# How to register with TSC and get your TSC number

> Who needs to register with the Teachers Service Commission, the documents to prepare, how the online application works, and how to check your TSC number.

Source: https://monicahr.com/guides/tsc-registration-guide/
Published by Monica (monicahr.com), written by The Monica team, updated 2026-11-05. Topic: Teachers, Kenya.

Every teacher in Kenya needs to be registered with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), whether they teach in a public school, a private school or a TVET institution. Registration gives you a TSC number, which employers ask for on almost every teaching application. This guide walks through the process.

> Requirements and fees change. Always confirm the current list on the official TSC website, tsc.go.ke, before you apply, and never pay anyone who offers to "speed up" your TSC number.

## Who needs to register with TSC?

Anyone who wants to teach in Kenya. That includes newly trained teachers from teacher training colleges and universities, teachers who trained abroad, and teachers already working in private schools without a TSC number. Being registered does not mean you are employed by TSC; it means you are recognised as a qualified teacher who can be employed by any school.

## Where do you apply?

Registration is done online only, through the TSC online services portal. TSC does not accept paper applications. You create an account, fill in your personal, academic and professional details, upload your documents and pay the registration fee shown on the portal at the time.

## Which documents should you prepare?

Scan these clearly before you start, because the portal asks you to upload them:

- Your national ID card or passport.
- Your KCSE certificate, and any other academic certificates.
- Your professional teaching certificate, diploma or degree, and transcripts.
- A valid certificate of good conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
- A recent passport photo.

Some applicants are also asked for a KRA PIN certificate. Check the current list on the portal before you submit.

## How long does TSC registration take?

TSC's own guidance says certification takes about 30 days. You can check the status of your application, and see your TSC number once it is issued, by logging in to the TSC online portal.

## What slows an application down?

Most delays come from the documents, not the portal. Blurred or cropped scans, a certificate of good conduct that has expired, names spelled differently on your ID and your certificates, and missing transcripts are the usual reasons an application is sent back. Check each scan before you upload it, and make sure the name on every document matches your ID. If your names differ, sort it out with the institution that issued the certificate before you apply.

## Can you teach while you wait for your TSC number?

Some private schools will interview you while your application is being processed, but most will want the number before you start. Say on your CV that your registration is in progress and give the date you applied, so a school knows where you stand.

- Put your TSC number near the top of your CV, next to your name and qualification.
- Keep a copy of your registration certificate with your other documents.
- Watch for TSC recruitment and internship adverts. Our guide to [how TSC recruits teachers](https://monicahr.com/guides/tsc-recruitment-how-it-works/) explains what happens next.
- Apply for private, board of management and international school posts too. Browse [teaching jobs in Kenya](https://monicahr.com/jobs/roles/teachers/).