Step 1 - Assess your readiness

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Information for teachers about checking eligibility, application fees and the first step in applying for HALT accreditation.

Check your eligibility

To be eligible to apply you need to be:

  • an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
  • a Proficient Teacher or above in NSW
  • assessed as satisfactory in two of your most recent annual performance assessments (for HA) or three annual performance assessments (for LT).

Choose your level of accreditation

You can read more about the characteristics of Highly Accomplished Teachers and Lead Teachers in the Standards.

Highly Accomplished accreditation

Highly Accomplished Teachers work with other teachers to enhance their colleagues’ practice and improve student or child learning in both their own and others’ learning environments.

Lead Teacher accreditation

Lead Teachers have an impact on their broader school or service community, leading teaching projects and practices that have an impact on whole school or service change, student/child achievement and their colleagues.

Defining a colleague

For the purposes of HALT accreditation, a ‘colleague’ is an accredited teacher who you work with. Colleagues may include a teacher with Provisional or Conditional accreditation.

You should consider the scope of your role and the opportunities you will have to demonstrate the Standards at the higher levels.

You can complete an optional online preliminary assessment in your NESA online account (eTAMS) to help you decide which level of accreditation to apply for. The assessment costs $65, which is deducted from your HALT application fee.

Discuss your readiness with your principal or service director

You should discuss your intention and readiness to apply, and which level of accreditation is appropriate, with your principal/service director.

If you start an application your principal/service director will receive a request to verify your eligibility.

Casual teachers

Casual teachers who work across several schools/services will need to nominate the principal/service director of one school/service to verify their eligibility.

Early childhood teachers

If you work in an early childhood service, you will need to contact NESA for advice about who can verify your eligibility.

You will receive an email advising whether your principal/service director has verified your application.

Complete the HALT Orientation Course

You must complete the mandatory HALT Orientation Course before you can start a HALT application. The course will help you to understand the HALT application process and its requirements.

Pay your application fee

You need to pay the first instalment of the application fee — $245 Highly Accomplished (HA) or $275 Lead Teacher (LT) — before you start Module 1.

Module Cost for HA Teacher accreditation Costfor LT accreditation

1

$245

$275

2

$180

$220

3

$180

$220

Total cost

$605

$715

Attend a NESA workshop

Applicant workshops are available online and in person. NESA strongly recommends all applicants attend at least one applicant workshop before they submit their first module.

Next step

Develop and submit your first 2 modules

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