To be considered for one of the 5,609 primary teacher posts in the 2026/2027 recruitment, you need one of five professional qualifications, each with a minimum KCSE grade. These come from Circular No. 20/2026, issued on 21 October 2026. Every applicant must also be a registered teacher under Section 23(1) of the TSC Act, 2012.
Qualifications TSC accepts
You need any one of these:
| Qualification | Minimum KCSE mean grade |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Education (Primary Option) | C+ or equivalent |
| Bachelor of Education (Secondary Option) together with a P1 certificate | C+ or equivalent |
| Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education together with a P1 certificate | C (plain) or equivalent |
| Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE), Upgrade DPTE (UDPTE) or Diploma in Education (Primary Option), from a recognised institution | C (plain) |
| PTE certificate | Not stated in the circular |
How your qualification is scored
The selection panel scores primary applicants out of 100 on the panel score sheet. The professional qualification carries a maximum of 5 marks:
| Qualification | Marks |
|---|---|
| B.Ed (Primary or Secondary Option): First Class | 5 |
| B.Ed: Second Class | 3 |
| B.Ed: Pass | 2 |
| Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education, or DPTE/UDPTE/Diploma in Education (Primary): Distinction | 5 |
| Credit | 3 |
| Pass | 2 |
| P1: 6 to 28 points | 5 |
| P1: 29 to 50 points | 3 |
| P1: 51 to 64 points | 2 |
The P1 score does not include teaching practice. The other two scored areas are age (maximum 20 marks) and length of stay since qualifying as a teacher (maximum 75 marks).
If applicants tie on professional qualification points, the circular says their aggregate KCSE grades, or equivalent, break the tie.
Documents that prove your qualification
Bring original and legible photocopies of:
- your certificate of registration as a teacher
- your professional qualification
- your KCSE certificate or equivalent, and your KCPE certificate or equivalent
- certificates for every attempt, if you re-sat KCSE or KCPE, each certified by the Sub-County Director
- a KNEC letter of certification of results, where applicable
- primary and secondary school leaving certificates and other relevant testimonials
Applicants whose names differ between certificates and ID must present an affidavit sworn under the Oaths and Statutory Declarations Act, Cap 15.
Before you apply
Applications go through www.teachersonline.go.ke for the county or sub-county where a vacancy has been declared. Applicants who are not registered as teachers will not be considered. For the full process and scoring, see the TSC primary teacher recruitment guidelines and the primary vacancies by county.