ACT teacher qualification checks
Check what qualifications you need to be allowed to teach in ACT public schools.
ACT teaching qualifications
If you are planning to apply for teaching roles in the ACT public school system, you must:
- have completed a suitable 4-year full-time tertiary qualification
- hold (or be eligible for) teacher registration with the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) prior to starting your employment
- have a current ACT Working with Vulnerable People (WwVP) registration
- be an Australian citizen, or a permanent resident and/or hold a valid working visa.
You need to meet these employment requirements to be offered a role in the ACT public school system.
If you do not hold a teacher registration with the ACT TQI or a valid ACT WwVP, we suggest you apply at the same time as you apply for a teaching opportunity.
ACT Teacher Quality Institute professional registration
All teachers in all Australian schools must be registered with the relevant state or territory authority. In the ACT, this authority is the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI).
Teachers are required to hold TQI registration, according to the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 (TQI Act) and Regulations, to start and continue teaching in the ACT.
TQI registration requires meeting and maintaining the standards of qualifications, expertise, professional education or development, which are used to assess an individual’s fitness to teach.
You can learn more about the teacher registration process on the TQI website.
Registered teachers from other states, territories or New Zealand
If you hold current registration to teach in another Australian state or territory or New Zealand (with Practising Certificate), you can apply for equivalent registration under mutual recognition (MR) provisions.
You can learn more about the teacher registration process on the TQI website.
Working with Vulnerable People registration
Teachers are required to have a current Working with Vulnerable People (WwVP) registration according to the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011.
National police checks are conducted as part of the application process.
Where WwVP registration has associated restrictions, the teacher must advise the Directorate’s People and Performance Branch of the restrictions in place.
A failure to maintain current WwVP registration may result in termination of employment with the Directorate.
You can learn more about the WwVP registration process on the Access Canberra website.
Overseas teachers
If you’d like to teach in the ACT and you are from overseas there are processes for this. To find out more, see ‘teachers migrating from overseas’ on Your career with ACT education.
Contact us
Email us to find out more.