Professional Learning Requirements
The continuing professional learning of all ACT teachers is recognised through the inclusion of professional learning as a requirement of teacher registration and TQI’s accreditation of courses and programs. These processes connect a teacher’s professional learning to the Australian Professional Standard for Teachers or Standard for Principals.
SUBMIT 20 HRS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING (PL) THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR
- MINIMUM 5 HRS ACCREDITED PROGRAMS TQI - REMEMBER TO keep your employment and contact details up-to-date on the TQI Portal, otherwise TQI recognised providers will be unable to confirm your attendance.
- MINIMUM 5 HRS TEACHER IDENTIFIED ACTIVITIES - EXAMPLES INCLUDE Formal academic study, formal action research, non-accredited programs and conferences, online learning, online professional collaboration, podcasts, coaching, mentoring, PLC/PLT, communities of practice, professional associations, supervising a pre-service teacher, engaging in educational social media, and TED talks.
- REMAINING 10 HRS - COMBINATION ACCREDITED PROGRAMS TEACHER IDENTIFIED ACTIVITIES TQI - REMAINING HOURS can be made up of any combination of accredited programs and Teacher Identified Activities (TIPL).
If you are having difficulty in meeting the PL requirements, talk to your school leader or contact TQI and request a PL variation plan.
During each school year, you will need to record and reflect on a minimum of 20 hours of PL. These 20 hours are made up of a combination of accredited programs and TIPL.
PL encourages and recognises a range of learning that is relevant to the content and practice of teaching.
Word-doc-A_PL_What-counts-as-TIPL_FLYER.docx
Word-doc-B_PL_20-Hours_FRAMEWORK.docx
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What counts as Teacher Identified Professional Learning (TIPL) Activities
- Professional Collaboration
- Podcasts + Audio Books
- Coaching Mentoring
- Professional Reading
- Online Learning
- Professional Association Meetings
- Formal Academic Study/Action Research
- PLC / PLT Communities of Practice
- Supervising a Pre-Service Teacher
- Switching to Remote Learning
- Engaging with Educational Pages on Social Media
- Any Non-Accredited Programs
TIPL activities encompass a wide range of PL that has not been TQI accredited. TIPL activities should focus on improving professional knowledge and practice. Most activities can claim up to five hours for registration purposes. Formal academic study and formal action research can claim up to ten hours. Think about the things you read or do to prepare your lessons. Going to museums and listening to TED talks can also be counted as TIPL. Ask yourself - is what I’m doing new learning and is it enhancing my professional practice? Does it align with the Standards? If yes - then it can be counted as TIPL.
If you are having difficulty in meeting the PL requirements, talk to your school leader or contact TQI and request a PL variation plan.
Word Doc C_PL_Requirements for Maintaining Registration_FLYER
Professional Learning Requirements for Maintaining your Annual Registration
of Accredited Programs and Teacher Identified Activities.
Who
- All registered teachers including on leave, casual, not working in the ACT.
- PL is a registration requirement regardless of your employment status or when you began teaching.
When
- Record and reflect on your PL throughout the year.
- TQI evaluations must be submitted once the program has been populated into your PL profile by the Provider.
- All PL must be recorded and submitted by the end of the school year.
How
- MINIMUM 5 HRS ACCREDITED PROGRAMS TQI
- MINIMUM 5 HRS TEACHER IDENTIFIED ACTIVITIES
- REMAINING 10 HRS - COMBINATION ACCREDITED PROGRAMS TEACHER IDENTIFIED ACTIVITIES TQI
PL hours required in your first year of registration according to the date your registration commenced:
- 1 Jan= 20 hours At least 5 hours from each category
- 1 July = 10 hours No minimum of either
- 10 Oct = 5 hours No minimum of either
Teacher Identified PL (TIPL)
is entered individually by you via the portal (My PL Profile).
- Only non accredited programs can be recorded as TIPL.
TQI Accredited PL (APL)
is populated into your PL profile once the provider has confirmed your completion of the program.
- The provider has up to 10 working days to complete this administrative activity.
- You must complete the TQI evaluation of all APL in your PL profile
Annual Verification of your PL records
By the end of a school year you must have your PL records
verified by a nominated TQI delegate from your school.
- If your current employment status on the portal lists a specific school then that school will automatically be your delegate.
- If you are ‘casual’, ‘not currently working in the ACT or have an ‘other employer’ you must select a verification delegate via the TQI portal.
- All casuals must select a school they have a rapport with to verify their PL. This is an agreement between employers and unions.
Understanding Teacher Identified Categories
Teacher Identified (TI) Activities that count for Registration
Count up to 10 Hours per year
Formal Academic Study
Each year you can count up to 10 hours of Formal Academic Study.
It only counts as ‘formal’ study if:
- it is undertaken in a recognised tertiary or vocational institution.
- you are formally enrolled as a student with a student ID number.
- the study can be credited towards an academic award.
Count up to 10 Hours per year
Formal Action Research
Each year you can count up to 10 hours of formal action research.
The term ‘action research’ can include research, root cause analysis or problem solving.
It counts as ‘formal action research’ if:
- the research is agreed and overseen by your school or a recognised research institution.
- it has an agreed project plan with objectives, methodology and milestones.
- you have a plan for post-action evaluation and for sharing there search outcomes
with other educational professionals. Count up to 10 Hours per year
Count up to 5 Hours per year
Other PL Activities
Each year you can count up to 5 hours for any one activity that has:
- significant intellectual or professional content,
- is directly related to the content and practice of teaching
- is relevant to your immediate or long-term professional development needs.
1. Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2011). Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and Standard for Principals
2. Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2018). Australian Teacher Performance and Development Framework
3. Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2018). Australian Charter for the Professional Learning of Teachers and School Leaders
Teachers should review the EVENTS page on the TQI portal to find up an coming TQI Accredited programs and On-Demand programs.
A list of all TQI Accredited programs can be found on the online register .
Programs and courses accredited in other states and territories may be recorded as Teacher Identified activities even if they are not accredited in the ACT.
You can get more information about the professional learning requirements in the Resources section of the TQI Teacher Portal.
Have a question and can't find the answer on our website or need further assistance using the teacher portal? Please email us at tqi@act.gov.au or call us on 6207 5005 to arrange support with our team.
Submit 20 HRS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING throughout the school year
- MINIMUM 5 HRS ACCREDITED PROGRAMS TQI
- MINIMUM 5 HRS TEACHER IDENTIFIED ACTIVITIES
- REMAINING 10 HRS - COMBINATION ACCREDITED PROGRAMS TEACHER IDENTIFIED ACTIVITIES TQI
PL hours required in your first year of registration according to the date your registration commenced:
- 1 Jan= 20 hours At least 5 hours from each category
- 1 July = 10 hours No minimum of either
- 10 Oct = 5 hours No minimum of either