To obtain teaching registration for New South Wales (NSW), you will need to apply through NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). This can only be done once in NSW, you cannot begin the application outside of the state. Here is more information on how to prepare! 

 

Pre-Departure Steps 

Step 1: Gather Documents 

Qualification documents include: 

  • Academic Transcripts (from all qualifications) 
  • Certificate/Diploma (from all qualifications) 
  • Confirmation of Placements – if the exact number of placement days completed throughout your qualifications is not listed on your transcript, please request a letter from your university confirming the number of placement days and that they were observed by a university mentor. 

 

Identity documents for international educators includes: 

  • Commencement: Australian visa 
  • Primary: passport 
  • Secondary: foreign driver license OR government photo ID card 

 

Step 2: Certify Documents 

Your transcripts, diplomas, passport, and driver’s license must be certified. While it is not necessary for registration, it’s also recommended to have your birth certificate certified as well. It is highly recommended to certify your documents prior to arrival in Australia as it speeds up the process overall. 

Make coloured copies of each document, and have them signed by either a police officer, solicitor, or Peace Commissioner. You can find out more about what is included in certifying your documents and who can certify them under NESA’s Identity Requirements. 

 

 

Step 3: Police Check  

Overseas applicants require international police checks for any country/countries you have lived in for 12 months or more over the past 5yrs (you would not require a check if you resided for less than 12 months in any country). Apply for the police check from your current country of residence one month prior to arriving in Australia.  

  • Educators from Ireland: apply for a police certificate from the Garda 
  • Educators from the UK: apply for a police certificate from ACRO 

 

 

Post-Arrival Steps 

Step 1: obtain an Australian phone number and bank account 

When opening a bank account, ask for a statement with your address on it as it takes 5 days for your card to arrive. And bring your passport along when buying an Australian SIM card. 

 

Step 2: Working With Children Check 

Once you have arrived in NSW, apply for your WWCC online, and visit a Service Centre to present your identity documents in person. You will require the following documents: 

  • Australian phone number and Australian bank card 
  • Passport and visa approval 
  • Bank statement from the last 12 months (can be from the UK or Ireland) 

 

The WWCC is typically processed within 1-2 weeks but can take up to 4 weeks to process. 

 

Step 3: NESA  

Once you have received your WWCC, you can submit your NESA application. As an international educator, you will be applying for Provisional Registration. 

 

Step 4: Approval to Teach  

Once you have received your NESA approval, you can apply for Approval to Teach with the Department of Education (DOE). The is necessary to teach in government schools. 

 

Step 5: Teach! 

This entire process will take around 4-8 weeks to be completed from when you first apply for your WWCC to receiving your DOE – you must complete WWCC, then NESA, then DOE and cannot skip a step! During this application and processing time, you will not be able to work as a teacher within NSW, but the team in Sydney will contact you to support and get you Ready2Work. 

 

Going as an Early Childhood Educator? 

In addition to the pre-departure steps listed above, you will also need to complete an ACECQA assessment prior to arriving in Australia. Once you have your documentation certified, you can apply to ACECQA up to a year prior to your arrival in Australia – it takes about 8 weeks to process. Watch our Early Childhood Opportunities webinar recording for further information on the ACECQA process. 

 

Graduated through a SCITT, Teach First, Schools Direct, or another third-party placement provider? 

Unfortunately, NESA does not accept any teaching qualifications completed through third-party placement providers – this is confirmed on the first page of NESA’s Subject Eligibility Guidelines.  

If you are able to prove that the university directly participated in observing and assessing your placements throughout your PGCE/PGDE, there is a possibility that you may be able to receive a positive response from NESA. Being observed by an in-school mentor or mentor from the placement provider, and having the university validate the placements, does not meet the criteria. 

For more information, please read our Teaching Credentials blog. 

 

You can also watch the recording of our Teach and Live in Sydney webinar: