Teacher accreditation

All teachers require active accreditation with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to teach in any school or centre-based early childhood service in NSW. Find out how to become a teacher and get accredited, and how to maintain your professional practice against the teaching standards.

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Christmas closure

NESA will be closed for the Christmas period from Monday 23 December 2024 and will re-open on Monday 6 January 2025. No accreditation decisions will be made during this period.

Changes to HALT accreditation

We’ve streamlined the requirements to achieve and maintain Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher accreditation.

The simplified application process reduces the amount of evidence required and offers flexible ways to submit evidence.

Watch our video about the HALT accreditation changes

Helpful links

Identity requirements

You will need to provide 3 forms of identification when applying for first-time accreditation or re-accreditation. Find out what identity documents we accept, who can certify copies, and how to submit them.

Read the identity requirements

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Information and resources

Study teaching

Teaching is a dynamic and rewarding profession. Learn more about becoming a teacher in NSW, including the areas of teaching, accredited courses available, and how to find a teaching job.

Get accredited

All teachers are required to be accredited to work in a NSW school or centre-based early childhood service. Discover the process for first-time accreditation or re-accreditation, and learn how we assess your suitability to teach.

Achieve Proficient Teacher accreditation

All teachers need to work towards being accredited at Proficient Teacher level. Find out what you need to know about achieving Proficient Teacher accreditation in NSW.

Maintain accreditation

Teachers accredited at the Proficient, Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher level must maintain their accreditation. Find out the requirements for maintaining teacher accreditation in NSW.

Apply for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT)

Whether you’re looking to start your Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher (HALT) application or maintain your accreditation, our HALT pages have everything you need. You’ll find videos, guides, templates and procedures to help you with your HALT accreditation.

Manage your accreditation

Teachers are responsible for managing their accreditation. Learn how to pay your annual fee, apply for a Working with Children Check, or what to do if you want to take a break from teaching or retire.

Resources

NESA provides accreditation resources for teachers and those who support teachers with their accreditation. Find accreditation standards and guides, templates, forms and more.

Professional Development requirements

As a teacher, you must undertake ongoing PD to ensure you stay up to date with the latest knowledge, skills and teaching methods. Explore the various types of PD and their requirements.

Support a teacher

Learn what you can do to support a teacher applying for or maintaining their accreditation. Find information for principals and service directors, accreditation supervisors, referees, employers and assessors.

Streamlining maintenance of accreditation

Maintenance of Proficient Teacher accreditation has changed. Principals and service directors no longer need to attest that a teacher has maintained their practice at Proficient Teacher.

Learn about maintaining accreditation

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Suitability to teach

NESA is responsible for assessing a person's suitability to teach. We may refuse, suspend or revoke accreditation if we consider a person is unsuitable to teach. Learn how we assess teacher suitability in NSW.

Learn about teacher suitability