Written by Syed Imran Zaidi | Reviewed by UPJobRadar Team | Last Updated: 13 August 2026

Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai has released Notification No. APP/01/2026-2027 / No. PB/RR/39/App/2026 dated 08 August 2026 for engagement of Act Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, 1961 and RBE No.120/2015 dated 06.10.2015 for 1,010 apprenticeship slots.

The notified slots include Freshers and Ex-ITI categories across Carpenter, Electrician, Fitter, Machinist, Painter, Welder, PASAA, MLT-Radiology and MLT-Pathology trades. Online applications are available from 08/08/2026 at 09:30 hrs to 07/09/2026 till 17:30 hrs on the official portal https://pb.icf.gov.in. Selection will be based on the prescribed merit criteria, with no written examination or interview, and candidates must carefully check the Tamil Nadu local eligibility condition before applying.

ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – At a Glance

ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Overview

ICF Apprentice Vacancy 2026 – Trade Wise Details

The notification displays slots with communal breakup. The tables are reproduced exactly as per the official notification.

Freshers – Main Trades TOTAL 320

Freshers – MLT Trades

Ex-ITI – Main Trades TOTAL 670

Ex-ITI – PASAA TOTAL 10

Abbreviations: UR-Unreserved, OBC-Other Backward Classes, SC-Scheduled Caste, ST-Scheduled Tribe, PwBD-Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, PASAA-Programming and System Administration Assistant, MLT-Medical Lab Technician.

Important Dates

Eligibility Criteria – ICF Apprentice 2026

A. Age Limit as on 07/09/2026

• For ITI candidates: Should have completed 15 years and should not have completed 24 years.
• For Non-ITI candidates: Should have completed 15 years and should not have completed 22 years.

B. Age Relaxation

• SC/ST candidates: 05 years
• OBC candidates: 03 years
• Persons with Disability: 10 years

C. Educational Qualification – Ex-ITI

Ex-ITI Fitter, Electrician & Machinist: Should have passed Std X (with a minimum of 50% marks) with Science & Maths under 10+2 system or equivalent and also possess National Trade Certificate in the notified trade issued by NCVT or SCVT of one year and above. Training period – 1 year.

Ex-ITI Carpenter, Painter & Welder: Should have passed Std X (with a minimum of 50% marks) under 10+2 system or equivalent and also possess National Trade Certificate in notified trade of one year and above. Training period – 1 year.

Ex-ITI PASAA: Should have passed Std X (with a minimum of 50% marks) and also possess National Trade Certificate in trade of Information Technology or Computer Operator and Programming Assistant or Database System Assistant or Software Testing Assistant issued by NCVT or SCVT of one year and above. Training period – 1 year.

D. Educational Qualification – Freshers

Fitter, Electrician & Machinist (Freshers): Should have passed Std X (with minimum 50% aggregate marks) with Science & Maths under 10+2 system. Training – 2 years.

Carpenter & Painter (Freshers): Should have passed Std X (with minimum 50% aggregate marks) under 10+2 system. Training – 2 years.

Welder (Freshers): Should have passed Std X (with minimum 50% aggregate marks) under 10+2 system. Training – 1 year 3 months.

MLT Radiology & Pathology (Freshers): Should have passed Std XII examination under 10+2 system with Physics, Chemistry & Biology. Training – 1 year 3 months.

E. Higher Qualification Restriction

As per Note (i) of the notification, candidates with higher qualifications than 10th/Matric/SSLC viz. Degree/Diploma, Engineering Degree and Course Completed Act Apprentices are not eligible to apply for Act Apprenticeship. However, this restriction does not apply to MLT where qualification is 12th/HSC.

F. Local Eligibility Condition

According to para 2.3 of the notification, the applicants who are resident and/or are registered with a local Employment Exchange falling within the jurisdiction of the State of Tamil Nadu alone are eligible. The date of registration should not be beyond the last date of receipt of application. Wards of Railway employees are exempted from this condition but must produce ID Card/Service Certificate attested by Gazetted Officer plus Father’s/Mother’s/Candidate’s UMID Card and PPO copy at Document Verification.

Who Can Apply for ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026?

ICF Apprentice 2026 is suitable for candidates who meet the prescribed educational and local eligibility conditions. Class 10 pass candidates can check the Freshers trades, while candidates holding the required ITI/NTC qualification can apply for the notified Ex-ITI trades. Candidates interested in MLT trades must meet the specified Class 12 qualification with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Before submitting the application, candidates should verify the Tamil Nadu residence or Employment Exchange requirement, age limit, trade-specific qualification and applicable fee.

Training Period & Stipend

Training Period

• Ex-ITI all trades: 1 Year
• Freshers Fitter, Electrician, Machinist, Carpenter, Painter: 2 Years
• Freshers Welder, MLT Radiology, MLT Pathology: 1 Year 3 Months

Before commencement, candidates have to execute a contract of apprenticeship. If the candidate is minor, guardian can execute the prescribed contract as per guidelines of Regional Director of Apprenticeship Training, Guindy, Chennai.

Stipend Details as per Notification

• Freshers – School pass-outs (Class 10th): ₹8,200 per month
• Freshers – School pass-outs (Class 12th): ₹9,600 per month
• Ex-ITI – National or State certificate holder: ₹9,600 per month

During the second year of apprenticeship training, there shall be an increase of 10 percent in the prescribed minimum stipend amount. For NCVT/SCVT certificate holders, the period of training already undergone shall be taken into account for determining minimum payable rate of stipend. This is a stipend and not a permanent salary.

Application Fee

• Other candidates: ₹100 + service charges as applicable (non-refundable).
• SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates: No application fee.
• Payment Mode: Online only. A unique Transaction ID starting with ‘DU’ will be sent to the registered mobile number.
• No request for refund of fee once remitted will be entertained.

Selection Process and Merit List

Is there any exam for ICF Apprentice 2026? According to the notification, there is no written exam or interview.

• Merit list will be based on marks obtained in Std X. For example, for COVID Pass candidates in X std, proof of IX std mark sheet / X std Half yearly mark sheet duly signed by Principal will be taken into account.
• If marks are equal, candidate having older age shall be preferred. If dates of birth are also same, candidate who passed Std X examination earlier shall be considered first.
• Freshers are allowed to exercise option for trades. Trade will be allotted based on order of merit and availability. Once allotted, request for change of trade will not be entertained.
• Candidates selected against benchmark disabilities will be allotted relevant trade permissible to them alone.
• Ex-ITI candidates will be trained in the trade in which they possess ITI certificate.
• Selected candidates should produce a Medical Certificate at the time of document verification in prescribed form signed by Government authorized doctor not below rank of Asst. Surgeon of Central/State Hospital as per Railway Board letter No.E(MPP)/2009/6/14 dated 04.12.2018.

Document Verification – Checklist

• Educational: Std X / XII certificate and mark sheets as applicable, Transfer Certificate for qualifying examination
• ITI: National Trade Certificate for Ex-ITI candidates
• Category: SC/ST/OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate where applicable
• PwBD: Disability certificate issued by Central/State Government
• Employment Exchange / Railway Ward: Local Employment Exchange registration proof OR Railway employee ward proof – ID Card/Service Certificate attested by Gazetted Officer plus UMID Card / PPO copy
• Medical: Medical Certificate in prescribed form signed by Govt authorized doctor
• Other: System generated acknowledgement form, recent passport size photograph (max 200 KB jpg/jpeg)
• Declaration: Declaration that he/she is aware that he/she does not have any right of employment in ICF/Railways in future

Documents and Details to Keep Ready

• Class 10 certificate and marksheet
• Class 12 documents where applicable
• ITI/NTC certificate for Ex-ITI candidates
• Category certificate, where applicable
• PwBD certificate, where applicable
• Employment Exchange registration proof or Railway employee ward documents, where applicable
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Valid mobile number and active email ID
• Online payment method, where applicable

How to Apply Online for ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026

1. First, visit the official ICF apprenticeship portal – https://pb.icf.gov.in. Facility will be available from 08/08/2026 to 07/09/2026 till 17:30 hrs.
2. Next, read the notification thoroughly and keep ready all relevant documents/certificates and image of recent passport size photograph (not more than 200 KB in jpg/jpeg format).
3. Then, fill in the online application form correctly. System generated registration number is the candidate’s individual Registration ID. Password to generate acknowledgement is date of birth, and for login candidates should use registration number with password as date of birth in ddmmyyyy format.
4. After that, pay processing fee of ₹100 + service charges through online mode if applicable. After successful payment, a unique Transaction ID starting with ‘DU’ will be sent to registered mobile number. Preserve this Transaction ID.
5. Check whether details fed in online application are correct before clicking submit button.
6. After final submission, generate acknowledgement form from system and take printout which is required to be submitted at the time of Document Verification. Candidates are NOT required to send any documents to ICF through Post/e-mail/FAX/By hand.

Important Links – ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Important: Candidates should use the official ICF portal and notification PDF for the latest application instructions. For clarification, candidates may raise issues in the helpdesk given at pb.icf.gov.in/act2026_cc/helpdesk_entry.php. All communication will be sent by SMS from PBICF and email, and select/eligible list will be uploaded on ICF portal. Candidates should maintain same mobile number and email ID till selection is completed.

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Frequently Asked Questions – ICF Apprentice Recruitment 2026