Teacher Education in New Zealand

The New Zealand Teachers Council has the responsibility to approve Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes and to set standards for graduates from the programmes. This section provides information for those who are:

  • Thinking about becoming a teacher
  • About to graduate from an ITE programme and
  • Providers of ITE programmes.

All teachers in New Zealand schools, kura and state kindergartens, by law, must be registered teachers with a current practising certificate. Teacher-led early childhood education services other than kindergartens are required to have qualified and registered teachers as a major proportion of their total teaching team.

Thinking about teaching?

What is initial teacher education (ITE)?  Find out about:

  • Sectors (ECE/Primary/Secondary/Māori immersion)
  • Questions to ask providers when selecting an ITE programme
  • ITE programmes approved by the New Zealand Teachers Council for teacher registration
  • The Graduating Teacher Standards (GTS).

About to graduate?

What's next for graduates?  Find out about:

  • Finding a teaching position 
  • Applying for your Provisional Registration and a three-year practising certificate.

Initial Teacher Education providers

Important information for ITE programme providers.  Find out about:

  • Guidelines for the approval of ITE programmes
  • Requirements for ITE programmes seeking approval from 1 January 2011
  • Process for approvals (including panel chairs)
  • Monitoring of approved ITE programmes.