Understanding Proficient Teacher accreditation
When you are first accredited, you are given either Provisional or Conditional accreditation. Your next step is to work towards achieving the mandatory level of Proficient Teacher.
You do this by developing your practice throughout your daily work in a school or service.
Teachers engage in professional activities across the 3 domains of teaching:
- Professional Knowledge
- Professional Practice
- Professional Engagement.
The process for becoming a Proficient Teacher helps you develop your teaching practice according to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Standards). It's an organised school or service-based process where your colleagues, school/service, and the profession as a whole support you.
All teachers must also meet the conditions of accreditation set out in Section 1 of the NSW Teacher Accreditation Manual (the TA Manual).
Accreditation timeframes
You must achieve Proficient Teacher accreditation within a set timeframe. Your timeframe is based on your employment at the time you were first accredited.
Provisionally accredited teachers:
- Full-time employment – 3 years
- Casual or part-time employment – 5 years
Conditionally accredited teachers:
- Full-time employment – 4 years
- Casual or part-time – 6 years
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) recommends you have taught in a school or service for at least 160 days before applying for Proficient Teacher.
Early childhood sector
The NSW Teacher Accreditation Manual (the TA Manual) is being implemented in stages.
Interim procedures on how to apply for Proficient Teacher accreditation (PDF 277.06KB) are available until the TA Manual comes into full effect.
Accreditation Supervisors
How an Accreditation Supervisor is assigned to you varies.
Accreditation Supervisors are assigned based on your employment being up to date in eTAMS.
If you work for an employer that owns more than 10 services, your employer should have their own Accreditation Supervisors. Please speak to your employer about assigning you an Accreditation Supervisor.
If you work in a service where there is a Proficient Teacher, that teacher can be your Accreditation Supervisor provided they have completed our training. Speak to your employer about whether any of your colleagues are NESA-trained Accreditation Supervisors.
If you work in a service or with an employer where there is no access to a NESA-trained Accreditation Supervisor, we will allocate you one through a Community of Practice. Due to high demand, you are prioritised for a position in a Community of Practice based on your due date. We aim to offer you a position within 12 months of your due date.
For information on getting a supervisor assigned, email ECTaccreditation@nesa.nsw.edu.au.
Non-school or service based teachers
If you are a non-school or service based teacher interested in applying for Proficient Teacher accreditation, contact our accreditation team for more information at nsbaccreditation@nesa.nsw.edu.au.