Article 237 of the Constitution of Kenya and Act No. 20 of 2012 establishing the Teachers Service Commission establish the Teachers Service Commission as the single institution responsible for the registration of teachers in Kenya.
After fulfilling all requirements, the TSC will provide a TSC number as evidence of registration. Section 23 of TSC ACT No. 20 of 2012 makes it illegal for anyone who is not a certified teacher to provide instructional services.
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Teacher Registration Categories
TSC has provided several categories where teachers can apply to be registered. This includes the following:
1. Early Child Development Education-ECDE
2. Primary Teacher Education-PTE
3. Diploma in Education
4. Diploma in Education for Visually and hearing impaired
5. Bachelor of Education
6. Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Science
1. Early Child Development Education-ECDE
For one to be registered as ECDE teacher, you need to have the following qualification
The certificate holders:
- Have a Minimum of CPE/KCPE together with an ECDE Certificate from the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). OR
- Have a KCSE mean grade of D+(minimum) and an ECDE Certificate from KNEC. OR
- Have a Minimum mean grade of D (plain) at KCSE, a KNEC proficiency certificate, plus an ECDE Certificate from KNEC.
The diploma in ECDE holders need;
- Have a KCSE Mean grade of C Plain and an ECDE Certificate from KNEC.
- Have a KCSE Mean grade of C+ (minimum) plus a University Diploma in ECDE.
The degree in ECDE holders need;
- Have a KCSE Mean grade C+ (and above) and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree in ECDE.
2. Primary Teacher Education-PTE
For one to be registered as primary teacher education PTE candidate, needs to have the following qualifications;
For certificate holder;
- Have a Minimum of CPE/KCPE together with an ECDE Certificate from the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). OR
- Have a KCSE mean grade of D+(minimum) and an ECDE Certificate from KNEC. OR
- Have a Minimum mean grade of D (plain) at KCSE, a KNEC proficiency certificate, plus an ECDE Certificate from KNEC.
For diploma holders;
- Have a KCSE Mean grade of C Plain and an ECDE Certificate from KNEC.
- Have a KCSE Mean grade of C+ (minimum) plus a University Diploma in ECDE.
For degree holders;
- Have a KCSE Mean grade C+ (and above) and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree in ECDE.
3. Diploma in Education
For one to be registered, they need to have;
- Minimum grade C+( Plus) in KCSE and above and C+ (Plus) in the two subjects specialization.
- At least C (Plain) in English
- C (plain) in Mathematics for Science-based courses
- D+( plus) in Mathematics in non-science based courses.
4. Diploma in Education for Visually and hearing impaired
For one to be registered, they need to have;
- Minimum grade C (Plain) in KCSE and above.
- At least C Minus in English
- C- (Minus) in Mathematics for Science based courses
- D (Plain) in Mathematics in non-science based courses
5. Bachelor of Education
For one to be registered, they need to have;
- Minimum mean grade C+ (plus) and above or its equivalent.
- C+ (Plus) in two subjects of specialization
6. Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Science
For one to be registered as a teacher, they need to have attained the following;
- Minimum grade C+ (Plus) in KCSE and above and C+ (Plus) in the two subjects of specialization.
- Post graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
Which Documents are required for Teacher registration?
For one to be successfully registered by TSC as a teacher, they need to provide the following documentation.
1. Certificate of Good Conduct
2. Academic and professional certificates from recognized institutions
3. Copy of Identity Card or Passport
4. A passport photo
5. KRA Pin Certificate
6. Filled GP 69 Medical Form
7. Payment of registration fee; Non-refundable fee of Kshs.1,060 Deposit is made to the TSC; Registration Account – National Bank of Kenya – No. 01001000905001 or through M-pesa using using paybill number 625 625. Note that you will enter TSC followed by the ID number of the person seeking registration. The two should be one word and should not be separated.
For non Citizens, submit the following documents;
1. Academic and Professional Certificates and other evidence for registration as a teacher obtained in Kenya or the country of origin
2. Academic and Professional Certificates. NB: Must have been awarded by an accredited foreign institution and equated by the relevant public body in Kenya
3. Certificate of Registration as a teacher or authority to teach in the country of origin
4. Valid Entry and Work Permit issued by the Department of Immigration
5. Valid Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the relevant law enforcement agency in the country of origin
6. Vetting letter from the Ministry of Education (Kenya)
7. Payment of registration fee; Non-refundable fee of Kshs.1,060 Deposit is made to the TSC; Registration Account – National Bank of Kenya – No. 01001000905001 or through M-pesa using using paybill number 625 625. Note that you will enter TSC followed by the ID number of the person seeking registration. The two should be one word and should not be separated.
The documents above should be scanned and uploaded in the portal.
How do you register as a teacher on TSC portal?
To fully register as a teacher through the online portal, you need to follow the following steps.
Step 1: Scan all the required documents and ensure the file size is less than 1MB for them to upload.
Step 2: Select New Teacher Registration
Step 3: Enter your ID number, or passport number, and surname and click next
Step 4: Enter phone number, KRA pin number. Check Yes, for question are you a trained teacher. The registration category you need to select either ECDE, Primary or post primary. Enter the mean grade and year when you did KCSE.
Step 5: Upload the scanned documents. The scanned documents should be saved as PDF and not image. Enter the required details like institution, from, to, specialization certificate number and certificate year before choosing the document to upload. When all documents have been uploaded, click next.
Step 6: Enter details on subjects studied at college/ university, study hours and grade scored. Also required are other details like if you were dismissed in the course of your studies. Enter the payment mode used and click the ‘the finalize and save everything down here’ button
Step 7: Make payment registration fee after the prompt.
Conclusion.
TSC registration exercise is simple and all you need to have are your documents ready and have a stable internet connection to enable uploading of documents on the TSC online portal.