Bhubaneswar, Feb 20: The Higher Education Department in Odisha has announced that admissions to the four-year B.Ed. course (ITEP – Integrated Teacher Education Program) will henceforth be conducted through the National Common Entrance Test (NCET-2026), officials said on Friday.

According to the notification, online applications for NCET-2026 began on February 12, 2026, and will remain open until March 10, 2026. The examination is scheduled for April 17, 2026.

In Odisha, a total of 1,300 seats are available for the four-year B.Ed. (ITEP) course across five universities and eight government colleges under the Higher Education Department. Admissions to all these seats will be based on NCET-2026 entrance marks. Eligible candidates, determined on the basis of NCET-2026 percentiles, can apply through the SAMS portal and select their preferred institutions. The merit list will be prepared on the basis of NCET-2026 percentiles.

Also Read: Reimagine Education System, Embrace Multidisciplinary Learning: Dharmendra Pradhan at SRCC Event

It is noteworthy that after completing +2, students can directly enroll in the Integrated Teacher Education Program (four-year B.Ed. course) and complete both graduation and B.Ed. within four years.

For the academic year 2026–27, entrance examinations for two-year B.Ed., M.Ed., and B.H.Ed. courses will continue to be conducted by the State Selection Board (SSB), as informed by the Higher Education Department.