Experienced teachers from other NSW systems, interstate and overseas
How experienced teachers from other NSW systems, interstate and overseas can qualify as NSW teachers.
If you:
- are a qualified teacher currently teaching at a Catholic or independent school in NSW, or
- are a qualified teacher from another Australian state or territory, or
- have completed teacher education studies at a tertiary institution outside Australia
and would like to gain employment as a teacher in a NSW public school, you will need to apply for approval to teach with the NSW Department of Education.
Once you have been accredited to teach by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and approved to teach by the NSW Department of Education, you will be able to work as a teacher and apply for advertised temporary and permanent teaching positions in NSW public schools.
You can apply for approval to teach via the online application system. Approval to teach involves a number of important steps outlined below.
Qualified teachers seeking approval to teach are required to:
- provide evidence of successful teaching experience
- complete online teacher suitability assessments, measuring cognitive and emotional intelligence*
- undertake an online interview to demonstrate your knowledge, critical experiences, skills and capabilities for teaching in NSW public schools.
*The department’s provider for the online teacher suitability assessments measuring cognitive skills and emotional intelligence is Testgrid.
The results of the teacher suitability assessments and online interview will be considered to determine your suitability for teaching in NSW public schools.
Your pathway to employment
1. Get ready to apply
Before you begin your application you will need to
- Obtain a NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) for paid employment from the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian. Please note that you can only complete this process in person in NSW.
- Apply for and gain accreditation as a teacher in NSW through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). If you are currently registered with another Australian teacher registration body, this registration may be recognised by NESA. You should refer to the NESA website for a guide to getting your interstate teaching registration recognised.
You will be emailed an accreditation letter from NESA which includes your accreditation number status and the list of subjects you have been accredited to teach.
In the online application you will be asked to provide your personal information and upload the mandatory documentation required, including your identity documentation, university transcripts, employment screening consent and evidence of high-quality teaching supported by a work report or written reference from the school principal or authorised officer from a school or schools where you have previously worked.
You will need to select the areas or schools where you would prefer to work. Information about NSW public schools can be found at the School Finder website.
You can now submit your application. Once your application for approval to teach has been submitted successfully you will be sent an email acknowledging receipt.
Your application will then be assessed by the department to determine your eligibility for approval to teach in NSW public schools.
You will now proceed to the teacher suitability assessment stage.
Eligible teachers will also be given an interim approval to teach at this time.
It is now time to undertake the online teacher suitability assessments and online interview to demonstrate your capabilities to be a high-quality teacher in NSW public schools.
You will be notified via email of the outcome of your application for approval to teach.
It is a great idea to subscribe to JobFeed to receive a weekly list of available permanent and temporary jobs to start your teaching career in NSW public schools.
Experienced teacher salary determination
For the purposes of establishing commencing salary rate at the time of employment, experienced teachers with: (a) relevant teaching experience or (b) pre-service caring for a child, may submit an application for salary matching or salary determination.
You may submit your application and supporting documentation for salary determination via email to: salarydetermination@det.nsw.edu.au.
For additional information and related documentation, visit the salary and awards page on the NSW Department of Education website.
Read the FAQs
Get answers to your questions about the approval to teach process.