TSC Registration Requirements for Teachers in Kenya
By Muntasir • Published Apr 30, 2024 • Fields of Study
You register with Kenya's Teachers Service Commission online through the TSC Online portal, need a C+ in KCSE with a C+ in your two teaching subjects, pay a non-refundable KES 1,050 fee, and receive your TSC number within 30 days.
🎓 Minimum grade: C+ in KCSE overall, with C+ in each of your two teaching subjects.
💵 Registration fee: KES 1,050, paid through eCitizen.
📩 Apply online through the TSC Online portal, not in person.
⏱️ Certificate and TSC number issued within 30 days of a complete application.
Why you need TSC registration
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is Kenya's employer and regulator for public school teachers. You need a TSC number to teach in a public primary or secondary school in Kenya, since it confirms you meet the legal and professional requirements to teach. Private schools increasingly ask for TSC registration too, even where it is not a legal requirement outside the public system.
Who qualifies
You need a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) mean grade of at least C+, along with a C+ in each of your two teaching subjects. On top of your KCSE result, you need a teaching qualification: a diploma or degree in education from a recognized institution, or a Primary Teacher Education (PTE) certificate for primary school applicants. Applicants must be Kenyan citizens and under 45 years old at the time of application.
Documents you need
National ID card
KCSE certificate
University or college certificate in education (degree, diploma or PTE certificate)
Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations
KRA PIN certificate
Passport-size photo
Scan clear copies of every document before you start, since the TSC Online portal asks you to upload them during the application.
How to apply
Create an account on the TSC Online portal and select "New Registration."
Fill in your personal, academic and professional details exactly as they appear on your certificates.
Upload scanned copies of all required documents.
Pay the registration fee through eCitizen.
Submit the application and wait for TSC to verify your documents.
Fees and processing time
Registration costs a non-refundable KES 1,050, paid through the government's eCitizen payment platform. Once you submit a complete, accurate application, the Teachers Service Commission issues your certificate of registration and TSC number within 30 days. Errors or missing documents delay this, so double check your uploads before you submit.
After you register
Your TSC number stays with you for your entire teaching career in Kenya. You need it to apply for public school teaching posts, to appear on the TSC payroll if hired, and increasingly to apply for teaching jobs in private schools as well. Keep your digital certificate accessible, since schools and TSC offices ask to see it during hiring and audits.