Full Registration as a New Zealand Teacher
What is Full registration?
Teachers who have achieved Full registration have successfully completed a period of induction and have proven that they meet the specified teaching service requirements outlined in the Education Act 1989. Teachers who hold Full registration have demonstrated that they meet the Registered Teacher Criteria.
How do I gain Full registration?
Specific teaching service requirements must be met to gain Full registration. The period of supervised teaching service you are required to complete depends on whether you hold Provisional registration or registration Subject to Confirmation (STC).
Requirements for gaining Full registration (Provisionally Registered Teacher)
Requirements for gaining Full registration (teacher registered Subject to Confirmation (STC))
How do I maintain Full registration?
Once you are a fully registered teacher, you are eligible to maintain full registration if you:
- are of good character and fit to be a teacher;
- have completed satisfactory professional development since the last renewal of your practising certificate;
- have had satisfactory recent teaching service - this means being employed in a teaching position for at least 2 years (equivalent of 8 terms) in the past 5 years, within the NZ general education system or in a setting approved for maintaining full registration; and
- have been assessed as satisfactory against the Registered Teacher Criteria.
What application form do I use?
You must already hold Full registration in New Zealand to renew your practising certificate. If you meet the above requirements and your practising certificate is due to expire, use the TC3 application form.
What if I don't meet the requirements to renew my practising certificate and Full Registration?
If you currently hold Full registration but you have not met the requirements to renew your practising certificate, you may reapply for registration under the category Subject to Confirmation (STC) using the TC1 application form.
STC registration is a category of registration for experienced teachers who are unable to meet the requirements to maintain Full registration. In order to be employed as a teacher in a school, you are required to hold registration (of any category) and a practising certificate or authorisation from the Teachers Council. It does not affect your pay or your ability to apply for teaching positions within the general education system.
Please note that if you are acting as a supervising/tutor teacher for a provisionally registered teacher undertaking an induction and mentoring programme, you are required to hold Full registration.