BSTC degree ya diploma? · Status explained
Is BSTC a degree? No. BSTC is a diploma. Its official name is Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed), a two-year course after Class 12 under NCTE norms. It is not a graduation degree, so it cannot replace graduation in a job advertisement or in B.Ed eligibility. This page explains the status, what it means for jobs and study, and how NEP 2020 could change the picture later.
बीएसटीसी डिग्री नहीं, डिप्लोमा है। इसका आधिकारिक नाम डिप्लोमा इन एलीमेंट्री एजुकेशन (डी.एल.एड.) है। यह स्नातक की डिग्री की जगह नहीं ले सकता।
- Diploma, not degree
- D.El.Ed: Diploma in Elementary Education
- Two years after Class 12
- NEP: 4-year B.Ed by 2030 (goal)
Is BSTC a degree? Quick answer
Quick answer
BSTC is a diploma (D.El.Ed = Diploma in Elementary Education). It is not a degree, and it is not a graduation-level qualification.
| Point | BSTC status |
|---|---|
| Official name | Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) |
| Old name | Basic School Teaching Certificate (BSTC) |
| Level | Diploma after Class 12 |
| Duration | Two years (up to three to finish, under NCTE) |
| Regulator | NCTE |
| Degree? | No |
What the name “BSTC” and “D.El.Ed” tell you
“B.S.T.C.” says certificate, and “D.El.Ed” says diploma. The current name in the NCTE regulations and in the 2026 VMOU notification is D.El.Ed, a diploma. A “diploma” here is a professional qualification that you get after the 12th and that prepares you to teach. A degree comes after three or four years in a university. See BSTC vs D.El.Ed for the name history.
Certificate vs diploma vs degree: where BSTC sits
| Level | Typical form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Short course, usually under one year | Old name BSTC used the word, but the course is two years |
| Diploma | Skill or professional course, often two years after Class 12 | BSTC (D.El.Ed) sits here |
| Bachelor’s degree | Three or four years in a university | BA, BSc, BCom, B.El.Ed, integrated B.Ed |
| B.Ed | Two-year professional degree after graduation | See BSTC vs B.Ed |
The table shows general levels. Each employer decides what it counts as a graduation-level qualification, and we did not find any official rule that counts D.El.Ed as one.
What it means for government jobs
- Primary teacher (Level 1, classes 1 to 5): D.El.Ed is the required training, together with the eligibility test and selection. See BSTC ke baad kya kare.
- Upper primary (Level 2, classes 6 to 8): reports say graduation is needed together with D.El.Ed or B.Ed. So BSTC alone is not enough.
- Posts that ask for graduation: BSTC does not meet them.
- Pay: the Level 1 teacher is at L-10 (see BSTC ke baad kya kare).
Always read the advertisement. If it says “graduation” in the educational qualification, a diploma after Class 12 does not satisfy it.
What it means for further study
To join B.Ed through PTET, you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree with the required marks. BSTC does not count as that. So, if you want B.Ed later, plan to finish graduation too. The safe order of courses is in BSTC aur B.Ed sath me, and the PTET rules are in BSTC vs PTET.
NEP 2020 and what could change
NEP 2020, in the teacher education chapter, says that by 2030 the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a four-year integrated B.Ed. It also says that two-year B.Ed programmes will remain for people with a bachelor’s degree in a specialised subject. That is a policy goal. It does not mean a diploma has already become a degree. The rules that count for you are the ones in your year’s notification and the recruitment advertisement.
How to write BSTC in a form or resume
- Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed), 2024 to 2026, [Institute name]
- Add “formerly BSTC” in brackets when the form says BSTC
- Do not write “BSTC degree” or “BSTC graduation”. It can lead to a mismatch during document verification.
Course levels at a glance
| Course | Level | Entry | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.El.Ed (BSTC) | Diploma | Class 12 | 2 years |
| B.Ed | Degree | Graduation | 2 years |
| Graduation | Degree | Class 12 | 3 or 4 years |
| Special-education diploma (D.Ed.Spl.Ed) | Diploma | 10+2 with 50% | Two years, per a Bhaskar report |
Read the advertisement, not the rumour
- Find the line “educational qualification” and see if it says graduation, diploma, D.El.Ed or B.Ed.
- Check the cut-off date for the qualification.
- Check if the advertisement lists the eligibility test.
- Ask the recruiting body in writing if the wording is not clear.
BSTC degree or diploma FAQs
Is BSTC a degree?
No. BSTC is a diploma. Its official name is Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed), a two-year programme after Class 12. It does not give a graduation degree.
What is BSTC degree?
There is no “BSTC degree”. People use the word loosely. The qualification is the Diploma in Elementary Education (formerly BSTC).
BSTC diploma ya degree?
बीएसटीसी डिप्लोमा है, डिग्री नहीं। इसका आधिकारिक नाम डिप्लोमा इन एलीमेंट्री एजुकेशन (डी.एल.एड.) है और यह 12वीं के बाद दो वर्ष का कोर्स है।
Can I use BSTC as graduation?
No. Recruitment notices that ask for graduation mean a bachelor’s degree. BSTC is a diploma that comes after Class 12, so it does not replace graduation. Check each advertisement for the exact words.
Is BSTC equal to a graduation degree?
We did not find any rule that says so. The NCTE regulations list D.El.Ed as a diploma programme, and the Rajasthan teacher posts ask for graduation separately for Level 2.
Is B.Ed a degree?
Yes. B.Ed is a professional degree after graduation. See BSTC vs B.Ed.
Will BSTC become a degree in future?
NEP 2020 says that by 2030 the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a four-year integrated B.Ed. This is a policy goal. The 2026 Rajasthan notification still treats D.El.Ed as the entry route after Class 12, so we do not claim a change.
How should I write BSTC in a resume?
Write the official name: Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed), with the year and the institute, and add “formerly BSTC” if the employer may look for it.
Is BSTC a certificate or a diploma?
The old name says “certificate” (Basic School Teaching Certificate), but the current official name is a diploma (Diploma in Elementary Education).
Last verified: 3 November 2026
Edited by Anil Kumar. Every date, number and name on this page was read in the official notice or in a news report named under “Sources” below, and key facts were matched with a second source. Where we could not confirm something we say so instead of guessing. ParinamSetu is an independent site, not a government website: see our Editorial Policy and Disclaimer.
Sources and how we checked
We name our sources so you can check them yourself. Links go only to official websites; news reports are listed by publisher, headline and date.
- NCTE Regulations 2014, Appendix 2: Diploma in Elementary Education, two academic years.
- VMOU Pre D.El.Ed 2026 general directions: “Formerly known as B.S.T.C.”.
- National Education Policy 2020 (PIB copy), teacher education: four-year integrated B.Ed by 2030.
- RSSB advertisement summaries for Level 1 and Level 2 posts (reported).
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