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Transfer Certificate (TC) — format & editable download
The transfer certificate (also called a school leaving certificate in many states) is the one document every departing student must carry — no admission to the next school without it. It is also the document boards inspect most strictly. This page gives a general-purpose TC format with every standard field explained, plus the register discipline that keeps your office audit-ready.
Download editable format (.rtf — opens in Word)When schools need this document
- A student moves to another school (transfer within or across boards).
- A student completes the school's final class and moves to junior college / another institution.
- A family relocates and needs admission documents at the destination.
The format
[SCHOOL NAME]
[Address] · [Phone] · [Email] · [Affiliation No.: ______]
TC No.: ________ Admission No.: ________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______
TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
1. Name of the student: ______________________________
2. Mother's name: ______________________________
3. Father's / Guardian's name: ______________________________
4. Nationality: ____________ Category (if applicable): ____________
5. Date of birth (in figures): ____ / ____ / ______
(in words): ______________________________________________
6. Date of admission: ____ / ____ / ______ Class admitted to: ________
7. Class last studied (figures & words): ______________________
8. Board examination last appeared (if any) & result: __________
9. Whether qualified for promotion to higher class: ____________
10. Fees paid up to: ____________ School dues (if any): ________
11. Total working days: ______ Days present: ______
12. General conduct: ______________
13. Date of application for TC: ____ / ____ / ______
14. Date of issue of TC: ____ / ____ / ______
15. Reason for leaving the school: ______________________________
16. Remarks: ______________________________
Prepared by: ____________ Checked by: ____________
____________________
Principal
(School seal)
Every field, explained
TC number & book/serial reference
TCs are serially numbered and entered in a TC register — boards check the register against issued certificates during inspection.
Student name, mother's & father's name
Exactly as per the admission register; TC errors follow a student for years.
Nationality & category (where applicable)
Standard on most board formats; some states include caste/category for admission-quota continuity.
Date of birth in figures AND words
The anti-tampering convention every board format uses.
Date of admission & class admitted to
Establishes the enrolment span the certificate certifies.
Class last studied (in figures and words)
The receiving school admits against this line.
Board examination results (if any)
Whether the student appeared for a board exam and the result.
Promotion status
'Qualified for promotion to Class ___' — the receiving school's placement depends on it.
Fees paid up to / dues
Most schools issue TC only after dues clear; the field records it.
Working days & days present
Attendance summary for the leaving year — several boards require it.
General conduct
One-word or one-line character record ('Good'/'Satisfactory').
Date of application & date of issue
Many states require issue within a set number of days of application — the two dates prove compliance.
Reason for leaving
'Parent's request' / 'Completion of studies' — keep it factual and neutral.
Remarks
Anything the next school must know (e.g. subject stream).
Prepared by / checked by / principal's signature & seal
The three-signature discipline that catches clerical errors before they leave the building.
How to use it well
- Issue TCs ONLY from your serially-numbered TC register (or an ERP that maintains it) — the counterfoil/record is what board inspection checks.
- Fill date of birth in words as well as figures, always.
- For CBSE-affiliated schools: CBSE prescribes its own TC format in the Examination Bye-laws and requires counter-signature rules for inter-board transfers — issue on the CBSE-prescribed proforma. Use this general format only where your board does not prescribe one.
Board & state note
⚠ Board formats take precedence. CBSE prescribes a TC proforma (and inter-state/inter-board TCs may need counter-signature by the education officer); many State boards prescribe their own school-leaving-certificate formats with state-specific fields. This template is a general-purpose format for schools whose board leaves the format to the school — always check your board's current bye-laws.
Frequently asked questions
Is a transfer certificate the same as a school leaving certificate?
Broadly yes — 'transfer certificate' (TC) and 'school leaving certificate' (SLC) refer to the same leaving document in most Indian states, though some states use SLC for the end-of-schooling certificate specifically. The receiving institution's checklist tells you which name it expects.
Can a school refuse to issue a TC for unpaid fees?
Practice and state rules differ, and several state education departments have directed schools not to withhold TCs over dues while still allowing recovery through other means. Record dues on the TC's dues field, follow your state's current directions, and document the application and issue dates.
Does CBSE have an official TC format?
Yes — CBSE prescribes a TC proforma in its Examination Bye-laws, and affiliated schools should issue TCs on it (inter-board or inter-state transfers can additionally require counter-signature). The format on this page is general-purpose for boards that don't prescribe one.
What is a duplicate TC and when can one be issued?
If the original is lost, schools may issue a certified duplicate marked 'DUPLICATE', typically against a written request, an affidavit or police-report copy per school/board policy, and a fresh entry in the TC register referencing the original serial number.
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