Categories of Registration
There are three categories of registration
- Provisional (for teachers applying for registration in NZ for the first time and for teachers who have not held full registration before).
- Subject to Confirmation; (for experienced teachers who have not taught in a New Zealand approved setting for two out of the previous five years); and
- Full (for experienced teachers who meet the specified requirements)
Provisional RegistrationIf you are applying for registration for the first time, you will usually be applying for provisional registration. You will need to have graduated from a NZ Teachers Council approved programme of teacher education. Check www.TeachNZ.govt.nz for a list of these approved programmes. You do not need to have any teaching experience to apply for provisional registration.
As a teacher with provisional registration, you are responsible for ensuring that you take all the steps needed to continue to
a) hold a current practising certificate; and
b) to move to full registration.
For a provisionally registered teacher, to be able to move to full you need to be employed in a teaching position for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week for 2 years and successfully participated in a supervised advice and guidance programme. The Council has discretion to consider teaching service in minimum blocks of at least 10 weeks at a time.
Subject to Confirmation
If you are an experienced teacher who does not currently meet the criteria for full registration, and who has received at least two years of supervision (either having achieved full registration, or holding a Trained Teacher Certificate), you will be registered subject to confirmation.
Overseas teachers applying for registration in New Zealand for the first time may be eligible for registration Subject to Confirmation, provided you have had 5 or more years of teaching experience, have held a senior teaching positions (for example, Principal, Deputy Principal or Head of Department) in conjunction with documented supervised teaching experience.
As a teacher registered subject to confirmation you are responsible for ensuring that you take all the steps needed to
(a) become fully registered;
(b) continue to hold a current practising certificate.
For a teacher registered as subject to confirmation to be able to move to full, you need to be employed in a teaching position for a continuous period of at least 3 months from when you are granted subject to confirmation. There are no minimum hours required.
Full Registration
You are eligible to have full registration status if:
- you are of good character and fit to be a teacher; and
- are satisfactorily trained to teach; and
- have had satisfactory recent teaching experience ("recent satisfactory teaching experience" is defined by teaching service completed within the previous five years).
For more information on how to achieve full registration, please refer to the 'FAQ' and 'How to Register' sections of this website.
Recognition of overseas teaching experience
There is no provision under the Education Act 1989 for a teacher to achieve full registration in New Zealand on the basis of overseas teaching experience.
However the two year period of supervised teaching in New Zealand that is normally required to move from provisional registration to full registration may have up to one year of overseas supervised teaching which includes professional support and appraisal as a teacher in the general education system of that overseas country. You would need to provide evidence in the form of statements on learning centre letter head outlining the targetted programme of professional support, guidance and appraisal involving a mentor teacher. Verification of the dates of employment also need to be submitted to the New Zealand Teachers Council.
Where an applicant from overseas provides substantial evidence of professional support and appraisal as a teacher for a full two years, has five years teaching experience following completion of a recognised teacher education programme, and held a senior position this may be taken into account for the purpose of granting registration subject to confirmation (STC). This category of registration enables a teacher to be considered for a move to full registration on the recommendation of the professional leader of the institution, after the teacher has taught for a supervised continuous period of at least three months in the general education system of NZ, or in a Teachers Council approved setting, from when STC is granted.
The New Zealand Teachers Council is not the employing body for teachers in New Zealand. This is the responsibility of individual Boards of Trustees and learning centres. This therefore means gaining registration does not guarantee employment.
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