Vocational Class 11-12: a trade or skill subject alongside your Class 12
Class 11 and 12 in which one or more subjects is a job skill, such as IT, health care, agriculture, automobile or retail, taught with theory and practicals.
- How long
- 2 years (Class 11 and Class 12)source: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), read on 30 Sep 2026
- Who it suits
- Students who like learning by doing and want a job skill by the end of Class 12 while still earning a Class 12 certificate.
Subjects, board by board
Only lists we read on an official site are shown, with the subjects exactly as printed there and the document each came from.
Tamil Nadu State Board (Higher Secondary)12 listed
| Group code | The board's name for it | Subjects as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Group code: 2921 | Group 2921 | Subjects as printed: Mathematics, Basic Mechanical Engineering - Theory, Computer Technology, Basic Mechanical Engineering - Practical |
| Group code: 2922 | Group 2922 | Subjects as printed: Mathematics, Basic Electrical Engineering - Theory, Computer Technology, Basic Electrical Engineering - Practical |
| Group code: 2923 | Group 2923 | Subjects as printed: Mathematics, Basic Electronics Engineering - Theory, Computer Technology, Basic Electronics Engineering - Practical |
| Group code: 2924 | Group 2924 | Subjects as printed: Mathematics, Basic Civil Engineering - Theory, Computer Technology, Basic Civil Engineering - Practical |
| Group code: 2925 | Group 2925 | Subjects as printed: Mathematics, Basic Automobile Engineering - Theory, Computer Technology, Basic Automobile Engineering - Practical |
| Group code: 2926 | Group 2926 | Subjects as printed: Mathematics, Textile Technology - Theory, Computer Technology, Textile Technology - Practical |
| Group code: 2931 | Group 2931 | Subjects as printed: Biology, Nursing (Vocational) - Theory, Computer Technology, Nursing (Vocational) - Practical |
| Group code: 2941 | Group 2941 | Subjects as printed: Home Science, Textile and Dress Designing - Theory, Computer Technology, Textile and Dress Designing - Practical |
| Group code: 2942 | Group 2942 | Subjects as printed: Home Science, Food Service Management - Theory, Computer Technology, Food Service Management - Practical |
| Group code: 2951 | Group 2951 | Subjects as printed: Biology, Agricultural Science - Theory, Computer Technology, Agricultural Science - Practical |
| Group code: 2961 | Group 2961 | Subjects as printed: Commerce, Accountancy (Theory), Office Management and Secretaryship - Theory, Typography and Computer Applications - Practical |
| Group code: 2962 | Group 2962 | Subjects as printed: Commerce, Accountancy (Theory), Computer Applications, Auditing - Practical |
- Source: Directorate of Government Examinations, Tamil Nadu, Higher Secondary First Year / Second Year Examinations (read on 30 Sep 2026)
Telangana Intermediate Vocational (State Institution of Vocational Education)1 listed
| The board's name for it | Subjects as printed |
|---|---|
| Vocational courses (State Institution of Vocational Education), for example | Subjects as printed: Agricultural Crop Production, Live Stock Management & Dairy Technology, Fisheries, Sericulture, Accounting & Taxation, Office Assistantship, Insurance & Marketing, Retail Management, Automobile Engineering Technician, Construction Technology, Computer Science, Electronics and Communication Technician, Electrical Technology, Mechanical Technology, Commercial Garment Technology, Pre-School Teacher Training, Tourism & Hospitality Management, Medical Lab Technician, Physiotherapy, Multipurpose Health Worker (F), Pharma Technology |
West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE)1 listed
| The board's name for it | Subjects as printed |
|---|---|
| Vocational subjects (any Set, in approved schools) | Subjects as printed: IT & ITeS (ITEV), Automobile (ATMV), Organised Retailing (ORTV), Security (SEUV), Health Care (HLCV), Electronics (ELTV), Tourism & Hospitality (THLV), Plumbing (PLBV), Construction (CNSV), Apparel (APLV), Beauty & Wellness (BWLV), Agriculture (AGLV), Power (POWV), Banking Financial Services & Insurance (BFIV), Food Processing (FDPV), Telecom (TELV) |
- Source: West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, Subjects: Subject Combination offered by the Council (read on 30 Sep 2026)
UP Board (UPMSP)1 listed
| The board's name for it | Subjects as printed |
|---|---|
| Vocational group: the foundation subject and one trade, for example | Subjects as printed: General Foundation Subject (201), Automobile (214), Retail Trading (240), Security (241), Tourism & Hospitality (243), IT/ITeS (244), Health Care (245) |
We could not read these boards' lists. Check them on the board's own site:
What it keeps open
- JEE MainThe Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination is a listed qualifying examination.source: National Testing Agency (NTA), read on 30 Sep 2026
- CUET UGThe Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination is a listed qualifying examination.source: National Testing Agency (NTA), read on 30 Sep 2026
- University degrees (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com through CUET UG)CUET UG accepts this route as a qualifying examination; each university sets its own programme rules.source: National Testing Agency (NTA), read on 30 Sep 2026
Exams on this path
Rules to know before you choose
JEE (Main) 2026 lists, among its qualifying examinations, the Higher Secondary Certificate Vocational Examination, the NIOS Senior Secondary examination with at least five subjects, and an AICTE or State-board diploma of at least 3 years.
source: National Testing Agency (NTA), read on 30 Sep 2026
For NIT-system B.E./B.Tech seats, a Technical Vocational subject can be the third subject beside Physics and Mathematics.
source: National Testing Agency (NTA), read on 30 Sep 2026
CUET (UG) 2026 lists the same routes as qualifying examinations: HSC Vocational, NIOS Senior Secondary with at least five subjects, and a diploma of at least 3 years.
source: National Testing Agency (NTA), read on 30 Sep 2026
AICTE's B.E./B.Tech rule lists a Technical Vocational subject among the Class 12 subjects it accepts, and also accepts a D.Voc. in the same or an allied sector.
source: All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), read on 30 Sep 2026
AP EAPCET 2025: a vocational course in Agriculture, Veterinary or Fishery Sciences counts toward the 'any two subjects' rule for the agriculture, veterinary and fishery degrees.
source: Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE), read on 30 Sep 2026
CBSE: skill electives (Group S) can be taken along with any subject.
source: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), read on 30 Sep 2026
WBCHSE: sixteen vocational subjects are offered in approved schools; a student who takes one cannot take Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts or Economics as an elective.
source: West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, read on 30 Sep 2026
Sources and last checked
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE): Introduction to Secondary Curriculum: Part - 2 (XI-XII), 2026-27 (read on 30 Sep 2026)
- Directorate of Government Examinations, Tamil Nadu: Higher Secondary First Year / Second Year Examinations (read on 30 Sep 2026)
- SCERT Telangana: What Next? After 10th Class: List of Vocational Courses offered by State Institution of Vocational Education (read on 30 Sep 2026)
- West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education: Subjects: Subject Combination offered by the Council (read on 30 Sep 2026)
- Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Uttar Pradesh: Subject Directory of class 11th 2024-25 and for Intermediate Examination-2025 (read on 30 Sep 2026)
- National Testing Agency (NTA): JEE (Main) 2026 Information Bulletin (read on 30 Sep 2026)
- National Testing Agency (NTA): CUET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin (read on 30 Sep 2026)
- All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE): Approval Process Handbook 2024-25 to 2026-27 (read on 30 Sep 2026)
- Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE): AP EAPCET 2025 Instruction Booklet: Agriculture, Pharmacy (read on 30 Sep 2026)