Satisfactorily Trained to Teach in New Zealand

To teach in New Zealand and to be a registered teacher, the New Zealand Teachers Council must take into account:

  1. Qualifications, and
  2. Satisfactory completion of training recognised by the NZ Teachers Council.

For applicants who have completed their teacher education programme overseas, there are 2 processes that are followed depending on the applicant's circumstances:

Track 1


For New Zealand and overseas teachers applying to be registered in New Zealand for the first time or re-applying to be registered after registration has expired.

A teacher is "satisfactorily trained to teach" if they provide documented evidence of a pre-service teacher education qualification from an approved teacher education provider in New Zealand recognised by the NZ Teachers Council for teacher registration purposes; or, if an overseas qualification, assessed by NZQA as equivalent to the New Zealand qualification and recognised as comparable and appropriate by the NZ Teachers Council.
For a list of currently approved New Zealand teacher education providers and qualifications please check the TEACHNZ website. http://www.teachnz.govt.nz/training.html

Experienced teachers from overseas may be registered with either a provisional or subject to confirmation status on first application. If the qualification is an overseas equivalent qualification evidence may be required of English language proficiency (both oral and written) for teaching.

For non New Zealand graduates, a certified copy of all qualifications (academic and teaching) and certified official course transcripts plus a New Zealand Qualifications Authority evaluation is required.

Where qualifications and/or experiences have largely been in a non-English speaking situation, you will need to meet the Teachers Council language proficiency policy. Click here for the policy details on language proficiency.

Track 2

For experienced overseas teachers applying to be registered in New Zealand who have had no teaching in New Zealand before and who do not meet Track 1 requirements.

A teacher is "satisfactorily trained to teach" if they provide documented evidence of the following, which will be assessed together as a package.

  1. Appropriate tertiary qualifications relevant to teaching in the New Zealand early childhood or compulsory education system. Must provide certified copies of all academic qualifications together with official course transcripts.
  2. Teacher education that is acceptable for teaching in the public education system in the country of origin and is accompanied by further appropriate advanced qualifications. Must provide certified copies of all teacher education qualifications, and official course transcripts as well as a copy of New Zealand Qualifications Authority evaluation.
  3. Recent teaching service normally amounting to the equivalent of five years full-time teaching, (although a lesser or greater time may be determined by the NZ Teachers Council), and to have been principally in institutions relevant to teaching in New Zealand. Must provide proof of type of employment, dates of employment and the type of institution.
  4. English language proficiency (both oral and written) for the purposes of teaching. Where qualifications and/or experiences have largely been in a non-English speaking situation, you will need to meet the Teachers Council language proficiency policy. Click here for the policy details on language proficiency.
  5. Being a satisfactory teacher as demonstrated by evidence of: formal processes of "induction", "classification" or "registration", involving appraisal and supervision. Written evidence must be supplied.
  6. Evidence of positive appraisal through increasing responsibilities and/or
    promotion. Written evidence must be supplied.
  7. Continuing education, professional development and in-service training.
    experience as a "trainer" of teachers or professional supervision of other
    teachers. Written evidence must be supplied.
  8. The unqualified support of a school principal or equivalent person in the
    case of an early childhood centre. Applicant must supply a letter on official letterhead, signed and dated.

Any other exceptional matters which the Council may consider relevant.

In all cases the NZ Teachers Council may require additional evidence.

Please note that salary rates are the responsibility of the school/centre and the Ministry of Education.