Last checked: 25 October 2026. Many PSU notifications for ITI holders use two abbreviations: NTC and NAC. This year’s BHEL Artisan Grade IV recruitment (660 posts) asks for both, with 60% marks, while the IREL Tradesman Trainee recruitment (131 posts) accepts ITI or NAC plus experience. If you mix them up, you can end up paying a fee for a job you are not eligible for. This guide explains the difference in plain words.
NTC and NAC at a glance
| Point | NTC | NAC |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | National Trade Certificate | National Apprenticeship Certificate |
| When you get it | After passing an ITI trade course and its final exam | After completing apprenticeship training in a company and passing the apprenticeship trade test |
| Where you train | ITI (government or private, affiliated to NCVT) | On the job, in an industry or establishment, under the Apprentices Act, 1961 |
| Issued under | NCVT / Directorate General of Training (DGT) | NCVT / DGT |
| What it proves | You learnt the trade in an institute | You also worked in the trade on a real shop floor |
What is NTC?
When you finish an ITI course (for example Fitter, Electrician, Welder or Turner) at an ITI affiliated to the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and pass the final exam, you get the National Trade Certificate. Most people simply call it the ITI certificate. Today these are generated as e-certificates on the NCVT MIS portal, which employers can verify online.
Some states run their own council (SCVT). An SCVT certificate is a state-level trade certificate. Whether it is accepted depends on the notification, so read the qualification clause carefully; many central PSUs specifically mention NCVT.
What is NAC?
After ITI, many students join an apprenticeship in a factory, railway workshop or PSU under the Apprentices Act, 1961. At the end, they appear in the All India Trade Test for apprentices. Those who pass get the National Apprenticeship Certificate. Apprenticeship contracts and certificates are handled through the government apprenticeship portal.
Because NAC is earned after real work under a supervisor, employers treat it as proof of practical skill. That is why some PSUs make it compulsory for direct artisan or technician recruitment.
How notifications use NTC and NAC
Both required (NTC + NAC)
BHEL Artisan Grade IV 2026 needs Class 10, plus NTC/ITI, plus NAC in the same trade, with at least 60% marks for General and OBC and 55% for SC and ST in both. If you have only an ITI certificate, or your NAC marks are below the cut-off, you are not eligible. Calculate your percentage correctly with our percentage calculator before applying.
Either one, plus experience
IREL Tradesman Trainee 2026 asks for ITI or NAC in the trade, plus two years’ experience. The notice also says the apprenticeship period under the Apprentices Act counts towards that experience. So an ITI holder who completed a one-year apprenticeship needs roughly one more year of trade work to reach two years.
NAC as a selection advantage
Some recruitments do not make NAC compulsory but give it weight. Railway apprentice selection, for example, is based on merit from 10th and ITI marks; see our railway apprentice merit list guide. BHEL also gives preference to Best Apprentice and Runner-up winners of the All India Skill Competition.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Different trades: BHEL wants NTC and NAC in the respective trade. An ITI in Electrician with NAC in Fitter will not match a Fitter post.
- Certificate not issued by the cut-off date: BHEL requires certificates issued by 1 October 2026. A result that comes later does not count.
- Counting the wrong experience: teaching or research fellowship experience is not counted in the IREL notice, and experience must usually be shown in the format the employer asks for.
- Ignoring licences: IREL Electrician posts also need a valid statutory licence.
- Losing marks sheets: keep both the NTC and NAC mark sheets ready; most forms ask for percentages, not just a pass.
Should you do an apprenticeship after ITI?
If you want PSU artisan or technician jobs, yes, in most cases. A NAC opens posts like BHEL Artisan that plain ITI holders cannot apply for, and the apprenticeship period often counts as experience elsewhere. You also earn a stipend while training. The trade-off is time: one or two years before you can apply for these posts. Check your age against upcoming notifications with our age calculator, because some PSUs keep low upper age limits (BHEL: 27 years for UR/EWS, with relaxation for experience and category).
Quick checklist before applying
- Does the notification say NTC and NAC, or NTC or NAC?
- Are both in the same trade as the post?
- Do your marks meet the minimum percentage for your category?
- Were the certificates issued before the cut-off date?
- Is your experience proof in the employer’s format?
For current ITI and apprentice openings, see our latest jobs page.
Source: Eligibility examples are taken from the official BHEL Artisan Recruitment 2027 (Advt. 01/2026) advertisement and the IREL advertisement CO/HRM/36/2026, read on 25 October 2026. General information on trade and apprenticeship certificates is from the Directorate General of Training framework. Read our editorial policy to see how we check job updates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between NTC and NAC?
NTC (National Trade Certificate) is awarded after passing an ITI trade course. NAC (National Apprenticeship Certificate) is awarded after completing apprenticeship training under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and passing the apprenticeship trade test.
Is NAC compulsory for BHEL Artisan 2026?
Yes. BHEL Artisan Grade IV requires Class 10, NTC/ITI and NAC in the respective trade, with at least 60% marks (55% for SC/ST) in both.
Does apprenticeship count as work experience?
It depends on the notification. The IREL Tradesman Trainee 2026 advertisement says the apprenticeship period under the Apprentices Act, 1961 is counted towards post-qualification experience.
Is an SCVT certificate the same as NCVT NTC?
No. SCVT is a state-level certificate, while NTC is issued under NCVT. Whether SCVT is accepted depends on the specific job notification, so check its qualification clause.
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