ITI Courses: Trade List, Duration, Fees and Jobs After ITI

ITI courses are short, hands-on trade programmes that train you for a skilled job in 1 or 2 years. If you are in class 10, have just passed it, or failed to get the stream you wanted in class 11, ITI courses are worth a serious look. This page explains what an ITI course is, the full list of popular trades, how long each one takes, what it costs, how the exam works and where it can take you.

ITI stands for Industrial Training Institute. These institutes run the Craftsmen Training Scheme of the Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. When you pass, you get a National Trade Certificate (NTC) if your ITI is affiliated to NCVT, or a state certificate if it is affiliated to the state council (SCVT). Railways, defence units and most employers ask for the NCVT certificate, so check affiliation before you take admission.

What is ITI course and who should join

An ITI course is about doing, not only reading. Around two thirds of your time goes into the workshop, where you handle tools, machines, wiring or computers. The rest covers trade theory, workshop calculation, engineering drawing and employability skills like basic English, computer use and workplace safety.

ITI suits you if:

• you enjoy fixing things and working with your hands,
• your family needs you to start earning within one or two years,
• you want to sit for railway technician and loco pilot exams, which ask for an ITI,
• you want a cheaper route into technical work than a degree.

If you dislike physical work, compare courses after 10th first.

ITI course duration and eligibility

Students often ask, ITI kitne saal ka course hota hai? The answer depends on the trade. The ITI course duration is either 1 year or 2 years. Most engineering trades that involve heavy machines or electrical work run for 2 years. Many non-engineering trades and a few engineering trades run for 1 year.

The minimum qualification is set trade by trade in the DGT syllabus. Most trades need class 10 pass. A few trades accept class 8 pass, and some, like stenography in certain states, prefer class 12. The usual minimum age is 14 years. There is generally no upper age limit for joining, but states can set their own rules for admission.

Girls are welcome in every trade. Many states reserve a share of seats for women, and there are separate government ITIs for women in most states.

ITI courses list: trade name, duration and qualification

There are well over a hundred trades under the national scheme, but most students choose from a short list. Here is a practical ITI courses name list with the details that matter.

Trade names, durations and entry rules are revised from time to time. Before you fill the form, open the trade syllabus on the DGT website or the course list on your state ITI admission portal.

ITI electrician course

The ITI electrician course is the most popular trade in the country. You learn house wiring, motors, transformers, cables, earthing, meters and basic electronics. The ITI electrician course duration is 2 years. Electricians can apply for Assistant Loco Pilot and many Technician Grade III posts, state power utility jobs, and private maintenance work.

ITI fitter course

In the ITI fitter course you learn marking, filing, drilling, fitting of machine parts, measuring instruments and assembly. It is also 2 years long. Fitter course details matter because this trade has some of the largest numbers of railway technician posts, and it is also accepted by defence factories and plants.

ITI COPA course and other computer trades

If you want an ITI computer course, COPA is the usual choice. COPA iti course details: 1 year, covering computer basics, office software, internet, basic programming, spreadsheets and simple web pages. It leads to data entry, billing and office computer jobs. The ITI COPA course fees are low in government ITIs and moderate in private ones. For a longer path, see computer courses and BCA.

ITI courses for girls

Any trade is open to girls, and many women now work as electricians and electronics technicians. Trades that girls often choose are COPA, Electronics Mechanic, Draughtsman Civil, Stenographer, Fashion Design and Technology, Sewing Technology and Cosmetology. Government ITIs for women usually have a safe campus and lower fees.

Which is the best ITI course

There is no single ITI best course for everyone. Use these three questions:

1. Do you want a railway job? Choose Electrician, Fitter, Mechanic Diesel, Electronics Mechanic, Turner or Machinist. These are the trades most railway notices list.
2. Do you want to work locally on your own? Electrician, Plumber, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, and Mechanic Motor Vehicle let you start a small repair business.
3. Do you prefer indoor or office work? COPA, Stenographer and Draughtsman Civil fit better.

For most boys and girls who are good in maths, Electrician and Fitter give the widest range of job options. The ITI jobs page shows which posts each trade opens.

ITI admission and the ITI exam (CBT)

Admission happens once a year, usually soon after class 10 results. Most states admit students on class 10 marks through an online counselling portal, where you fill choices of ITI and trade. A few states or institutes hold an ITI entrance exam. Seats are given by merit, with reservation as per state rules.

During the course you sit for the All India Trade Test conducted under NCVT. Theory papers are now held as a computer based test, so you will hear students talk about the ITI CBT exam. The practical exam is held in your ITI workshop. For a 2 year trade, there is an exam at the end of each year. The exam schedule, revisions and hall tickets appear on the official NCVT MIS portal and your ITI notice board. Do not trust random messages about the date of the ITI exam; check the portal.

ITI course fees: government vs private

The ITI electrician course fees and ITI fitter course fees are usually a little higher in private ITIs than for 1 year trades, because the course runs for 2 years. Government ITIs cost much less than private ones. Scholarships for SC, ST, OBC, minority and low income students are available through the state and the national scholarship portal.

ITI careers: jobs and pay after the course

ITI careers fall into three groups:

• Government: Railway Assistant Loco Pilot and Technician Grade III start at Level 2 of the pay matrix, with a basic pay of ₹19,900. Railway Group D posts are at Level 1. DRDO, ISRO, ordnance and state electricity boards also hire ITI holders. See loco pilot, railway technician and RRB Group D.
• Apprenticeship: after ITI, a paid apprenticeship of about a year in a railway workshop, PSU or private plant gives you a stipend and a National Apprenticeship Certificate. Apprentice seats are listed on the official apprenticeship portal.
• Private and self-employment: factory maintenance, service centres, construction sites, workshops and your own repair shop. Fresher pay in private jobs is often around ₹10,000 to ₹18,000 a month, and skilled technicians with 5 to 8 years of experience can earn about ₹20,000 to ₹35,000 or more. City, trade and skill make the difference.

After ITI which course is best

• Polytechnic diploma by lateral entry: many states let ITI pass students join the second year of a 3 year engineering diploma. This opens Junior Engineer posts. Read polytechnic courses.
• Craft Instructor Training (CITS): a one year course at National Skill Training Institutes that qualifies you to teach in an ITI.
• Class 12 through open schooling: if you want to go for a degree later, finish class 12 through your state open school or NIOS.

Online ITI courses are not recognised for NCVT certification, because the trade needs workshop practice. Use online videos to revise, but take admission in a regular affiliated ITI. To compare ITI with a diploma side by side, read diploma courses after 10th.