Regulation of the teaching workforce

On this page

Overview of the regulatory system
Our role
The role of the Teaching Council
How we will work together
Standards that apply to teacher training providers
How we work with the education sector
Upcoming consultations
More information
Contacts

Overview of the regulatory system#

Aotearoa New Zealand has a shared regulatory system for the teaching workforce.

The regulatory system aims to make sure teachers are qualified, competent and fit to practise, leading to improved safety and learning outcomes.

Our role#

We are the steward of the education system. We shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners. We set the policy and regulatory foundations for the teaching profession. This includes setting, maintaining and reviewing standards that apply to teachers and teacher training providers:

standards for qualifications that lead to teacher registration (Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programme Requirements)
expectations teachers must meet to enter and remain in the profession (teacher registration and practising certificate criteria)
standards for ongoing teaching practice (Standards for the Teaching Profession)
setting ethical and conduct expectations (Code of Professional Responsibility).

As system steward, we monitor and evaluate how well these standards and other policy settings are working across the education system.

Infographic – Regulation of the teaching workforce

DownloadPDF403KB

Regulation of the Teaching Workforce Factsheet and FAQ's

DownloadPDF320KB

The role of the Teaching Council#

The Teaching Council applies the standards set by us when deciding:

whether to approve teacher training programmes
who can teach
how to deal with serious competence and conduct that do not meet the expectations for the teaching profession.

Go to the Teaching Council's website to:

apply for approval for an ITE programme
register as a teacher or apply for a limited authority to teach (LAT)
apply for or renew a practising certificate
make a report or complain about a teacher’s competence or conduct.

Teaching Council website

How we will work together #

We have a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Teaching Council. The MoU sets out how we work together and share information with each other as a result of the transfer of standard-setting responsibilities to the Ministry. The MoU outlines the principles, objectives, roles and ways of working to support the effective operation of the shared regulatory system.

Standards that apply to teacher training providers#

Teacher education providers need to meet a set of standards known as Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programme Requirements before their programmes can be approved as qualifications that allow graduates to become registered teachers.

About the ITE standards for providers

ITE programmes prepare new teachers to meet the learning needs of students when they start teaching. They include preparation for teaching in different learning environments English and immersion settings. They also recognise that teachers will continue to learn and develop their practice throughout their careers.

All ITE programmes must be approved by the Teaching Council as meeting the ITE programme requirements – the framework for ITE programme approval.

These requirements:

help providers design programmes that reflect our education system and prepare graduates for the setting they are likely to be employed in
give employers confidence that graduates have the professional knowledge, skills, and attitude to provide quality teaching in a supported environment as beginner teachers
support graduates to adapt their practice as they gain experience and respond to different learners and contexts
highlight the importance of practical learning environments to allow providers to create innovative programmes that respond to the diverse needs of learners, whānau and communities, support inclusive practice and help attract more people into the teaching profession.

These standards were originally set by the Teaching Council and will remain in force until the Secretary for Education makes changes.

We are currently reviewing the ITE programme requirements, however this does not change the current programme requirements.

More about the review: Review of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) standards

Continue to seek programme approval from the Teaching Council

All ITE programmes must be approved by the Teaching Council as meeting the ITE programme requirements.

ITE providers should continue to engage with the Teaching Council on programme approval, monitoring, and review processes.

ITE programme requirements – Teaching Council

Read the ITE standards

Since publication of the requirements in 2019, several amendments have been made. These are set out in separate documents. All 5 documents listed below should be read together.

ITE programme requirements

DownloadPDF874KB

Changes to the ITE programme requirements policy

DownloadPDF478KB

Additional requirement: Competence in mathematics

DownloadPDF143KB

Model key teaching task

DownloadPDF233KB

Language competency for teaching in NZ

DownloadPDF177KB

How we work with the education sector#

Regular engagement with the sector helps make sure standards reflect the realities of teaching and learning. These conversations provide insights into what works well, what we can improve, system impacts and workforce implications.

This involves working closely with the Teaching Council, recognising its regulatory role in the system and its expertise in applying the standards.

At a sector level, this includes engagement with:

employee representative organisations
Deans of Education
early childhood organisations
ITE providers
assurance agencies
other groups with relevant expertise.

This engagement supports early identification of emerging issues. It helps make sure proposed changes are evidence-based, workable and well understood.

Teaching Standards Expert Advisory Group (EAG)#

The EAG gives independent advice to support safe, high-quality teaching and learning.

The EAG has been established by the Ministry to give independent advice to the Secretary for Education. Its aim is to strengthen the standards with advice informed by expert judgement, sector experience and recognised and emerging evidence.

The EAG advises the Secretary on:

design, implementation, and review of standards
review and evaluation
sector readiness and system wide impacts
risks, gaps, and opportunities across the standards work programme
emerging issues that may require early attention.

The group’s role is advisory. It operates independently of the Teaching Council, with clear separation of roles and responsibilities.

Members are independent education experts whose skills are highly relevant. They provide evidence-informed, practical advice on teaching standards in Aotearoa New Zealand. Membership of the group is being finalised and will be announced shortly.

Consultations#

When changes to standards are being considered and proposed, we undertake targeted consultation with the education sector and people best placed to provide informed feedback.

After consultation we will publish submissions and provide a summary explaining how we have considered and used feedback.