NIOS bridge course registration reopens October 21 for BEd-qualified primary teachers

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is reopening registration for its six-month certificate bridge course in primary teacher education from October 21 to October 28, 2026. This decision follows requests from various stakeholders, including government teachers, and aims to support the professional development of Bachelor of Education (BEd)-qualified teachers currently teaching at the primary level.

The course is specifically mandated for primary teachers whose appointments were made based on a BEd qualification between June 28, 2018, and August 11, 2023. These educators must complete the bridge course to continue meeting their service eligibility requirements, as stated in an official notice.

Course Mandate and Development

The bridge course is essential for BEd-qualified teachers to ensure their continued eligibility for primary level teaching positions. Its development is overseen by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, with the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) taking care of its formulation. The program aims to bridge pedagogical gaps and align teaching practices with modern educational standards, enhancing the teaching skills of in-service educators.

This initiative follows 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 NCTE to formulate a bridge course for certain appointees working as primary teachers who did not possess a D.El.Ed. qualification. The application portal was previously active until April 30, 2026.

Program Structure and Delivery

The six-month certificate program is designed to provide eligible teachers with specialized training and certification for teaching students at the primary level, covering Classes I to V. It will be delivered through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode, allowing flexibility for working professionals. The medium of instruction for the program will be Hindi and English.

Teachers will have the option to appear for the public theory examination in any of the 22 scheduled languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The course is intended to support the professional development of BEd-qualified teachers who wish to continue teaching at the primary level.

How to Register

Eligible candidates can register for the bridge course through the official website, bridge.nios.ac.in, between October 21 and October 28, 2026. The registration window was reopened due to requests from various stakeholders, including government teachers, as confirmed by an official notice which 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.”

The registration process involves several steps:

1. Visit the official website, bridge.nios.ac.in, between October 21 and October 28, 2026.
2. Click on the “Enrol Now” option on the homepage.
3. Read the instructions carefully and click on “Proceed”.
4. Enter the basic details requested on the website.
5. Fill out the registration form with accurate personal and professional information.
6. Upload the required documents, if applicable.
7. Make the payment and submit the form.
8. Download the confirmation page and take a printout for future reference.
9. Candidates are advised to check the information entered in the form before submitting applications.

Further reading

• INI CET November 2027 registration status verification closes today, admit cards out October 26
• Bihar NEET UG 2026 stray round registration begins today; apply by October 21
• Telangana NEET PG 2026 counselling registration underway; apply by October 21
• KLEE 2026 second round stray vacancy counselling option registration extended to October 22
• NEET PG 2026 counselling registration closes October 23 for Telangana state merit

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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