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NESA is updating teacher accreditation requirements in NSW to better protect children, improve national consistency, streamline processes and make clearer what teachers need to do at each stage of accreditation.
We are implementing these important reforms in stages, beginning with the publication of a Public Register of teachers and the NSW Teacher Accreditation Manual (the TA Manual). On 29 November 2022, NESA became the sole accreditation decision maker for all levels of accreditation for the 3 school sectors and early childhood services. We have also updated our accreditation procedures to clarify steps in the accreditation process. The accreditation requirements detailed in the TA Manual will be phased in over the reform timeline.
Further changes coming throughout 2023:
Teachers no longer need to record Elective PD in their NESA online account (eTAMS).
Teachers can record Elective PD in a way that suits them
Teachers can record Elective PD anytime and anyway that suits them in their daily practice, only needing to capture essential information, including:
Teachers can use our optional Elective PD log template (PDF, 4 pages, 2.17MB) or their preferred method of capturing the essential information
Teachers no longer need to write a reflection for each PD activity
Elective PD must continue to address the Standard Descriptors but teachers no longer need to explain how each PD activity meets the Standard Descriptors.
Teachers still need to complete 100 hours of PD including the minimum NESA Accredited PD requirements.
Previously logged Elective PD in eTAMS is still visible
For some time, we will continue to provide the option for teachers to log Elective PD online as they transition to the new and simplified process. We will advise teachers when this function will be removed. Teachers will still be able to view Elective PD previously logged in eTAMS.
Teachers do not need to submit their Elective PD record to their principal or service director
When a teacher finalises their maintenance of accreditation, they do not need to submit their Elective PD record to their principal or service director.
Instead, when a teacher submits their maintenance of accreditation, they declare that any balance of their mandatory 100 hours of PD has been met through Elective PD.
Teachers need to retain the Elective PD record for 12 months after their maintenance period ends, and provide this record to NESA if they are randomly audited as part of our quality assurance processes.
Suitability to teach assessments have been expanded to include teachers applying for initial accreditation and those seeking re-accreditation. Suitability assessments are in addition to the mandatory Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance, with the aim of ensuring only those candidates suited to teach in NSW classrooms and early learning centres be accredited. Being suitable to teach is also an ongoing requirement of accreditation at all levels.
NESA is currently updating its initial accreditation and re-accreditation application forms to further strengthen the suitability assessment process. Existing applicants will be notified if they need update to the new process.
Teacher accreditation reforms allowed NESA to broaden its scope for suitability to teach assessments in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse. Information on how suitability to teach is assessed is provided in the Suitability to teach section of the NESA website.
NESA now makes all accreditation decisions for all teachers in NSW. This important change means teachers from the three school sectors and early childhood services will have the same accreditation decision maker and a consistent process for the first time. Early childhood teachers will fully transition to the TA Manual requirements during 2023.
For teachers working toward Proficient Teacher accreditation:
For teachers maintaining Proficient Teacher accreditation:
Based on this attestation, NESA will make an accreditation decision.
New accreditation procedures are more streamlined and clarify what you need to do. For early childhood teachers, interim procedures are now available. During 2023, there will be a full transition to the TA Manual requirements.
For a complete list of policies and procedures being replaced or retired to reflect NESA’s role as sole accreditation decision maker, refer to Official Notice 26/22.
There are transition arrangements for teachers who have submitted accreditation applications but did not receive an accreditation decision before 29 November 2022.
Transition arrangements also apply to roles supporting teachers to complete accreditation requirements.
Select the option that applies to you for more information on transition arrangements and how they affect you:
Together with the new TA Manual, we have updated our procedures for key teacher accreditation processes.
View NESA’s teacher accreditation procedures.
Early childhood teachers will fully transition to the TA Manual requirements during 2023, when new accreditation procedures will be published, outlining steps in achieving and maintaining accreditation.
Interim procedures for early childhood teachers are now available:
The NSW Teacher Accreditation Manual (the TA Manual) outlines the requirements, conditions and criteria for each stage of the teacher accreditation process and is now available.
The TA Manual is being implemented in stages.
The Public Register aligns NSW with all other states and territories who already have a public list of registered teachers.
By appearing on the NSW Public Register, the community knows that a teacher is qualified, meets national teaching standards, has a current Working with Children Check and regularly completes professional development.
View the Public Register of Teachers.
In 2018, recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and the National Review of Teacher Registration prompted the need for amendments to the Teacher Accreditation Act 2004 (the TA Act).
Aside from improving national consistency, the reforms gave NESA the opportunity to assess what other areas of the Act could be updated to improve the effectiveness of the teacher accreditation process, reduce administrative burden on teachers, schools and services and relieve or reduce unnecessary compliance practices.