What is the Practising Certificate?
Its importance
Upon becoming registered a teacher is issued with a practising certificate (PC). This is the formal notification which indicates that registration is current and that the teacher has satisfied all of the requirements laid down by the Education Act 1989. The NZ Teachers Council suggests that employing authorities should have procedures to regularly check the validity of the practising certificates for their staff, not just on first appointment but throughout their employment.
Practising certificates expire three years from the date of issue. The NZ Teachers Council notifies the teacher at the contact email/address on the Council database when a new practising certificate is needed.When the application for renewal is made a teacher must satisfy the NZ Teachers Council that they have satisfactory recent teaching experience as defined. If the criteria cannot be met a teacher will have to reapply on a TC1 form (s.129A, s.124)
'Satisfactory recent teaching experience'
When applying this to the renewal of a Practising Certificate (PC) there are two mandatory requirements,
- that the teacher must have been employed in an ongoing teaching position for two of the previous five years in New Zealand(these must be in minimum blocks of 10 weeks)
- that the employment was satisfactorily completed.
The NZ Teachers Council has determined that to judge 'satisfactorily completed' will require the following:
- endorsement by other professionals and/or employer that the teacher still meets the NZ Teachers Council's criteria for being a satisfactory teacher', and
- endorsement by other professionals and/or employer that the teacher has been involved in professional development during the three year period, and
- verification by the NZ Teachers Council that information is not held that would bring into question the teacher's good character and fitness to teach.
It is expected that assessment of the NZ Teachers Council criteria for being a satisfactory teacher, (the satisfactory teacher dimensions) is integrated with the normal performance management and appraisal system in the institution.
Learning centre authorities need to be aware that the NZ Teachers Council's requirements for renewal of a practising certificate make it essential that:
- their institution has an active performance management system, and
- provision is made for all registered teachers to engage in professional self development.
What is PROV, STC and FULL?
There are three categories of registration.
PROV (PROVISIONAL)
This is the category for teachers who are registering as a teacher in New Zealand for the first time. If you have been registered in the category of Provisional previously you will be registered in this category again until you submit an application for full registration on a TC2 application form. We encourage you to access the resource Towards Full Registration that is available on our website and in all learning centres.
STC (SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION)
This is the category for teachers who have previously held full registration. In exceptional circumstances this category can be granted on a first time application to experienced senior teachers who have evidence of completing a planned two year programme of advice and guidance with a fully registered teacher, and having been regularly appraised.
FULL (FULL)
This is the category for experienced teachers who have held full registration and have met the criteria to maintain full registration, including the service requirements.
What does a current Practising Certificate (PC) indicate?
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in the case of a teacher holding full (FULL) registration, that they meet the criteria for registration, have had satisfactory recent teaching experience, have undertaken satisfactory professional development and have had a satisfactory police vet;
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in the case of a teacher registered subject to confirmation (STC), that they meet the criteria for registration, have had a satisfactory police vet and have had adequate and suitable teaching experience in the past (including a planned programme of support and guidance from a mentor teacher) and are likely to be a satisfactory teacher;
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in the case of a teacher holding provisional (PROV) registration, that they meet the criteria for registration and are likely to be a satisfactory teacher. A teacher registered in the category of provisional may have teaching experience but has not yet met the requirements for full registration.
When does registration expire?
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in the case of a teacher holding full (FULL) registration, their category is valid for 5 years from the date of their last practising certificate expiry date.
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in the case of a teacher holding subject to confirmation (STC) registration, their category is valid for 3 years.
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in the case of a teacher holding provisional (PROV) registration, their category is valid for 5 years from the date they most recently were granted provisional registration.
All teachers who have had their registration cancelled are also shown on the online register. The online register does not show those who hold a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) because a LAT is not registration.
A teacher employed in a teaching position that requires registration must ensure at all times that their practising certificate is current. Employers need to ensure that they sight the practising certificate card to confirm accuracy of the teacher's registration number for their database. Click here to go directly to the online register page.
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