Teacher Education in New Zealand
The New Zealand Teachers Council has the responsibility to approve Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes and to set standards for graduates from the programmes.
This section provides information for:
- ITE providers
- graduates from ITE programmes and
- about ITE programmes that are approved by the Teachers Council for gaining teacher registration in this country
All teachers in New Zealand schools, kura and state kindergartens, by law, must be registered teachers with a current practising certificate. Teacher-led early childhood education services other than kindergartens are required to have qualified and registered teachers as a major proportion of their total teaching team.
Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
- What is Initial Teacher Education (ITE)?
- Which sector might I teach in? (ECE/Primary/Secondary/Māori immersion)
- What questions should I be asking my provider when selecting an ITE programme?
- Which ITE programmes are approved by the New Zealand Teachers Council for teacher registration?
- What are the Graduating Teacher Standards (GTS)?
Next steps after completing your ITE programme
On completion of your approved ITE programme you will be eligible to apply to the Teachers Council for registration as a provisionally registered teacher. When an application for registration is approved, a teacher is issued with a practising certificate. This practising certificate is valid for three years from the date of issue, and enables the holder to be legally employed in a teaching position within the general education system of New Zealand. A current practising certificate is mandatory for those employed in teaching positions in primary schools, secondary schools, free kindergartens and in increasing percentages in early childhood education services.
- Applying for your Provisional Registration and a three-year practising certificate
- Next steps following graduation