TSC Number Application: Requirements, Fees and Process.
A TSC number is the registration number the Teachers Service Commission issues once it confirms you’re a qualified teacher. You cannot legally teach — in a public or private school, or in an ECDE centre — without one. The application is done entirely online, and if your documents are in order, TSC typically finalises registration within 30 days.
Here’s exactly what you need, what it costs, and how the process works in 2026.
Why you need a TSC number
The Constitution of Kenya, Article 237, gives the Teachers Service Commission the mandate to register qualified persons as teachers and to review the standards of teacher training.
The actual legal requirement to be registered before you teach comes from Section 23(2) of the Teachers Service Commission Act, No. 20 of 2012, which bars anyone from working in the teaching service without registration. The TSC Code of Regulations for Teachers, 2015 (Part III) then sets out the detailed conditions and procedure.
In practice, this means every ECDE, primary, junior school and secondary school teacher — whether employed by TSC, a county government, or a private school — must hold a valid TSC number.
Documents you need before you start
Have these ready as clear scanned copies before you open the portal. TSC does not accept paper applications.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| National ID card (or passport) | Both sides, clearly scanned |
| KRA PIN certificate | |
| Academic and professional certificates | KCPE, KCSE, and your PTE/diploma/degree certificate as applicable |
| Academic transcripts | Merge multi-year transcripts into a single PDF |
| One recent passport-size photo | |
| GP69 medical form | Filled and signed by a medical officer at a public health facility |
| Certificate of Good Conduct | Issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) |
| Entry/work permit and Ministry of Education vetting letter | Non-Kenyan applicants only |
Read Also: Mwalimu Comprehensive Medical Cover: What Teachers Actually Get Under SHA
If you lost your KCPE or KCSE certificate, you don’t need the original to proceed — you can apply for confirmation of results through KNEC’s QMIS portal first, using your result slip or the class nominal roll for your exam year, and attach that instead.
How much is a TSC number, and how do you pay?
| Application type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New registration (citizen or non-citizen) | KSh 1,050, non-refundable |
| Duplicate certificate of registration | KSh 2,050, non-refundable |
A quick note on the duplicate fee: TSC’s own older documents and several info pages still quote KSh 2,055, a figure that dates back to a 2017 fee revision.
The Commission’s current online application system charges KSh 2,050, and TSC has publicly clarified that pages still showing 2,055 are outdated — so don’t be alarmed if you see both figures online; go with what the payment page actually charges you.
Payment is built into the online form. Once you’ve filled in your details and uploaded your documents, the system takes you to a payment step where you can pay via eCitizen channels — M-Pesa, Airtel Money, KCB, Equity, or bank deposit into TSC’s registration account. Keep your payment confirmation (SMS or receipt) until your certificate is issued.
Academic requirements by teaching category
TSC’s minimum requirements vary by the level and category you’re registering for:
| Category | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| ECDE (Certificate) | KCPE plus an ECDE certificate from KNEC, or a D+ at KCSE with an ECDE certificate |
| ECDE (Diploma) | C plain at KCSE and a KNEC-recognised Diploma/Certificate in ECDE |
| ECDE (Degree) | C+ at KCSE and a Bachelor of Education (ECDE) |
| Primary Teacher Education (PTE/P1) | C plain at KCSE and a PTE certificate from KNEC |
| Diploma in Education (secondary) | C+ at KCSE overall, with C+ in two teaching subjects |
| Bachelor of Education / BA/BSc with PGDE (secondary) | C+ at KCSE overall, with C+ in two teaching subjects |
Read Also: How to Apply for TSC Sick Leave: HRMIS Process, Entitlements and Required Documents
For non-Kenyan applicants, academic and professional certificates must come from an accredited foreign institution and be equated by the relevant Kenyan body, and you’ll additionally need proof of registration or authority to teach in your country of origin, plus a valid entry or work permit from the Department of Immigration.
Step-by-step: how to apply for a TSC number
- Gather and scan every document listed above before you start — the form does not save well if you’re hunting for a certificate midway.
- Go to the TSC Online Services portal and select “New Teacher Registration” for your applicant category (Kenyan citizen or non-citizen).
- Enter your ID number and surname, then fill in your personal details — phone number, email, permanent and current postal address (your certificate is mailed to the address you give, so double-check it), KRA PIN, and teaching category.
- Enter your academic details, including your KCSE grade and year of sitting.
- Upload your scanned documents one at a time, in the format the portal specifies.
- Pay the KSh 1,050 registration fee through the integrated payment step, then review and print the summary page for your records.
- Submit the application. TSC verifies and approves applications, and processing typically takes up to 30 days from a complete submission.
How to check your TSC registration status
Once you’ve submitted your application, use the “Registration Status” option on the TSC Online Services portal and enter your ID or passport number to see whether your application is still processing, approved, or has been rejected. If nothing shows after a reasonable wait, contact TSC directly rather than resubmitting — a duplicate application can complicate your record.
Once approved, you can download or print your registration certificate directly from the portal using your ID/passport number.
Read Also: TSC Payslip Registration: How to Activate and Use T-Pay in 2026
Why applications get rejected
TSC declines registration where an applicant:
- Lacks the relevant academic or professional qualifications for the category applied for
- Has a record of misconduct, including a sexual offence or an offence against a learner
- Has a criminal conviction that, in TSC’s assessment, makes them unfit to teach
- Is involved in activity prejudicial to peace, order, or good governance
- Has a physical or mental condition that prevents them from carrying out a teacher’s duties
Filling in false or misleading information carries its own legal consequence. Section 44(3) of the TSC Act makes it an offence to willfully give false information in a registration application, punishable on conviction by a fine of up to KSh 100,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.
Separately, teaching without being registered — or knowingly employing someone who isn’t registered — is an offence under the Act’s provisions on unregistered teaching, and in a January 2026 gazette notice, TSC’s CEO warned that this now carries a fine of not less than KSh 100,000 or imprisonment of up to two years.
These are two distinct offences: one for lying on your application, the other for teaching (or letting someone teach) without ever being registered at all.
Applying for a duplicate certificate
If your certificate is lost, destroyed, damaged, or you need your names corrected, you apply for a duplicate through the same portal rather than starting a fresh registration.
- Lost, destroyed or misplaced certificate: upload an original police abstract along with your application.
- Change of name: TSC has clarified that this case requires an affidavit or marriage certificate — not a police abstract, since nothing was actually lost.
- Fee: KSh 2,050, non-refundable, paid the same way as a new registration.
Read Also: TSC Profile Update Online: Requirements and Steps
Frequently asked questions
How long does a TSC number take to be issued? Around 30 days from a complete, correctly filed application. Most delays trace back to incomplete uploads or documents that don’t match the format the portal expects, not the review itself taking longer.
Can I apply for a TSC number without a Certificate of Good Conduct? No. A valid Certificate of Good Conduct from the DCI is a mandatory document for both new registration and, in most cases, a duplicate application.
Can I apply if I’ve lost my KCSE or KCPE certificate? Yes — apply for confirmation of results through KNEC’s QMIS portal using your result slip or class nominal roll, then attach that confirmation to your TSC application instead of the original certificate.
Is the TSC number application ever done on paper? No. Since the system moved fully online, TSC does not accept paper applications for new registration, duplicates, or profile updates. You’ll need reliable internet access — a cyber café works if you don’t have it at home.
Does a TSC number expire? No. Once issued, a TSC number is permanent unless your name is removed from the register through TSC’s disciplinary process — for example, after a conviction or proven misconduct.
Sources
- Teachers Service Commission, Teacher Registration and Recruitment Requirements (official document, tsc.go.ke)
- Teachers Service Commission Act, No. 20 of 2012, and the TSC Code of Regulations for Teachers, 2015 (Kenya Law)
- TSC Online Services registration portal
TSC Number Application: Requirements, Fees and Process.
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