How to become an Assistant Professor in a Government Engineering College in Kerala
Teaching in a Government Engineering College is one of the most respected careers an engineer in Kerala can have, and on the AICTE pay scale it is also one of the best paid. Here is exactly what it takes, step by step.
Step 1: the qualification
The AICTE regulations of 2019 set the minimum for direct recruitment as an Assistant Professor in engineering:
- B.E. or B.Tech, and M.E. or M.Tech (or an integrated M.Tech) in the relevant branch.
- First class in at least one of the two degrees.
- No teaching experience is required to start.
So for Electrical and Electronics Engineering, you need a B.Tech and an M.Tech in Electrical, EEE or a related specialisation such as Power Systems or Power Electronics. For Electronics, the same with an Electronics or ECE M.Tech.
Step 2: the Kerala PSC selection
For Government Engineering Colleges, Kerala PSC recruits Assistant Professors branch by branch under the Technical Education Department. The selection has two parts:
- An OMR written test on the branch syllabus.
- An interview for shortlisted candidates. Higher qualifications such as a Ph.D. earn weightage marks in the final ranking.
As an example, the last selection for Assistant Professor (Electrical and Electronics Engineering) was Cat. No. 724/2021. The OMR test was held on 20 June 2023, and the ranked list came into force on 11 November 2024. PSC has been advising candidates from that list as colleges report vacancies.
These notifications come only once every few years for each branch. That is the main reason to prepare early: when the notification comes, the gap to the exam is short.
Step 3: the pay ladder
| Stage | Entry pay |
|---|---|
| Assistant Professor | ₹57,700 (Level 10) |
| Assistant Professor (Senior Scale) | ₹68,900 (Level 11) |
| Assistant Professor (Selection Grade) | ₹79,800 (Level 12) |
| Associate Professor | ₹1,31,400 (Level 13A) |
| Professor | ₹1,44,200 (Level 14) |
Promotion to Associate Professor and Professor needs a Ph.D. We compare these figures with AE and Sub Engineer pay in Assistant Professor and Polytechnic Lecturer salary in Kerala.
A practical path from B.Tech
- Finish your B.Tech with a first class if you can. It keeps both Assistant Professor and Polytechnic Lecturer open.
- Do your M.Tech, ideally through GATE, which also brings a scholarship.
- Meanwhile, write the posts that need only a B.Tech: Lecturer in Polytechnic and the AE exams. They share most of their core syllabus (comparison), and the same core B.Tech subjects are your foundation for the Assistant Professor test.
- Start preparing for the Assistant Professor test before the notification. Revise your core B.Tech and M.Tech subjects and practise objective questions.
- Plan a Ph.D. after you join. It adds weightage in selection and is needed for promotion.
Government and aided colleges
Kerala PSC recruits only for Government Engineering Colleges. Aided engineering colleges recruit their own teachers, but they follow the same AICTE qualifications and the same AICTE pay scale under the Kerala Government order. So the same preparation opens both doors.
Prepare with Engineering PSC
We run separate batches for Assistant Professor (Electrical) and Assistant Professor (Electronics), with live and recorded classes, printed books, 10 questions a day and a weekly mock. Message us on WhatsApp with your B.Tech and M.Tech details, and we will tell you where you stand.
Sources
- AICTE Regulations on pay scales, service conditions and minimum qualifications, 1 March 2019 (summary)
- Kerala PSC ranked list, Assistant Professor (EEE), Cat. No. 724/2021
- Kerala PSC shortlist, Cat. No. 724/2021 (OMR test on 20-06-2023)
- Government of Kerala, G.O.(Ms) No. 99/2021/HEdn: AICTE pay for Government and aided Engineering Colleges (copy)