TEACHERS - NSW
To work as a Teacher in NSW, Australia, you must have completed a minimum of 4-years full-time (or part-time equivalent) university level study. The study must include a teaching degree comparable to AQF Level 7 (Bachelor degree) or higher, which includes at least one year full-time (or part-time equivalent) university level study of initial teacher education and completion of at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice (professional experience, practicum). You will need to complete a Teacher Accreditation by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to work as a teacher in NSW.
If you are registered to practice in New Zealand, please click here.
If you are applying for a Visa, please click here.
Key Terms:
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You will need to have your overseas qualifications assessed by NESA to ensure they are comparable to an accredited Australian teaching degree. This is solely based on your degree qualifications, not on previous teaching experience. You can apply for Provisional accreditation if you hold a 4-year teaching degree or qualification package that NESA deems comparable to an Australian teaching qualification.
The qualifications you require are either;
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a 4-year teaching degree: a Bachelor of Education or,
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a 4-year qualification package: a combination of a non-teaching undergraduate degree and a graduate-entry/post-graduate teaching degree (for example, a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Teaching).
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Teachers who hold a workplace-based licence or teacher certification or a non-approved qualification are not eligible to apply for Provisional accreditation. However, they may be eligible for Conditional accreditation.
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You will need to create a NESA eTAMS account to complete the accreditation proces. You are required to provide the following documents for accreditation:
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a final transcript of any relevant degrees (undergraduate and post-graduate when applicable), including proof of 45 days of supervised teaching practice,
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a testamur/ degree certificate of any relevant degrees (undergraduate and post-graduate when applicable),
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three certified copies of identification,
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a current NSW Working with Childrens Check (this is essential, see below for more information),
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evidence of successful completion of an approved English Language Proficiency Test if any part of your qualifications are from a country where English is not the main language (countries other than Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and the Republic of Ireland) (click here for more information regarding NESA's English Language requirements and testing),
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an overseas criminal history check if you have resided overseas for 12 consecutive months or more in the past 5 years and,
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a NAATI-accredited translation of your documents and your original certified documents, if your original transcripts are not in English.
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Accreditation of your qualifications
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Apply for approval to teach in a NSW public school
Once you have completed the NESA Accreditation and have a WWCC, you must gain approval to teach in a NSW public school. This is completed in two steps;
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Upload documentation such as identity documents, univeristy transcripts, and teaching references. ​You will then receive an email with the details of what you are qualified to teach (subjects).
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An online interview to demonstrate your capabilities to teach in NSW.
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You will receive the outcome via email.
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Teaching Categories
The requirements of teaching qualifications and experience differs according to the year levels you can teach;
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Primary School: The study must include an initial teacher education qualification comparable to the educational level of an Australian Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) or higher, which includes:
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at least 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education (university) level study of Primary School Teacher initial teacher education
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completion of at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice with students across the 5 to 12 years age range in a primary school setting.
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Middle School: The study must include an initial teacher education qualification comparable to the educational level of an Australian Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) or higher, which includes:
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at least 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education (university) level study of Middle School Teacher initial teacher education
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completion of at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice with students across the 10–15 years age range in a middle school setting. Supervised teaching practice may be completed in a separate middle school or by teaching students in both upper primary and lower secondary
schools, with a minimum of 10 days teaching upper primary aged students (10–12 years) and a minimum of 10 days teaching lower secondary school aged students (13–15 years).
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Secondary School: The study must include an initial teacher education qualification comparable to the educational level of an Australian Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) or higher, which includes:
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at least 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education (university) level study of Secondary School Teacher initial teacher education
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completion of at least 45 days of supervised teaching practice with students across the 13 to 18 years age range in a secondary school setting.
New Zealand registered professionals
If you are a registered teacher in New Zealand you can apply for accreditation at the comparable level in NSW. You must provide evidence of your current registration with a teacher registration authority in New Zealand. You submit this application through eTAMS. Click here for more information.
Visa Applicants
It is important to note that to apply for permanent teaching positions in NSW public schools, you will need to be an Australian citizen or prermanent resident.
Need-to-know
Estimated Costs
(in AUD)
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Accreditation fee: $100 annually. Click here for more information.
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WWCC: $107
Estimated Time Commitment
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It is unclear how long the NESA Accreditation process takes. It will be extended if you are asked to provide additional documentation, so ensure you are uploading all required documents to minimise the length of time to receive an outcome.
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WWCC: can take up-to 4 weeks to have your application processed.
English Language Requirements
​Two options for testing English Language Skills:
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The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic) requires a minimum score of: 7 in reading and writing, 8 in speaking and listening. NESA recognises the IELTS One-Skill Retake.
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The International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR) (Teacher-focused) must be taken at an approved testing site where the assessment is teacher-focused.
The ISLPR requires a score of Level 4 in all 4 skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, writing. Exemptions are considered in some cases.
Documentation
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As noted above, all documents not in English must have NAATI approved translated versions.
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You are required to have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) if you are working or volunteering with children. Thi involves a National Police Check (criminal history record check) and a review of reportable workplace misconduct.
Other Career Options:
If you are unable to gain recognition for your full qualifications, here are some other options for careers you may pursue in Australia;
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