NIOS launches six-month bridge course for B.Ed-qualified primary teachers

The Ministry of Education has launched a six-month Certificate (Bridge) Course in Primary Teacher Education for eligible in-service primary teachers who hold B.Ed. degrees.

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the programme in New Delhi on Sep 16. The course will be implemented through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) under the framework of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

The programme is specifically meant for teachers already appointed at the primary level and is not a general qualification route for B.Ed. graduates seeking fresh employment as primary teachers. NIOS states that the bridge course is intended to provide professional development to in-service primary teachers with B.Ed. qualifications.

Who is eligible for the bridge course

The standard eligibility criteria cover in-service primary teachers who were appointed to teach Classes 1 to 5 between June 28, 2018 and August 11, 2023, and whose appointments are covered under the NCTE Gazette Notification dated June 28, 2018.

Teachers whose appointment date falls outside this period can register under the court-order category if they have obtained relaxation from a court. NIOS requires such candidates to submit an affidavit, writ petition and copy of the court order along with their registration.

The course follows directions issued by the Supreme Court in its April 8, 2024 order in Devesh Sharma vs Union of India and Others. The NIOS portal says the NCTE is to design the bridge course under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Education.

Course structure and assessment

The six-month programme will be offered through the Open and Distance Learning mode. It consists of six academic courses and a school experience component, carrying a total of 20 credits and 500 marks.

The academic components cover Child Development and Educational Psychology, Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment, Pedagogy of Language-I, Pedagogy of Language-II, Pedagogy of Mathematics and Pedagogy of The World Around Us.

The programme also requires at least 20 teaching days as part of school experience and at least 10 days of contact classes. Teachers must maintain a minimum attendance of 80% during the school-experience component.

During school experience, teachers will plan and teach lessons in Language-I, Language-II, Mathematics and The World Around Us. The programme also includes a portfolio, activities involving children, and a reflective journal.

The stated objectives include helping teachers understand primary-school children, develop age-appropriate teaching practices, address classroom diversity and assess children's learning. The programme also covers the use of emerging technologies in primary teacher education.

The medium of instruction is Hindi and English. Teachers can, however, write the public examination in any of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, according to details reported on the programme.

NIOS has also specified that completing the bridge course within the timeframe prescribed by the concerned educational authorities is necessary. Failure to complete it within that period will invalidate the appointment of eligible candidates. The bridge-course certificate will not be valid for teachers seeking subsequent employment as primary teachers.

The NIOS portal currently lists 76,731 registrations for the programme, including 67,529 paid applications. The portal also shows that a court-order registration window was open from July 30 to September 3, 2026 for eligible teachers who had obtained judicial relaxation.

NIOS Bridge Course 2026: Key Details

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is conducting a six-month Certificate (Bridge) Course in Primary Teacher Education for in-service primary school teachers who hold a B.Ed. qualification. The course has been designed under the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) framework following directions issued by the Supreme Court in April 2024.

The programme is intended to provide eligible B.Ed.-qualified primary teachers with training in primary-level pedagogy and help them meet the requirements applicable to their existing appointments.

Who Can Apply?

The course is meant specifically for in-service primary school teachers with a B.Ed. qualification. Applicants must have been appointed to primary teaching positions during the specified eligibility period and their appointments must have been based on the validity of their B.Ed. qualification under the relevant NCTE notification.

It is not a general course for fresh B.Ed. graduates who are looking to become primary teachers.

NIOS Bridge Course Eligibility

According to the NIOS portal, the standard eligibility applies to teachers appointed between June 28, 2018, and August 11, 2023, in accordance with the NCTE notification.

Teachers whose appointment dates fall outside this period may register under the Court Order Registration category if they have obtained relaxation from a court. Such applicants are required to submit an affidavit, a copy of their writ petition and the relevant court order along with the other required documents.

The NIOS portal also states that the course must be completed within the prescribed timeframe. Failure to complete it can invalidate the appointment of eligible candidates.

Course Duration and Structure

The NIOS Bridge Course is a six-month certificate course conducted in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The programme combines academic learning with school-based experience and contact classes.

The course focuses on areas such as child development and educational psychology, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, language teaching, mathematics and understanding the world around the child. It also includes school experience intended to give teachers practical exposure to primary-level teaching.

The NIOS framework requires at least 20 days of school experience, along with at least 10 days of contact classes. Teachers are required to maintain a minimum of 80% attendance during the school-experience component.

NIOS Bridge Course Registration

NIOS has operated registration through its dedicated Bridge Course portal at bridge.nios.ac.in. Applicants are required to enter their personal and school details and submit the required documents before completing the fee payment and registration process.

The documents listed by NIOS include a recent passport-size colour photograph, the applicant's signature, B.Ed. marksheet or certificate, appointment letter and a self-declaration certificate duly certified by the concerned school principal.

For applicants registering under the court-order category, NIOS additionally requires an affidavit, writ petition and copy of the court order.

Important Dates

The NIOS Bridge Course has had multiple registration windows. For the latest Court Order Registration category, the official NIOS portal listed the registration period as July 30 to September 3, 2026.

Earlier, NIOS had reopened the regular registration window from July 3 to July 19, 2026. The portal also records an earlier registration period from November 24 to December 25, 2025, followed by subsequent extensions and reopening of registration.

Therefore, applicants should check the official NIOS Bridge Course portal for any fresh notification or extension instead of relying on earlier deadlines.

Course Fee

According to the NIOS admission details, the course registration and admission fee is ₹25,000, which is a one-time, non-refundable fee and includes the first-session examination fee.

In addition, NIOS lists an examination fee of ₹600 per theory subject and ₹250 per practical subject. A separate ₹70 online transaction charge is applicable to each online transaction.

Official NIOS Link

The official NIOS Bridge Course portal is bridge.nios.ac.in. Applicants should use the official portal for eligibility checks, registration notifications, programme information, document requirements and fee-related details.