In a landmark decision aimed at enhancing career certainty for aspiring teachers, the School & Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha has issued Resolution No. 11787 dated 15.05.2023, declaring that the Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) qualifying certificate and mark sheet shall be valid for life. This resolution eliminates previous restrictions that capped certificate validity, thereby enabling qualified candidates to apply for teaching positions indefinitely, subject to meeting all other eligibility requirements as prescribed by respective appointing authorities. The move is expected to ease recruitment pressure on repeat applicants while streamlining selection processes for schools. It aligns Odisha’s policy with similar national reforms like those adopted by CBSE’s CTET and marks a progressive step in recognizing teacher competence as a lifelong qualification. Institutions across the state—including district education offices, BEOs, and teacher training institutes—are instructed to widely disseminate this update. Candidates who have already qualified OTET in past cycles, regardless of the year, will now benefit from uninterrupted eligibility. This decision also boosts morale among in-service contractual and guest teachers who may have had to revalidate their credentials previously. By simplifying procedural requirements and improving transparency, the resolution brings long-term administrative and logistical clarity to both hiring authorities and applicants. The PDF resolution is now available for download and should be archived by all DEOs and appointing bodies. Teachers and candidates are encouraged to reference this document during counselling, verification, and application processes. For school heads and HR panels, this change reduces document scrutiny overhead, since the certification does not lapse. With this one step, Odisha fortifies its commitment to teacher empowerment, examination rationalization, and equitable access to employment.