A1. Understanding teacher accreditation
Section A1 describes teacher accreditation, the conditions that apply to all accredited teachers and the NSW Public Register of Teachers (the Register).
It covers:
- NESA’s approach to managing teacher accreditation – see A1.1
- the conditions that accredited teachers must meet – see A1.2
- the NSW Public Register of Teachers – see A1.3.
A1.1 Teacher accreditation
A1.1.1 NESA considers the protection of children and young people as paramount
NESA’s main consideration is protecting children and young people when it:
- sets teacher accreditation criteria, conditions and requirements
- makes decisions about teacher accreditation.
A1.1.2 NESA manages teacher accreditation
NESA is responsible for accrediting teachers in NSW schools and approved centre-based early childhood services (services).
A person cannot teach in a NSW school or service unless they hold active accreditation with NESA.
NESA’s teacher accreditation requirements reflect the NSW Government’s commitment to quality teaching in NSW schools and services.
The requirements ensure that all students and children are taught by people who:
- are suitable to teach
- are appropriately qualified
- meet the Standards
- maintain their currency of knowledge by completing ongoing professional development.
NESA manages teacher accreditation through the electronic Teacher Accreditation Management System (eTAMS).
A1.1.3 Levels of teacher accreditation
NESA’s teacher accreditation system has 5 levels:
- Conditional accreditation is for applicants who have completed a substantial portion of their initial teacher education program but do not yet meet the teaching qualification requirements for Provisional accreditation or have been awarded a 3-year bachelor degree covering discipline knowledge in the area they will be employed to teach and have an offer of employment as a teacher in NSW.
- Provisional accreditation is for teachers who have completed their teaching qualification or relevant qualifications. (See A2.2.1)
- Proficient Teacher accreditation is the accreditation level that all teachers must achieve within the maximum timeframe, and maintain to teach in a NSW school or service. This also applies to principals and TA Delegates whose duties meet the definition of 'teach' under Section 3A of the TA Act.
- Highly Accomplished accreditation is a voluntary accreditation level that nationally certifies teachers who consistently meet the Highly Accomplished Standard Descriptors of the Standards (See B1 and B2).
- Lead Teacher accreditation is a voluntary accreditation level that nationally certifies teachers who consistently meet the Lead Teacher Standard Descriptors of the Standards (See B1 and B2).
A person who holds accreditation at one of the 5 levels is considered to hold active accreditation unless they:
- are on a Leave of Absence from their accreditation
- have changed to Non-practising teacher accreditation
- have had their accreditation suspended, cancelled, or revoked; or
- have voluntarily cancelled their accreditation.
| TA Act | section 28 | The requirement to hold active accreditation applies to all individuals employed in a school/service, including principals and TA Delegates, who perform any activities listed in the definition of teach. See also glossary ‘Teach’. |
A1.2 Accreditation conditions
A1.2.1 Teachers must meet the accreditation conditions
To become and remain accredited, all teachers and applicants for teacher accreditation in NSW must:
- pay the annual accreditation fee to NESA 1
- hold a current NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance for paid employment
- meet the requirements of the professional teaching standards for the relevant accreditation level
- not be deemed ‘unsuitable to teach’ (see D1)
- comply with any conditions NESA has placed on their accreditation
- comply with all other conditions specified in the NESA rules and the TA Regulation.
| TA Act | section 25 | Teachers must pay an annual accreditation fee. |
| Child Protection (Working with Children) Act | section 8 | Teachers must hold a WWCC clearance. |
| TA Act | section 35 | NESA assesses teachers' suitability to teach. |
| TA Act | section 38A(2)(b)(i) | NESA may impose conditions. |
| TA Act | section 20 | Matters to be dealt with by professional teaching standards. |
A1.3 Register of teachers
A1.3.1 Teachers’ names appear on the NSW Public Register of Teachers
A teacher’s name will be on the NSW Public Register of Teachers (the Register) if they hold either:
- active accreditation; or
- Non-practising teacher accreditation.
The Register includes the following details for each teacher:
- first name and surname
- NESA accreditation number
- type of accreditation (ie ‘active’ or ‘Non-practising’).
A teacher’s name will not appear on the Register when their accreditation is inactive, including when:
- they are on an approved Leave of Absence from accreditation; or
- their accreditation is suspended, cancelled or revoked.
| TA Act | section 17 | NESA must publish a public register of accredited teachers on its website. |
A1.3.2 Teachers can apply to be excluded from the NSW Public Register of Teachers
A teacher can apply to NESA to have their name excluded from the Register. In their application, they must satisfy NESA that their safety or wellbeing, or that of another person, would be directly affected if their name were on the Register.
If NESA does not agree to exclude a teacher’s name from the Register, the teacher may apply to NESA for an internal review. The teacher must seek a review within 6 months of being notified of NESA’s decision.
Full details of how to apply to be excluded are on NESA’s website.
After the internal review is finalised, the teacher may apply to have the decision reviewed by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
| Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act | section 53 | Internal reviews by public sector agencies. |
| Administrative Decisions Review Act | section 53 | Decision reviewed by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. |
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