To keep registration with the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI), teachers must meet a number of ongoing requirements and responsibilities.
Registration Requirements
Hold a current registration or approval to teach
A teacher must have a current TQI registration or approval to teach to work in a school in the ACT. Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) registration is not mandatory for teaching in an early childhood education and care service.
Keep registration details secure
A registration credential is issued each year when registration is renewed. A registration certificate can be downloaded at any time through the TQI Portal. Teachers should keep their registration credentials secure and notify TQI if they are lost, stolen or damaged.
Maintain a current WWVP registration
Teachers must hold a current positive Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration at all times, including when they are on leave or not actively teaching.
Teachers must tell TQI in writing if their WWVP registration:
- changes
- expires
- is suspended
- is cancelled.
Tell TQI about matters that may affect registration
Teachers must notify TQI of any matter that could affect their registration, including changes to their WWVP status.
Teacher Responsibilities
Complete professional learning
Teachers must record and reflect on at least 20 hours of professional learning each year through the TQI Portal. Retiree teachers need only complete 5 hours of professional learning each year.
Meet recency of practice requirements
Teachers holding full registration must complete at least 20 days of professional practice each year to maintain eligibility for full registration.
Keep personal details up to date
Teachers are responsible for ensuring their contact and employment details are accurate and current in the TQI Portal.
Follow professional standards
Teachers must comply with the TQI Code of Professional Practice and Conduct.
Renew registration each year
Registration must be renewed annually. Teachers must lodge their renewal application and pay the annual fee during Term 1 and no later than 31 March each year.
Progress from provisional to full registration
Teachers holding provisional registration must achieve full registration within five years.
Information Requests
TQI may ask a teacher or their employer to provide additional information that is relevant to a registration decision. Any information requested must be provided within the timeframe specified by TQI.
Employer Responsibilities
A teacher whose registration has expired no longer holds approval to teach in an ACT school. From 1 April, they must not teach in an ACT school until a new registration has been granted.
Employers have legal obligations when employing registered teachers in the ACT. Employers must notify TQI if they believe a teacher's WWVP registration status has changed.
Employers must also notify TQI within five working days if:
- a formal investigation into a registered teacher begins
- disciplinary action is taken against a teacher
- a teacher's access to casual employment is removed, cancelled or ended
- a teacher resigns while they are the subject of a formal investigation or preliminary factual inquiry.
Employers should encourage teachers to keep their employment details up to date in the TQI Portal. Accurate employment information helps ensure registration records are correct and that teachers appear on workplace registration reports.
Employers and school leaders should regularly review their workplace registration report to:
- Confirm all teachers employed are listed
- Check the registration status for permanent, temporary and casual teachers
- Identify any teachers who may have outdated employment information in the TQI portal.
Employers and school leaders should also contact teachers who are on extended leave or other long-term absences to remind them of their ongoing registration obligations, and their responsibility to maintain Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration.
Taking a Break from Teaching in the ACT?
This information is for teachers who are planning to take extended leave, work overseas or interstate, leave the profession temporarily, or otherwise stop teaching for a period of time but may wish to return in the future.
What are my options?
If you are leaving teaching or taking an extended period of leave, you generally have two options:
Option 1: Maintain your ACT registration
This is usually the simplest option if you think you may return to teaching.
To maintain your registration you must:
- Renew your registration each year.
- Maintain a current Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration.
- Complete the required professional learning requirements.
- 100 hours of professional development over the last five years or 20 hours per year on a pro rata basis
- Retiree Teacher Condition – 25 hours of professional development over the last five years or 5 years each year on a pro rata basis
- Meet any applicable professional practice requirements for your registration category:
- Full registration – 100 days over the last five years or 20 days each year on a pro rata basis (Retiree Teacher Condition - 50 days over the last five years or 5 days per year on a pro rata basis)
- Provisional registration – Nil
- Early Childhood Teacher registration – Nil
- Keep your contact details up to date on the TQI portal.
Option 2: Allow your registration to lapse
You may choose not to renew your registration while you are away.
This means that if you later decide to return to teaching you will need to make a new application for registration and provide supporting documentation. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to provide evidence of English language proficiency and satisfy current registration requirements.
For more information about both options, see below.
If I Maintain My Registration
Professional Learning Requirements
Registered teachers are generally required to complete:
- 20 hours of professional learning each year.
- 100 hours of professional learning over a five-year period.
If exceptional circumstances prevent you from meeting the annual requirement, you may be able to request a Professional Learning Variation Plan.
Professional Practice Requirements (Full Registration Only)
Teachers holding full registration must maintain recent professional practice.
Generally, this means:
- Completing at least 20 days of professional practice each year; and
- Accumulating at least 100 days of professional practice over a five-year period.
Professional practice may include:
- Teaching in an Australian or New Zealand school.
- Teaching in an approved early childhood education and care service.
- Assessing student learning in government-endorsed education services.
- Educational leadership or administration roles that directly influence teaching and learning.
The professional practice requirements do not apply to:
- Provisional registration;
- Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) registration; or
- Permit to Teach holders.
What if I cannot meet the professional practice requirement?
The legislation recognises that some teachers may not be able to meet the professional practice requirement because of circumstances such as parental leave, illness, caring responsibilities, overseas postings, or other periods away from teaching.
When renewing, teachers can explain their circumstances and TQI will assess the requirements over a five-year period.
If I Allow My Registration to Lapse
The registration pathway depends on how long you have been away.
Returning within 2 years
If you previously held full registration and return to teaching within two years, you can generally apply again for full registration.
Returning after more than 2 years but less than 5 years
If you previously held full registration and did not obtain full registration through a TQI school-based assessment process, you may need:
- A Professional Practice Report from your principal confirming you are teaching at the Proficient career stage of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers; and
- Evidence that you taught for at least 180 days in an Australian or New Zealand school during the five years before applying.
The ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act also requires a person applying for full registration to have recent teaching experience in the five years before the application and meet all current eligibility requirements.
Returning after more than 5 years
If you have been away from teaching for more than five years, you will generally need to apply for provisional registration and work towards full registration again.
What if I currently hold Provisional Registration?
If your registration lapses and you later want to return to teaching, you will generally need to make a new application for provisional registration through TQI.
Before Deciding to Let Your Registration Lapse
Consider:
- Whether you expect to return to teaching within the next few years.
- Whether maintaining registration will be easier than reapplying later.
- Whether your employer requires you to remain registered during a period of leave to preserve employment entitlements.
- Whether you can continue to meet professional learning and WWVP requirements while away.