District Institute of Education and Training, Dharmapuri was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu as per G.O. Ms. No. 145, dated 27 June 2007. The institute commenced its functioning on 3 September 2007 on the campus of the Government Higher Secondary School, Pulikarai, and continued to operate there until 27 May 2020. From 28 May 2020 onwards, the institute has been functioning in its own new building located at Settikarai Village in Dharmapuri District.

The systems of elementary and adult education in India were too extensive to be adequately supported solely by national- and state-level agencies such as the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), and State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). In the field of adult education, support was provided at the national level by the Central Directorate of Adult Education and at the state level by State Resource Centres (SRCs). At the district level, elementary teacher education institutions existed, but their activities were largely confined to pre-service teacher education.

In accordance with the provisions of the National Policy on Education 1986 relating to teacher education, the Government of India approved a centrally sponsored scheme for the restructuring and reorganization of teacher education in October 1987. One of the five components of this scheme was the establishment of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs). Draft guidelines for implementing the DIET component were circulated to the states in October 1987, and along with subsequent circulars, these guidelines formed the basis for implementation. By October 1989, central assistance had been sanctioned for the establishment of 216 DIETs across the country.

At present, there are 32 DIETs in Tamil Nadu, established in four phases. District Institute of Education and Training, Dharmapuri was established in the fourth phase in 2007. Initially located at Pulikarai, it is now functioning at Settikarai Village in Dharmapuri District. The institute operates through seven academic and administrative departments.