About teacher registration
On this page:
- Registration Categories
- Submitting your application
- Providing supporting documentation
- Tax deductible application fee
Teacher registration is the process through which registration bodies in Australian states and territories ensure that teachers are appropriately qualified and suitable for employment in schools. The requirements for registration apply to all teachers (casual relief, temporary and permanent) whether they are seeking employment in an Independent, Catholic or Public school.
You can view, print or save a sample application, including more detail on the information you will need to provide to support your application, by clicking here. Note that the sample responses in the PDF are provided as examples only. During the online application process you must answer each question as it relates to you.
Who needs to register?
You must apply for, and be granted, registration or authorisation to teach prior to working as a teacher in a school in the ACT.
TopHow do I apply
- I am new to teaching in the ACT and wish to apply for registration/authorisation to teach prior to commencing employment. Apply now
- I was employed as a teacher in the ACT in 2010 and am still working but have not yet completed the online application form for currently employed teachers. Contact TQI
- I commenced employment as a teacher in the ACT in 2011 before October 2011 but have not yet completed the online application form for currently employed teachers. Contact TQI
- I am currently registered in another state/territory or New Zealand and wish to apply under mutual recognition provisions. Fill in an online application and choose the level you hold in the other jurisdiction when asked what category you are applying for. Apply now
Registration categories
There are two categories of registration:
Full Registration
Full registration is the highest level of teacher registration and is only available to applicants who meet the criteria specified below.
| Qualification(s) |
Completion of at least four years of full time tertiary study (or part time equivalent) leading to the award of a school teacher qualification recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, including an accredited initial teacher education program. Overseas qualifications will be accepted if they are assessed by TQI as equivalent. |
| Teaching experience |
180 full teaching days in the previous five year period before the day the application is made. |
| Skills and abilities |
TQI must be satisfied that the person has skills, abilities and knowledge of a comparable level to those in the Proficient level of the National Professional Standards for teachers. Contact TQI for more information. |
| Suitability to teach |
TQI will use the information supplied in criminal history checks, declarations and residency status documentation to satisfy itself of the applicant's suitability to teach. |
| English language proficiency |
TQI must be satisfied that the applicant meets the English language requirements specified in the Act. Applicants who have not undertaken the required four full years of tertiary study in English in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland must provide proof of an IETLS academic test with scores of at least band 8 in Speaking and Listening and at least band 7 in Reading and Writing. |
Provisional Registration
Provisional registration is a category of registration for Graduate entry. Provisional registrants meet the qualification requirement for Full registration but have not yet accumulated the required teaching experience or skills and abilities outlined above. Provisional registration may also be granted as an interim measure when an applicant does meet the requirements for full registration but is unable to provide the relevant supporting documentation.
| Qualification(s) |
Completion of at least four years of full time tertiary study (or part time equivalent) leading to the award of a school teacher qualification recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, including an accredited initial teacher education program. Overseas qualifications will be accepted if they are assessed by TQI as equivalent. |
| Suitability to teach |
TQI will use the information supplied in criminal history checks, declarations and residency status documentation to satisfy itself of the applicant's suitability to teach. |
| English language proficiency |
TQI must be satisfied that the applicant meets the English language requirements specified in the Act. Applicants who have not undertaken four full years of tertiary study in English in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland must provide proof of an IETLS academic test with scores of at least band 8 in Speaking and Listening and at least band 7 in Reading and Writing. |
Permit to teach
A permit to teach is not a category of registration but an authorisation for a person to teach for a limited period in a specific teaching role. A permit to teach may be offered to applicants who don't meet the requirements for Full or Provisional registration but have relevant skills, knowledge and experience for a teaching position where a suitably qualified or registered teacher is not available. This process requires a request to TQI from the school wishing to employ you. Contact TQI for more information.
| Qualification(s) |
Applicant is not qualified to the standard specified under Full or Provisional registration. |
| Suitability to teach |
TQI will use the information supplied in criminal history checks, declarations and residency status documentation to satisfy itself of the applicant's suitability to teach. |
| English language proficiency |
TQI must be satisfied that the applicant meets the English language requirements specified in the Act. Applicants who have not undertaken their qualification in English in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland must provide proof of an IETLS academic test with scores of at least band 8 in Speaking and Listening and at least band 7 in Reading and Writing. |
Transitional arrangements
Under the terms of the Act, special provisions were made for teachers who were either already employed in the ACT prior to 1 January 2011, or commenced employment in 2011 prior to October. All teachers employed, or approved for employment prior to October 2011 were included under transitional arrangements and their registration category determined by their employment status and qualifications. Please contact TQI to find out more about the transitional arrangements.
Applying under mutual recognition provisions
If you currently hold full or provisional registration with a teacher registration authority in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria or New Zealand you are eligible to apply for registration under the Mutual Recognition Principle set out in the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 or the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997. Applicants wishing to apply under Mutual Recognition provisions must provide a certified copy of both sides of the current registration card or certificate with their application. To apply under Mutual Recognition provisions, please refer to the 'How do I apply' section.
Applying
Getting ready to apply
The TQI application process starts with completion of our online application form. You need to complete the online application form in one sitting, as you cannot leave and re-enter the process. The online application should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
You will be asked to nominate the type of registration you are applying for (Full, Provisional or Permit to Teach). Information about these registration types can be found above.
You will need to have the following information available during the online application process:
- Details of your qualifications (completed and in progress)
- Details of teaching experience (if applicable)
- Details of any other Australian or New Zealand teaching registrations or accreditations
- A current email address
- Your Visa or MasterCard details if you choose to pay using the ACT Government secure online payment facility.
Once you have submitted your application you will be given a reference number. Please note this number and use it in any communication with TQI.
Submitting your application
During the application process you will be asked to provide information about yourself in the following areas:
- Personal details
- Contact details
- Qualifications
- Teaching experience.
You'll then be asked to give your consent to TQI sharing the information you have provided with employer(s) and teacher registration/accreditation bodies in other jurisdictions where applicable. If you have any concerns about giving this consent, please contact TQI prior to starting your application.
You will also be asked a series of mandatory Declarations questions covering your professional history, impairments and charges and convictions to enable TQI to assess your suitability to teach. You must answer these questions truthfully. If you answer 'Yes' to any of the Declarations questions, you must provide more information prior to submitting your online application.
Answering 'Yes' to any of the Declaration questions will not automatically result in your application being rejected. Each application is considered on its merits.
Tax deductible application fee
The TQI registration year is 1 April to 31 March. All registrations and permits to teach are valid to 31 March each year. A tax deductible application fee is payable at the time of application for registration/permit to teach and annually during renewal. The fee structure for initial applications for registration/permit to teach is shown below:
| Application made | Fee payable | |
| Full year | In the first 3 months of the registration year | $100 |
| Part year | In the 4th, 5th or 6th months of the registration year | $75 |
| Part year | After the 6th month of the registration year | $50 |
Applications will not be processed until the application fee has been paid. An application fee is refundable if TQI does not grant you registration or a permit to teach. How to pay information is included at the end of the online application form and your application confirmation email.
Providing supporting documentation
TQI requires the following documentation from you in order to process your application.
Application summary and statutory declaration
Once you have submitted your online application, you will receive an email confirmation with your tax invoice and application summary attached. Please sign the statutory declaration which follows your application summary, have it witnessed (a list of people who can witness statutory declarations is included in the document) and return the document to TQI by email or mail to:
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ACT Teacher Quality Institute
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or | tqi@act.gov.au |
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Certified copies of documents: in order for your application to be processed, you must provide copies of all required documentation certified by a person authorised under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959. Do not send originals – TQI will not return copies of documents submitted with an application.
The person certifying your documents must make the following statement on every page of the document to be certified and their name, profession and contact details should be clearly indicated: 'I have sighted the original document and certify this to be a true copy of the original'. You can send certified copies of documents by mail or email. Translated documents: any document not in English must be submitted together with a translation done by a translator accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). For more information refer to http://www.naati.com.au. |
A national police check*, or consent to TQI undertaking a national criminal history record check, including spent convictions
As part of the application process you must either:
- give TQI consent to undertake a national criminal history record check (NCHRC). The NCHRC will use the personal information provided in your application and the additional information and signed consent form in Attachment B of the application summary to do the check. On receipt of Attachment B, TQI will obtain an NCHRC for all Australian jurisdictions through the CrimTrac Agency OR
- provide a national police certificate to TQI, at own cost, which includes spent convictions and is no more than three months old. ACT residents can request the police check from the AFP. If you do not live in the ACT you should contact the Criminal Records section of the police service in your state/territory. The national police check application form asks you to nominate the purpose of the check. Choose the 'teacher' option to ensure that the correct type of check is undertaken (that includes spent convictions).
* If you have applied for and not yet received your national police check, please provide evidence of the application.
An overseas police check*
If you have lived overseas in one country for a continuous period of 12 months or more as an adult you must:
- provide an overseas police check covering the period you resided in the country OR
- provide evidence of Australian permanent residency or citizenship if it has been granted since the period you lived overseas.
If an overseas police check cannot be obtained, you must provide a Statutory Declaration stating that you:
- have/have not been charged, convicted or found guilty of a criminal offence under the laws of the country(ies) in which you resided AND
- have contacted the authorities in the relevant country(ies) and requested an overseas police check and received no reply to the request OR
- have contacted the authorities in the relevant country(ies) and requested an overseas police check and the authorities have refused to supply it.
*If you have applied for and not yet received your overseas police check, or your request has been refused or not acknowledged, please provide evidence of the application. Addresses and requirements for overseas police certificates are available at http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/character-requirements/.
Proof of English language proficiency
Applicants who have not undertaken the required four full years (or part time equivalent) of tertiary study in English in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland must provide proof of an English language proficiency. The countries listed above are accepted under Australian migration policy as not requiring English language proficiency assessment. Any costs associated with the test are the responsibility of the applicant.
A certified copy of test results must be provided. The English language requirement for registration or authorisation to teach in the ACT must provide proof of English language proficiency with scores of at least band 8 in Speaking and Listening and at least band 7 in Reading and Writing. Other English language proficiency test results will be accepted as equivalents. The date of the assessment must be no more than 2 years prior to the time of application for registration or authorisation to teach.
Proof of identity and citizenship/residency status
You must provide 100 points of proof of identity documentation with your application and proof of your Australian citizenship/residency. Documents accepted for proof of identity checks are listed in Attachment A of the application summary attached to your email confirmation.
Former names
You must provide proof of former name(s) if official documents are being submitted in support of the application that use the former name(s).
Teaching and/or tertiary qualifications
For each qualification a full academic transcript is required to support your application.
Applications for full registration only
- Abilities knowledge and skills demonstrated to Proficient level in the national teacher standards. Contact TQI for further information.
- Teaching experience of 180 days as a qualified teacher, demonstrated by a certified copy of Statement(s) of Service and/or referee report from previous employer(s).
Applications for permit to teach
- Documentation from a school that wishes to employ you, outlining the teaching role you are being employed for, the reasons why you are the most suitable person to undertake the role and what steps were previously taken to find a teacher qualified for the role AND
- A professional reference to be completed by a person who can vouch for you in a professional capacity if contacted by TQI. Not required unless requested by TQI.
Applications under mutual recognition provisions
- Evidence of current teacher registration held in another Australian jurisdiction or New Zealand if applying under Mutual Recognition provisions. A certified copy of both sides of the registration card or certificate is required.
What does TQI do once I have applied?
Once you have completed your online application, paid your application fee and provided certified copies of supporting documentation, TQI will process and assess your application. A successful application will result in the granting of:
- Full registration OR
- Provisional registration OR
- A Permit to Teach.
If you feel that the assessment of your application is incorrect in any way, please contact TQI for more information in the first instance. TQI will advise you how to provide additional information that may support your application further, or on other avenues of appeal.
Acknowledgement of your application does not constitute approval of your application. You are not permitted to work as a teacher until you have received formal approval of your registration or permit to teach in writing.
Please contact TQI if you wish to apply under mutual recognitions provisions.
Approximate assessment times
The Act requires TQI to assess an application within 28 days of receiving all the required supporting documentation. However, the majority of applications will be processed within 10 working days, if all supporting documentation has been provided and there is no delay in the return of a criminal history check.
