Dreaming of your own classroom in a Bihar government school? Then this is your season. Applications for the fourth Teacher Recruitment Examination are open, and before you click submit, you need to get one thing right: BPSC TRE 4.0 eligibility. Pick the wrong TET paper or miss one condition, and you could lose a whole recruitment cycle.

This guide takes you through the qualification, STET/CTET and age rules for each teaching level: Classes 1–5, 6–8, 9–10 and 11–12. It also covers the self-declaration route if you're still waiting for your STET 2026 result. Keep your certificates nearby so you can check each rule as you read.

Key Takeaways

• Each of the four teaching levels has its own rules for degree, teacher training and eligibility test.
• Classes 1–5 and 6–8 accept CTET or Bihar TET (Paper I and Paper II). Classes 9–10 and 11–12 need Bihar STET (Paper I and Paper II).
• Reported minimum age: 18 years for Classes 1–8 and 21 years for Classes 9–12. The maximum is 37 to 42 years, depending on category.
• Waiting for your STET 2026 result? You can apply with a self-declaration, but you must pass STET before the written exam.
• The online application window runs from 25 September to 26 October 2026.

BPSC TRE 4.0 Eligibility 2026 at a Glance

Here's a quick summary by level before we go into detail. It is based on coaching and news summaries of the advertisement. Always do your final check against the official notification on bpsc.bihar.gov.in.

If you remember one line from this table, make it the last column. It's where most applicants slip up.

Which Advertisement Should You Read?

Check this first, because the pages online don't all agree.

According to PW and Notifyhere, BPSC re-issued the TRE 4.0 notice as Advertisement No. 15/2026, dated 22 September 2026. It cancels and replaces the earlier Advertisement No. 14/2026, dated 18 August 2026. Result Bharat's page still shows Advt. No. 14/2026, so the sources disagree. Most recent guides, including Prepp's step-by-step application instructions, tell you to select Advt. No. 15/2026 on the BPSC portal.

What this means for you:

• Read the eligibility rules in the 15/2026 document, not old summaries of 14/2026.
• If you started a form under the older notice, check on the portal whether you need to apply again.
• Several news reports say BPSC has added posts for Classes 9–10 and 11–12 through a revised vacancy notice. For the confirmed total and the subject-wise split, check the official notification.

BPSC TRE 4.0 Eligibility: Age Limit by Level and Category

Minimum age

The minimum age depends on the level you're applying for:

• Classes 1–5 and 6–8: 18 years
• Classes 9–10 and 11–12: 21 years

Prepp notes that the age bands are set separately for the two groups of levels. This is the main reason a fresh graduate may qualify for a middle school post but not yet for a secondary one.

Maximum age (category-wise)

Sources also report that the retirement age is fixed at 60 years.

The reference date: read this carefully

Most pages, including Prepp, Adda247 and Indian Sarkari, say your age is counted as on 1 August 2026. The sources don't fully agree, though. Drishti Teaching Exams and Sarkari Mission give 1 August 2024 as the cut-off for the maximum age, and SarkariExam mentions 1 January 2026.

If you're more than a year or two below your category's upper limit, this won't change anything for you. If you're close to the limit, the reference date decides whether you can apply. Open the official PDF and find that line before you do anything else.

STET/CTET Rules for Each Teaching Level

This is where most applications go wrong. The rule is simple once you see it laid out:

Three points to keep in mind

1. CTET is listed only for Classes 1–8. For secondary and senior secondary posts, the reported rule names Bihar STET. A CTET Paper II certificate on its own won't make you eligible for Classes 9–10.
2. "Paper I" means different things at different levels. CTET/Bihar TET Paper I is for primary classes. STET Paper I is for Classes 9–10. Make sure the right certificate goes with the right post.
3. STET is subject-wise. For Classes 9–10, the STET Paper I you passed must be in the subject you're applying to teach.

STET 2026 Self-Declaration: Can You Apply Before Your Result?

Yes, you can, and this is good news for many readers. BPSC has made a provision for candidates who have appeared, or are going to appear, in STET 2026 but don't have their result yet.

Who can use this route

According to the guides we checked, you can apply now if you:

• already hold the required academic qualification,
• have completed the required teacher-training qualification, and
• are appearing in STET 2026.

How it works, step by step

1. In the online form, select 2026 as your STET Year of Passing.
2. Download the self-declaration format from bpsc.bihar.gov.in.
3. Fill in your STET details as required and attach a copy of your STET application form.
4. Submit the self-declaration with your TRE 4.0 application.
5. Keep your STET admit card, result and original certificates ready. The Commission can ask for them at any stage.

The condition you can't skip

You must pass STET 2026 before the written (objective) examination. If you don't, no admit card will be issued. As Testbook points out, the self-declaration does not replace the STET certificate. It only lets you apply while your result is pending.

So, while you wait for the result, keep preparing for TRE as if you've already passed STET.

Qualification for Each Level: BPSC TRE 4.0 Eligibility in Detail

Below are the main routes reported for each level. The official notification also lists extra equivalent routes (for example, certain Madrasa Board and university qualifications) and subject-specific conditions, so read the section for your subject in the PDF.

Primary Teacher (Classes 1–5)

• Class 12 (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks + 2-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed), or
• Class 12 with at least 50% marks + 4-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed), or
• Graduation + 2-year D.El.Ed
• Plus: CTET Paper I or Bihar TET Paper I

This level has the lowest minimum age, so it suits candidates who have just finished their D.El.Ed or B.El.Ed.

Middle School Teacher (Classes 6–8)

• Graduation + 2-year D.El.Ed, or
• Graduation/post-graduation with at least 50% marks + B.Ed, or
• Graduation with at least 45% marks + 1-year B.Ed (as per NCTE norms), or
• Class 12 with at least 50% marks + 4-year B.El.Ed or 4-year BA.Ed/BSc.Ed, or
• Graduation/PG with at least 55% marks + 3-year integrated B.Ed–M.Ed
• Plus: CTET Paper II or Bihar TET Paper II

Result Bharat also lists technical routes for certain subjects, such as BCA + D.El.Ed/B.Ed or B.Tech + B.Ed. For language subjects, you're expected to have studied that language at graduation level.

Secondary Teacher (Classes 9–10)

• Graduation/post-graduation in the relevant subject with at least 50% marks + B.Ed, or
• Graduation/PG in the relevant subject with at least 45% marks + B.Ed (as per the 2002 norms), or
• 4-year integrated BA.Ed/BSc.Ed
• Plus: Bihar STET Paper I in the relevant subject

Senior Secondary Teacher (Classes 11–12)

• Master's degree in the subject with at least 50% marks + B.Ed/BA.Ed/BSc.Ed, or
• Master's degree with at least 55% marks + 3-year integrated B.Ed–M.Ed
• Plus: Bihar STET Paper II

Your post-graduation subject must match the subject you want to teach. A master's in a related subject may not be enough.

Once you know you're eligible, start practising for the teaching-skills part of the exam. Crown Publications' STET Shikshan Kala Evam Anya Dakshta Practice Sets (Paper 1 & Paper 2) cover the pedagogy and teaching-aptitude topics that appear in Bihar's teacher exams.

Nationality, Domicile and Other Conditions

Apart from age, degree and TET, check these points:

• Nationality: You must be an Indian citizen.
• Bihar domicile: According to Prepp, you don't need Bihar domicile to apply. It is needed only to claim certain reservation benefits. If you're from another state, you can apply, but you'll compete in the unreserved category.
• Certificate dates: Several pages report that eligibility certificates should be valid up to 26 October 2026, the last date of application. Make sure your marksheets, caste certificate and other documents are dated on or before that day.

Important Dates and Your Final Checklist

A note on the fee deadline: PW, Prepp, Adda247 and Drishti list 25 October 2026 as the last date for fee payment and 26 October for the form. Other pages don't match. Notifyhere lists 25 October as the online application deadline, and Result Bharat gives both dates in different places. Since the sources disagree, the safe choice is to finish both the fee payment and the form by 25 October.

Your five-minute eligibility checklist

• My age fits my category's limit on the reference date in the official PDF.
• My degree and training (D.El.Ed/B.Ed/integrated course) match my chosen level.
• My marks meet the minimum percentage for my route.
• I hold the right test: CTET/Bihar TET for Classes 1–8, or STET (in the right subject) for Classes 9–12.
• If my STET 2026 result is pending, I've filled in the self-declaration and attached my STET application copy.
• I'm applying under the current advertisement (15/2026).

Conclusion

BPSC TRE 4.0 eligibility can look complicated, but it comes down to four checks: your age on the reference date, your degree and training, the right CTET/Bihar TET or STET paper for your level, and the correct advertisement. Take them one at a time and you'll know quickly where you stand.

If you're waiting for your STET 2026 result, use the self-declaration route, but treat passing STET before the written exam as a must. Most importantly, don't leave your form for the last day. Download the official notification, tick off the checklist above, and submit early. Good luck with your application!

FAQs

Can I apply for BPSC TRE 4.0 Classes 9–10 with only a CTET certificate?

Based on the reported rules, no. CTET (Paper I or II) is accepted only for Classes 1–8. For Classes 9–10, you need Bihar STET Paper I in the subject you want to teach, and for Classes 11–12 you need STET Paper II.

My STET 2026 result hasn't come out yet. Can I still apply?

Yes, if you already hold the academic and training qualifications. Select 2026 as your STET passing year, then submit the self-declaration format from bpsc.bihar.gov.in with a copy of your STET application form. You must pass STET 2026 before the written exam, or you won't get an admit card.

What is the minimum age for BPSC TRE 4.0?

Reported figures are 18 years for Primary (Classes 1–5) and Middle (Classes 6–8) posts, and 21 years for Secondary (Classes 9–10) and Senior Secondary (Classes 11–12) posts. Most sources count age as on 1 August 2026, but a few give a different date for the maximum age, so check the official notification.

Do I need a Bihar domicile to apply for BPSC TRE 4.0?

No. According to published guides, domicile isn't needed to apply. It matters only if you want to claim certain reservation benefits. Candidates from other states can apply in the unreserved category.

Is B.Ed accepted for Middle School Teacher (Classes 6–8) posts?

Yes. One of the main routes is graduation or post-graduation with at least 50% marks plus B.Ed. Other routes include graduation plus D.El.Ed and integrated courses such as B.El.Ed or BA.Ed/BSc.Ed. You also need CTET Paper II or Bihar TET Paper II.

Which advertisement number should I use for BPSC TRE 4.0?

Most recent sources say BPSC re-issued the recruitment as Advertisement No. 15/2026, dated 22 September 2026, replacing No. 14/2026. One site still lists 14/2026, so confirm on bpsc.bihar.gov.in and select the current advertisement on the application portal.