Teacher - NSW

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;

• a 4-year teaching degree: a Bachelor of Education or,
• 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).

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.

You will need to create a NESA eTAMS account to complete the accreditation proces. You are required to provide the following documents for accreditation:

• a final transcript of any relevant degrees (undergraduate and post-graduate when applicable), including proof of 45 days of supervised teaching practice,
• a testamur/ degree certificate of any relevant degrees (undergraduate and post-graduate when applicable),
• three certified copies of identification,
• a current NSW Working with Childrens Check (this is essential, see below for more information),
• 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),
• an overseas criminal history check if you have resided overseas for 12 consecutive months or more in the past 5 years and,
• a NAATI-accredited translation of your documents and your original certified documents, if your original transcripts are not in English.

Internationally qualified teachers

Apply for initial accreditation

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;

1. 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).
2. An online interview to demonstrate your capabilities to teach in NSW.

You will receive the outcome via email.

Approval to teach

NESA Suitability to teach

The requirements of teaching qualifications and experience differs according to the year levels you can teach;

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:

• at least 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education (university) level study of Primary School Teacher initial teacher education
• 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.

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:

• at least 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education (university) level study of Middle School Teacher initial teacher education
• 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).

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:

• at least 1 year full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education (university) level study of Secondary School Teacher initial teacher education
• 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.