Maintaining and renewing teacher registration

The minimum requirements for granting the renewal or continuation of a teacher’s registration, after a defined period of time, are that:

• suitability has been maintained, assessed on the basis of a national criminal history records check that is no older than 5 years
• recency of professional practice requirements have been met on the basis of 100 days of professional practice in the previous 5 years, with capacity for flexibility in appropriate circumstances. Where relevant, there will be flexibility to provide for arrangements such as annualised renewal.
• proficiency against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers has been maintained
• professional learning is demonstrated on the basis of at least 100 hours of professional development activities referenced to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, undertaken in the previous 5 years. Where relevant, there will be flexibility to provide for arrangements such as annualised renewal.

In jurisdictions where the registration period is less than 5 years the requirements for professional practice and professional development may be reduced proportionately.

The professional practice requirements should not preclude teachers who are school based but not in a direct classroom teaching role, e.g. principals, school counsellors who are registered teachers, etc, from maintaining their registration.

The required Standards referenced professional development must be recorded by the teacher.

Jurisdictions may implement procedures for approving particular professional development activities as meeting the requirements for renewal of registration. Where this occurs the amount of approved Standards referenced professional development required, within the overall requirement of 100 hours over 5 years, is at the discretion of the teacher regulatory authority.

All jurisdictions will recognise the Standards referenced professional development approved, accepted or endorsed in other jurisdictions where this occurs.

NB. Teacher refers to a person eligible for registration under the legislation of the relevant jurisdiction.

Where the professional practice requirements for renewal of registration are not met there will be a form of registration where the minimum requirement to continue to hold and renew registration is a recent national criminal history records check and continuing to meet other suitability requirements.

Jurisdictions may impose conditions that apply to teachers in this category upon returning to teaching to ensure up to date knowledge on emerging educational reforms and current acceptable classroom practice. These conditions may include requirements for specific professional learning and professional practice which will be undertaken within a specified period of time.

The maximum period of registration is 5 years. To continue to hold full registration, teachers undergo a periodic process of renewal.

Renewal demonstrates the maintenance of currency of professional knowledge, practice and engagement, and continued suitability to be registered as a teacher.

The evidence for renewal provided by the teacher at a minimum must include a declaration by the teacher that the requirement for:

• suitability has been maintained
• recency of professional practice has been met
• professional development referenced to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers is demonstrated, and
• proficiency has been maintained against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

Supporting documentation should be kept by the teacher and available for audit by the regulatory authority if required.

The professional development referenced to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers that a teacher undertakes will be documented by that teacher, identifying which Standards the professional development addresses.

Jurisdictions may implement procedures for approving particular professional development activities as meeting the requirements for renewal of registration. Where this occurs the amount of approved Standards referenced professional development required is at the discretion of the teacher regulatory authority.

In addition, as part of the renewal process the teacher regulatory authority may:

• request release of information from other registration bodies and/or overseas employers
• consider previous misconduct based on the level, nature, frequency, recency and seriousness of the offence/s.