A4. Maintaining Proficient Teacher accreditation

Section A4 explains the requirements and process for teachers maintaining Proficient Teacher accreditation.

It covers:

• the requirements teachers must meet to maintain Proficient Teacher accreditation – see A4.1
• the maintenance of accreditation process – see A4.2
• how NESA makes maintenance decisions – see A4.3.

A4.1 Maintenance requirements

A4.1.1 Proficient Teachers must meet the maintenance requirements 

All Proficient Teachers must meet maintenance requirements to remain accredited and eligible to teach in a NSW school or service.

• Teachers accredited at Proficient Teacher have already demonstrated their practice meets the Proficient Teacher Standards. Maintaining Proficient Teacher accreditation focuses on staying up to date with professional practice by meeting professional development (PD) requirements. Teachers who meet PD requirements will remain accredited at Proficient Teacher unless grounds for suspension, cancellation, or revocation of their accreditation arise, or they voluntarily cancel their accreditation.

To maintain Proficient Teacher accreditation, teachers must:

• complete at least 100 hours of PD ¹⁸ that relates to the Standards by the end of the maintenance period
• retain a PD log that records required information for 12 months after the end of their maintenance period
• declare that they have maintained their accreditation in eTAMS in the final 3 months of the maintenance period (see A4.2.1)
• continue to meet the conditions of accreditation in A1.2.1.

Teachers should use the NESA Professional Development Framework on the NESA website to guide the selection of PD activities.

PD log

Teachers may record their PD activities in eTAMS or in a format that suits them.

Teachers should refer to eTAMS or the NESA website for a list of the information that must be recorded on a teacher’s PD log and an optional template that they can use to record PD.

Teachers must provide their log to NESA within 28 days if requested during an audit, which can occur up to 12 months after the end of the previous maintenance period.

A4.1.2 Teachers must meet the maintenance requirements within the timeframe 

Teachers must complete the maintenance requirements within the maintenance period, which depends on their employment status: 

The 7-year timeframe applies to teachers who have worked on a casual or part-time basis at any point during the maintenance period. To adjust their timeframe, teachers must provide NESA with evidence of their casual or part-time employment.

A4.1.3 Applicants can apply to extend the maintenance period

Teachers who have had limited opportunity to meet the maintenance requirements within the timeframe can apply for an extension.

To seek an extension, teachers must apply within the final 6 months of their maintenance period (and as soon as possible during that time).

They must provide evidence to support the reason for the extension, such as:

• illness or misadventure
• carer responsibilities
• further study
• other relevant professional or personal circumstances.

A4.2 Maintenance process

A4.2.1 Teachers must make a declaration and confirm employment

In the final three months of each maintenance period, a Proficient Teacher must log into eTAMS ¹⁹ to:

• confirm their employment and contact details
• declare that they have completed their PD requirements.

A4.2.2 Employers must have internal procedures about teacher practice

Employers must have internal procedures to address issues about a teacher’s practice as and when they arise (see E2.3.3). These procedures must include advice to the teacher of the employer’s obligation to notify NESA where grounds for suspension or revocation have been determined (see D2.1).

A4.2.3 When a teacher has not maintained their practice

If a principal/TA Delegate determines that a teacher has not maintained their practice at the Standards, the principal/TA Delegate or employer must:

• notify NESA of the decision in writing within 28 days of the date of the decision (see D2.2)
• include in the written notification evidence about the teacher’s failure to maintain the Standards (see D2.2.4).

Principals/TA Delegates must notify teachers of issues with their practice before notifying NESA

If a teacher fails to maintain their practice at the Standards for Proficient Teacher, a principal/TA Delegate or employer should first notify the teacher of the issues with their practice in writing, including:

• the reasons for the principal’s/TA Delegate’s decision, including the Standard Descriptors that the teacher does not meet
• details of the support and advice provided to the teacher regarding maintaining practice at the Standards
• the feedback and support provided to the teacher, which may include intervention strategies or an improvement plan, and the outcome of implementing those strategies/plans/support
• the teacher’s right to respond to the written notice within 28 days and address the identified issues.

A4.3 Accreditation decision

A4.3.1 NESA may decide a teacher has maintained their accreditation

When NESA decides that a teacher has maintained their accreditation and the teacher reaches the end of a maintenance period, the teacher’s new maintenance period starts the day after their current period ends ²⁰.

A4.3.2 NESA may decide a teacher has failed to maintain their accreditation

NESA will decide that a teacher has failed to maintain their accreditation if either or both of the following occur:

• the teacher fails to meet the PD requirements by the end of the maintenance period (see A4.1.1); and/or
• the teacher’s principal/TA Delegate or employer has notified NESA, at any time, that the teacher’s practice does not meet the Standards for Proficient Teacher (see A4.2.3 and D2.2.4).

Teachers fail to meet the PD requirements if they:

• do not complete at least 100 hours of PD
• do not provide their PD log in line with A4.1.1 where requested by NESA
• fail to declare by the end of their maintenance period that they have met the PD requirements in eTAMS (see A4.2.1). 

A4.3.3 How NESA manages teachers who have failed to meet the Standards

Where a principal/TA Delegate or employer notifies NESA that a teacher’s practice does not continue to meet the Proficient Teacher Standards, NESA will:

• contact the teacher/principal/TA Delegate or employer to request further information or documentation if required
• make an accreditation decision within 28 days of the notification.

If NESA requires additional time to make an accreditation decision, it will contact the teacher. 

If NESA finds that the teacher has failed to maintain their accreditation, it will either: 

• write to the teacher, giving 14 days’ notice that it intends to suspend or revoke the teacher’s accreditation, in line with D2.3.3. The 14-day notice period includes school holidays and employer shutdown periods; or
• place conditions on the teacher’s accreditation in line with Section D2.3.2.