NIOS 6-month bridge course registration reopens: apply by October 28

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has announced the reopening of registration for its six-month certificate bridge course in primary teacher education. The registration window will be active from October 21 to October 28, 2026, on the official website bridge.nios.ac.in.

This reopening follows requests from various stakeholders, including government teachers, and aims to support the professional growth of BEd-qualified teachers who are currently teaching at the primary level. The course is mandatory for primary teachers whose appointments were made based on a BEd qualification between June 28, 2018, and August 11, 2023, to maintain their eligibility for service.

Eligibility and Purpose of the Bridge Course

The six-month certificate bridge course is specifically designed for in-service primary school teachers who possess a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree. Its primary purpose is to support the professional development of these teachers, enabling them to continue teaching at the primary level, covering Classes 1 to 5. The program aims to equip eligible teachers with the necessary knowledge and practical skills required for primary education.

The course focuses on key areas such as child development, educational psychology, curriculum design, teaching methodologies, and assessment techniques. It also incorporates subject-specific teaching approaches for languages, mathematics, and environmental studies, alongside a school experience component. The program combines theoretical learning with practical training, delivered through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode, including online contact classes and school-based experience. The medium of instruction will be Hindi and English, with an option for teachers to appear for the public theory examination in any of the 22 scheduled languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Background and Supreme Court Mandate

This initiative stems from the Supreme Court of India’s judgment dated April 8, 2024, in Civil Appeal No. 5068 of 2023, Devesh Sharma vs Union of India and Others. This judgment empowered the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) to formulate a bridge course for certain appointees working as primary teachers who did not possess a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.) qualification. The NCTE will develop the bridge course under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

The registration portal was previously active until April 30, 2026. An official notice stated, “next, requests were received from various stakeholders for the reopening of the registration portal. Accordingly, the Competent Authority has approved the reopening of the registration portal for eligible candidates.” Failure to complete this course within the timeframe specified by concerned educational authorities will invalidate the appointment of such candidates. The bridge course will not be valid for teachers seeking subsequent employment as primary teachers.

Application Process and Important Dates

Candidates interested in applying for the NIOS certificate bridge course must visit the official website, bridge.nios.ac.in, during the registration period. The application portal will be accessible from October 21 to October 28, 2026. Candidates whose appointment dates fall outside the standard range of June 28, 2018, to August 11, 2023, but have received relaxation through a court order, should select ‘Court Order Registration’.

The application process involves several steps:

1. Visit the official website at bridge.nios.ac.in between October 21 and October 28, 2026.
2. Click on the “enroll now” option on the homepage.
3. Read all the instructions carefully and click on ‘proceed.’
4. Fill out the basic details as required.
5. Complete the registration form with accurate personal and professional details.
6. Upload the necessary documents, if prompted.
7. Make the payment for the course and then submit the application.
8. Download the confirmation page and take a printout for future reference.

Further reading

• NIOS bridge course registration reopens October 21 for BEd-qualified primary teachers
• Bihar NEET UG 2026 stray round registration begins today; apply by October 21
• Telangana NEET PG 2026 counselling registration underway; apply by October 21
• MP NEET PG 2026 round 1 registration ongoing: apply by October 20
• NEET UG Stray Round 2026 registration opens for Haryana MBBS, BDS seats; apply by October 19

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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