Apply for ITE program accreditation

You must contact the ITE team to discuss your Stage 1 or Stage 2 submission prior to starting your application.

Contact our ITE team:

• call: 1300 739 338
• email: ITE@nesa.nsw.edu.au

Stage 1 applications are for new ITE programs that have not been previously assessed. If you are submitting a Stage 1 application you should complete Templates 1 to 4 and the Graduate Teacher Standards Map.

Stage 2 applications are for renewals to ITE programs. If you are submitting a Stage 2 application you should complete Templates 1 to 5 and the Graduate Teacher Standards Map.

Application templates

The national Accreditation Standards and Procedures were revised in 2025. This recent update streamlines the document by reducing overlap and removing Program Standard descriptors that added little value to the quality of ITE programs.

As a result, some templates are now updated. However, from 1 January until 31 December 2026 there is a 1-year transition and familiarisation process.

For Stage 2 applications due in 2026 (to be delivered from 2027), complete 1 of each of these templates per program or suite:

• Template 1 – Application cover sheet (DOCX 913.48KB)
• Template 2 – Program Standards matrix (DOCX 92.32KB)
• Template 3 – Graduate Teacher Standards matrix (DOCX 134.15KB)
• Template 3.1 – Core content requirements and NSW Priority Area Elaborations (DOCX 65.29KB)
• Template 4 – Plan for demonstrating impact (DOCX 103.8KB)
• Template 5 – Stage 2 Report (DOCX 95.2KB)
• Graduate Teacher Standards Map (DOCX 56.91KB)

For all other applications, including Stage 1 applications in 2026 (to be delivered from 2027) and all applications from 2027, complete 1 of each of these templates per program or suite:

• Template 1 – Application cover sheet (DOCX 913.48KB)
• Template 2 – Program Standards matrix (DOCX 69.53KB)
• Template 3 – Graduate Teacher Standards matrix (DOCX 65.36KB)
• Template 3.1 – Core content requirements and NSW Priority Area Elaborations (DOCX 65.29KB)
• Template 4 – Plan for demonstrating impact (DOCX 78.5KB)
• Template 5 – Stage 2 Report (Stage 2 only) (DOCX 90KB)
• Graduate Teacher Standards Map (DOCX 56.91KB)

AITSL has provided the following documents to support the transition to the revised national Program Standards:

• Implementation support - Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 203.84KB)
• Implementation support - Program Standard Map (PDF 99.36KB)
• Implementation support – Revised template changes (PDF 179.35KB)
• Implementation support – Summary of revisions to the SP (PDF 174.51KB)

Primary teaching specialisations

If you are applying for NESA-recognition of a voluntary primary teaching specialisation you also need to complete the following relevant forms:

• Apply for a Mathematics or Science and Technology specialisation (DOCX 909.51KB)
• Apply for a Languages specialisation (DOCX 929.3KB)
• Apply for an English specialisation (DOCX 924.44KB)

Please contact the ITE team regarding the submission of your accreditation documentation.

1. NESA will check your application to make sure it meets policy requirements.
2. Our Accreditation Panel will review your application and prepare and email you a Draft Accreditation Report. As an ITE provider, you will need to respond to the report. It may require revising or supplementing the application, or amending the program.
3. The Panel Chair will review your response and recommend whether to accredit the program.
4. NESA makes its accreditation decision.
5. If approved, the program is accredited for up to 5 years and will be included on the:
   • NSW list of accredited teaching programs that NESA maintains
   • national accredited programs list that AITSL maintains.
6. As the ITE provider you must submit to NESA a final electronic record copy of the accredited program to be held as a State Record.