Revised NSW Teacher Accreditation Manual

NESA has revised the NSW Teacher Accreditation Manual (the TA Manual).

The purpose of the revised TA Manual is to:

• provide a new look and design that reduces repetition and improves navigation
• make it easier for the reader to understand the requirements of teacher accreditation in NSW
• refine the existing policy and strengthen teacher accreditation processes.

The updated TA Manual takes effect on 21 October 2025 by publication of this Official Notice.

Alongside the plain English language changes, the following policy changes were made:

• removing the need for documents to be certified from applicants for accreditation as these documents can now be verified through other secure platforms
• changing nomenclature from Service Directors to Teacher Accreditation Delegates in early childhood settings as not all service directors in early childhood settings are teachers and therefore are not able to make accreditation recommendations
• using the term “cancel” instead of “revoke” to describe the action taken to remove a teacher’s accreditation following a suspension for 12-months or more for compliance reasons. Cancellation has the same effect as revocation under the Teacher Accreditation Act 2004 (NSW)
• revoking accreditation in certain circumstances if the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) notifies NESA of a “closed” WWCC clearance.
• Updates to initial accreditation requirements. These include:
  • Clarifying that Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) approved 1-year qualifications need to form part of a 4-year qualification package.
  • Clarifying that qualifications from Australian initial teacher education (ITE) programs must meet the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Standards and Procedures.
  • Flexibility for NESA to apply any future changes to the nationally agreed English language proficiency (ELP) requirements, including recognised ELP tests and exemption criteria.

NESA will work with initial teacher education providers that have students currently enrolled in courses that are no longer recognised as a pathway to gaining teacher accreditation in NSW to ensure that these students are not disadvantaged by these changes.

A communication with a transition plan to initial teacher education providers regarding new requirements for ACEQA approved qualifications will be made available during Term 4, 2025.

Impacted procedures and the NESA website will progressively be updated over Term 4, 2025 and Term 1, 2026 to reflect the revised TA Manual.

Schools, early childhood services and employers will need to update existing policies or procedures to reference the new sections in the TA Manual document.

The revised TA Manual is now available to view: NSW Teacher Accreditation Manual