The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is preparing to launch the registration process for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) December 2025 session in the coming days. This crucial examination for aspiring teachers across India is scheduled to be conducted on February 8, 2026, making it an essential milestone for those pursuing teaching careers in CBSE-affiliated institutions.
CTET December 2025: Eligibility Criteria Explained
The CBSE has established clear eligibility requirements to ensure only qualified candidates can appear for the examination. For Paper I, which qualifies candidates to teach classes 1 to 5, applicants must have completed Senior Secondary or equivalent with minimum 50% marks and either completed or be appearing in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education.
For Paper II, covering classes 6 to 8, candidates need a Bachelor's degree along with completion or current enrollment in the final year of a 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education. The examination has a minimum age requirement of 18 years while maintaining no upper age limit restrictions.
CTET Examination Pattern and Structure
The CTET follows a traditional pen-and-paper format with multiple-choice questions across two sessions. Paper I is conducted during the morning shift, while Paper II takes place in the afternoon session. Despite the absence of negative marking, the examination remains challenging due to its comprehensive coverage of teaching methodologies and subject knowledge.
The syllabus is firmly anchored in the NCERT curriculum for classes 1 through 8 and includes critical areas such as child development and pedagogy, languages, mathematics, environmental studies, and subject-specific sections for Paper II. The test emphasizes classroom understanding, conceptual clarity, and teaching aptitude rather than rote memorization.
Step-by-Step Application Process for CTET December 2025
Prospective candidates can follow this systematic approach to complete their CTET registration successfully:
First, visit the official website ctet.nic.in, which serves as the only authorized portal for registration and updates. Once the board activates the registration link for the December 2025 session, first-time applicants must create a new account by providing basic details including name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number, followed by OTP verification.
After account creation, candidates need to log in and complete the online application form by entering personal details, educational qualifications, category information, and preferences for examination paper and city. The document upload stage requires careful attention to specifications, requiring recent passport-sized photographs, signatures, and relevant certificates in the exact formats mentioned in the official notification.
The final steps include online payment through debit/credit cards, net banking, or UPI, followed by thorough review of all entered information. Once submitted, candidates cannot make edits unless the board opens a correction window. Successful applicants must download and save the confirmation page as digital and printed copies, which will be required during future verification processes and recruitment stages.
With the registration window expected to open shortly, aspiring teachers should begin preparing their documents and familiarizing themselves with the process to ensure smooth application submission within the strict timelines set by CBSE.
