Before you fill the online form for the School Teacher Internship Program, the first thing to check is whether you meet the STI eligibility criteria. Many applications get rejected not because of low merit but because the candidate applied for a level they did not qualify for. This guide explains the STI eligibility criteria 2026, including the age limit, the qualification needed for each school level, and other rules you must know.

Fresh hiring for 2026-27 is being done under the STI Program 2024, against vacant posts in each district. The basic STI eligibility criteria of that program still apply, as confirmed in the Punjab School Education Department’s notification of 25 September 2026. Official notices are published on the STI portal and the School Education Department Punjab website.

STI Eligibility Criteria 2026-27 at a Glance

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STI Age Limit 2026-27

The STI age limit is 21 to 45 years. Your age is counted on the date of application, using the date of birth on your CNIC.

• If you are younger than 21 on the application date, you cannot apply in this cycle.
• If you are older than 45, you are not eligible, even if you have teaching experience.
• No separate age relaxation has been announced for STIs so far. If your district advertisement mentions any relaxation, follow that advertisement.

Men, women and transgender persons can all apply, as long as they meet the age and qualification conditions.

Domicile and District Rules

STI is a district-based program. You should hold a Punjab domicile and apply in the district where you are a resident. Interns are placed in regular morning schools for teaching. They are not posted to evening schools or office (administrative) duties.

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STI Qualification for Each School Level

The minimum STI qualification depends on the level of school you apply for. Here is a simple summary:

For details on payments, see our full STI stipend 2026-27 guide.

What “Relevant Subject” Means

For high and higher secondary posts, your degree must match the subject of the vacancy. For example, an MSc Mathematics holder can apply for a Mathematics post, and a BS English holder for an English post. A general BA is not enough for a subject post at the secondary level. Check the subject of each vacancy carefully on the STI vacancies district wise page before you apply.

Here are some common examples to make it clearer:

Always match your degree with the exact subject written in the vacancy. If the district advertisement lists additional subject rules, those rules apply.

Is B.Ed Compulsory for STI?

No. B.Ed, M.Ed or ADE is preferred, not required. Fresh graduates without a professional degree can apply. However, a professional qualification can add to your merit. Use our STI merit calculator 2026-27 to see the difference it makes.

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Other STI Eligibility Criteria You Should Know

• Internship, not permanent job: STI is a paid internship for a fixed period. Current agreements run until 31 May 2027. It does not give a right to regular government service.
• No experience needed: Fresh candidates can apply. Experience is a plus and can help in the interview.
• Online application only: Apply on the official portal sti.pesrp.edu.pk. Paper applications are not accepted.
• One account per CNIC: Do not make multiple accounts. If you forgot your details, use our STI login password reset guide.
• Existing interns: Interns already working are continuing through fresh agreements, not through new applications. See our STI fresh agreement 2026-27 update.

Who Cannot Apply

You are not eligible for STI 2026-27 if any of these apply to you:

• You are under 21 or over 45 years of age on the application date.
• You only have Matric or Intermediate (14 years of education is the minimum).
• Your degree result is not yet declared, so you cannot provide a degree or transcript.
• You are applying for a secondary subject post with a degree in a different subject.
• You do not hold a Punjab domicile.

If you are unsure whether you meet the STI eligibility criteria, it is better to check with the CEO Education office of your district before applying than to be rejected at verification.

Documents to Prove Eligibility

Keep these documents ready to prove that you meet the STI eligibility criteria:

• CNIC (to prove age)
• Punjab domicile
• Matric and Intermediate certificates
• Bachelor’s / Master’s / BS degree and transcripts
• B.Ed / M.Ed / ADE certificate (if any)
• Recent passport-size photographs
• Experience certificate (if any) – see our STI experience certificate format

Our full list of STI required documents explains each one in detail.

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Quick STI Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Tick these points before you press submit:

1. My age is between 21 and 45 years on the application date.
2. I have a Punjab domicile of the district I am applying in.
3. My degree meets the minimum level for the post (primary, elementary or secondary).
4. For secondary posts, my degree subject matches the vacancy subject.
5. My marks in the form match my certificates exactly.

If all five are true, you are ready. Head to the STI jobs portal for new applications and follow our STI online apply guide. Don’t forget to check the STI last date for your district.

STI Eligibility Criteria FAQs

Once you have applied, track the next steps on our STI merit list 2026 and STI result 2026-27 pages, or visit our STI Portal home page for all updates.