is through entrance exams in most states. Without B.Ed, you cannot appear for TGT/PGT recruitment (except certain PRT posts where D.El.Ed is accepted).

B.Ed entrance exams: Each state has its own — UP B.Ed JEE, Bihar B.Ed CET, MP B.Ed, etc. Some central universities conduct their own entrance. Important: Do B.Ed from an NCTE-recognized institution only. Degrees from non-recognized institutions are invalid for government teaching.

Step 3: Clear CTET or State TET

This is the mandatory eligibility certificate for teaching in government schools.

CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test):

Conducted by CBSE, twice a year
Valid for recruitment in KVS, NVS, DSSSB, and any school under the central government
Lifetime validity (since December 2021, CTET scores don't expire)

State TET:

Conducted by each state government separately
Valid for recruitment in state government schools only
Validity varies by state (some states give lifetime validity, others 5-7 years)

CTET Exam Pattern

Paper	For Level	Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper 1	PRT (Class 1-5)	150 MCQs	150	2.5 hours
Paper 2	TGT (Class 6-8)	150 MCQs	150	2.5 hours

Paper 1 sections: Child Development (30Q), Language I (30Q), Language II (30Q), Mathematics (30Q), Environmental Studies (30Q) Paper 2 sections: Child Development (30Q), Language I (30Q), Language II (30Q), Mathematics & Science OR Social Studies (60Q) Qualifying marks: 60% (90/150) for General, 55% for OBC/SC/ST.

You can appear for both papers in the same sitting if you want to be eligible for PRT and TGT both.

Step 4: Apply for Recruitment

Once you have your degree + B.Ed + CTET/TET qualification, apply for these recruitment drives:

Recruitment Routes for Government Teachers

KVS (Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan)

KVS runs 1,252 Kendriya Vidyalayas across India and abroad. KVS teachers are central government employees with all CG benefits.

Post	Pay Level	Basic Pay	Requirements
PRT	Level 6	₹35,400	12th + D.El.Ed/B.Ed + CTET Paper 1
TGT	Level 7	₹44,900	Graduation + B.Ed + CTET Paper 2
PGT	Level 8	₹47,600	Post-Graduation + B.Ed

KVS conducts its own recruitment exam (KVS written test + demo teaching + interview). CTET qualification is a prerequisite, not a substitute for the KVS exam.

NVS (Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti)

NVS runs 661 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas — residential schools for talented rural students. NVS teachers live on campus and get quarters.

Post	Pay Level	Basic Pay	Requirements
TGT	Level 7	₹44,900	Graduation + B.Ed + CTET Paper 2
PGT	Level 8	₹47,600	Post-Graduation + B.Ed

NVS also conducts its own written exam. NVS postings are typically in rural/semi-urban areas, with free accommodation and mess facilities.

DSSSB (Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board)

For government school teachers in Delhi. DSSSB recruits PRT, TGT, and PGT for Delhi government schools and MCD schools.

State Government Schools

Each state recruits teachers through its own mechanism:

State	Recruitment Body	Exam
Uttar Pradesh	UPBEB / UPSESSB	UPTET + Super TET / UP TGT-PGT
Bihar	BSEB / BPSC	Bihar TET + BPSC TRE
Rajasthan	REET Board	REET + RSMSSB
Madhya Pradesh	MPESB	MP TET + MPESB exam
Maharashtra	MSCE / Pavitra Portal	MAHA TET + Merit-based

Pattern: Most states require State TET qualification first, then conduct a separate recruitment exam (written test or merit-based).

Government Teacher Salary (7th Pay Commission)

Post	Pay Level	Basic Pay	Approx. In-Hand (Metro)	Approx. In-Hand (Non-Metro)
PRT	Level 6	₹35,400	₹52,000-₹58,000	₹45,000-₹50,000
TGT	Level 7	₹44,900	₹62,000-₹70,000	₹55,000-₹62,000
PGT	Level 8	₹47,600	₹65,000-₹75,000	₹58,000-₹65,000
Vice Principal	Level 12	₹78,800	₹1,10,000+	₹95,000+
Principal	Level 13	₹1,23,100	₹1,60,000+	₹1,40,000+

State government teachers' salaries vary. Some states (Delhi, Haryana, Punjab) pay at par with central scales; others (Bihar, UP, Jharkhand) may pay slightly lower or have different grade structures.

Career Growth: Teacher to Education Officer

Government teaching has a clear promotion hierarchy:

PRT track: PRT → Vice Principal (Primary) → Principal (Primary) TGT/PGT track: TGT → PGT (through promotion/further qualification) → Vice Principal → Principal → Education Officer → Deputy Director Education → Director Education

KVS has a structured promotion policy. A KVS TGT can become PGT through departmental promotion, then Vice Principal, then Principal. Some KVS Principals reach Level 13 with ₹1,23,100+ basic pay — significantly higher than what most people assume teachers earn.

Private vs Government Teaching: Why Government Wins

Parameter	Government Teacher	Private School Teacher
Starting salary (TGT)	₹44,900 basic + DA + HRA	₹15,000-₹35,000 (varies wildly)
Job security	Permanent (cannot be fired)	At-will employment
Pension	Yes (in many states) / NPS	Rarely
Vacations	Summer + Winter + Gazetted holidays	Fewer holidays, extra duties
Workload	5-6 periods/day, fixed syllabus	7-8 periods + extra classes + admin
Transfers	Yes (can be inconvenient)	No transfers

The salary gap between government and private teaching is massive at the entry level and only grows wider with DA increments and promotions.

FAQ

Q: Can I become a government teacher without B.Ed? For TGT and PGT positions, B.Ed is mandatory — no exceptions. For PRT (primary level), D.El.Ed (Diploma in Elementary Education) is accepted as an alternative. Some states accept B.El.Ed (4-year integrated course) for primary teaching. But for upper-primary and secondary level, B.Ed is non-negotiable. Q: Is CTET compulsory for KVS and NVS recruitment? For KVS PRT and TGT positions, CTET qualification is mandatory. For KVS PGT, CTET is desirable but not always mandatory (check the specific notification). For NVS, CTET Paper 2 is mandatory for TGT posts. Always read the official recruitment notification for exact requirements. Q: How many times can I attempt CTET? There is no limit on CTET attempts. You can appear as many times as you want. Since the CTET score now has lifetime validity (from December 2021), once you score 60%+, you never need to retake it. Q: Which is better — KVS or State Government school teacher? KVS offers central government status, better pay consistency, and postings across India (including abroad). State government schools offer the advantage of working in your home state. Salary-wise, KVS is generally better, especially in states where state teacher pay is below central scales.