What is an NTT course?

By APTTI Educational Content · Updated 7 October 2026 · 3 min read

An NTT (Nursery Teacher Training) course trains you to teach and care for children aged roughly 2 to 6 in playgroup, nursery, LKG and UKG classes. It covers child development, play-based teaching, early literacy and numeracy, classroom management, health and safety, and working with parents. Courses run at certificate, diploma and PG diploma level.

What this means in practice

Nursery teaching is different from teaching older pupils. Young children learn through play, movement, talk and routine rather than textbooks, so an NTT course focuses on how to plan activities, observe children and run a calm, safe classroom. In India, NTT is mainly taken by people who want to work in private preschools, playschools and the pre-primary section of schools.

What an NTT course usually covers

Child development and child psychology from 2 to 6 years
Early childhood education theory, including play-based and Montessori ideas
Planning lessons and activities for nursery, LKG and UKG
Early literacy, phonics, rhymes and storytelling
Early number work and sensory activities
Classroom management and routines
Health, hygiene, nutrition and safety
Communicating with parents

Levels of NTT course

Most institutes offer NTT at more than one level. At APTTI, the Certificate (120 hours, 6 months) is open after 10th, the Diploma (200 hours, 10 months) after 12th, and the PG Diploma (240 hours, 12 months) after graduation. Higher levels go deeper into curriculum design, assessment and leadership of early-years practice.

Who teaches and who learns on an NTT course

On an online NTT course you work through modules on your own schedule and submit assignments that tutors review. The best courses ask you to try ideas with real children and reflect on what happened, because nursery teaching is a practical skill.

Learners are a mix: school leavers, graduates changing career, mothers returning to work, assistants who already work in preschools and playschool owners. That mix is useful: you can bring your own experience into assignments, whether it is parenting, volunteering or classroom work.

What to do next

Decide whether you want to work in a private preschool, open your own playschool or apply for government posts, because the right course differs.
Match the level to your education: 10th, 12th or a degree.
Ask for the syllabus, assessment method and total fee in writing.
Check what the certificate is accepted for before you pay.

ExampleRitu finished 12th and helps at her aunt's playschool. She takes an NTT Diploma online, learns to plan a week of theme-based activities and handle the settling-in period, and is offered a class teacher role when the school expands.

What to keep in mind

An NTT course is professional training, not a licence. Government nursery posts in India usually require a qualification from an NCTE-recognised institution, so check the recruitment rules if that is your goal.

Common follow-up questions

Is NTT a degree?

No. NTT is a certificate or diploma-level course. A PG Diploma in NTT is a postgraduate-level diploma for graduates, not a master's degree.

How long is an NTT course?

Typically 6 months to 2 years depending on the institute and level. APTTI's levels take 6, 10 and 12 months.

Sources

Course facts come from APTTI's published course pages. Examples use made-up names. How these answers are prepared.