Teacher registration in Australia: A state-by-state guide
By Sarah VercoePublished on
Once you polish off a teaching degree, there’s one more step you need to take before you can start your career – applying for registration (your official license to teach). Here's your state-by-state guide to getting registered in Australia.
What is teacher registration in Australia?
Teacher registration is your official permission to teach in Australian schools. Every state and territory has its own teacher registration authority, designed to make sure all teachers meet professional standards and are suitable to work with children.
If you've finished, or are at the end of, an approved teaching degree, you’ll need to register with the authority in your state or territory.
Who needs registration?
Anyone teaching in a primary or secondary school needs current teacher registration, even casual or relief teachers.
Early childhood teachers working in childcare or kindergarten (before school) have different requirements. If you’re unsure, check with The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
How does teacher registration and early childhood registration differ?
Primary and secondary teachers must register with their state or territory teacher registration authority and need to meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching at graduate level.
Loraine McKay, the Initial Teacher Education Director at Griffith University, says the registration pathway for early childhood teachers depends on your qualification's age range. Teachers qualified for 0-5 year olds follow The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) standards, while those qualified for 0-8 year olds need to meet both ACECQA and the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching because they're eligible to work in both settings.
Understanding provisional vs full teacher registration
Teacher registration in Australia works on a two-tier system: provisional and full.
Provisional registration
Provisional registration is what you get when you graduate. It lets you work as a teacher while you complete the requirements for full registration.
You'll work in a school, keep developing your teaching practice, and gather evidence that you meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching. Most states want you to complete roughly a year of teaching, which is about 160-200 days.
There is a time limit on provisional registration, typically 3-5 years depending on your state. Within that window, you need to progress to full registration.
Full registration
Full registration means you're officially a fully qualified teacher. You need to show you meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching at the proficient level, which is a step up from the graduate level you met when finishing your degree.
How you prove this depends on your state. Some require a portfolio of evidence showing your teaching practice, classroom management, and student engagement. Others rely more on workplace verification and supervisor reports.
The teacher registration process: a step-by-step guide
What you’ll need
Official academic transcript
Proof of identity (birth certificate, passport, driver’s license)
Criminal history check
Working with Children Check
Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) results
Referee statements, supervisor reports
Competed application forms
This varies by state, so check with your state’s authority for full requirements.
Costs and timing
Registration fees vary by state and whether you’re applying for provisional or full registration. Initial registration typically sits somewhere between $100 and $300.
Processing times depend on how complete your application is, the time of year, and how many applications they’re handling. At best, you could be registered within a few days. At worst, like if documents are missing or there are complications, it could take a few months.
Want faster processing? Have all your documents ready, make sure your results are finalised, and apply as soon as you’re eligible.
Who assesses my teaching evidence?
For provisional registration, your evidence is your completed teaching degree. You’ve already been assessed against the graduate-level professional standards.
For full registration, your state's teacher registration authority assesses your portfolio. This might involve a panel review, trained assessors, or a combination. Your school principal or supervising staff may also verify your practice and evidence.
Teacher registration requirements by state
Each Australian state and territory manages its own teacher registration system. While all systems align with the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching, specific processes, fees, timelines, and requirements differ.
Teacher registration in NSW
Authority: NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)
Days required for full registration: 100 days of teaching
Registration period: 5 years
Fees: Approximately $110 provisional, $180 full registration
Key requirement: Complete Accreditation at Proficient Teacher stage
Teacher registration in Victoria
Authority: Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
Days required for full registration: 80 days in a Victorian school
Registration period: 5 years
Fees: Around $120 provisional, $175 full registration
Key requirement: Successful supervision and mentoring period
Teacher registration in Queensland
Authority: Queensland College of Teachers (QCT)
Days required for full registration: 100-200 days of teaching
Registration period: 5 years
Fees: Approximately $95 provisional, $145 full registration
Key requirement: Evidence of proficient practice
Teacher registration in WA
Authority: Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA)
Time required for full registration: At least 2 years of teaching
Registration period: 5 years
Fees: Around $100 provisional, $160 full registration
Key requirement: Professional learning requirements for renewal
Teacher registration in South Australia
Authority: Teachers Registration Board of South Australia
Time required for full registration: At least 1 year of teaching
Registration period: 3 years
Fees: Approximately $110 provisional, $165 full registration
Key requirement: Successful induction and evidence of proficient practice
Teacher registration in Tasmania
Authority: Teachers Registration Board of Tasmania (TRB Tasmania)
Days required for full registration: At least 100 days of teaching
Registration period: 5 years
Fees: Around $105 provisional, $155 full registration
Key requirement: Demonstration of professional standards at proficient level
Teacher registration in the ACT
Authority: ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI)
Days required for full registration: At least 200 days of teaching
Registration period: 5 years
Fees: Approximately $115 provisional, $170 full registration
Key requirement: Evidence-based assessment against professional standards
Teacher registration in the Northern Territory
Authority: Teacher Registration Board of the Northern Territory (TRBNT)
Time required for full registration: At least 1 year of teaching
Registration period: 3 or 5 years (you choose)
Fees: Around $100 provisional, $150 full registration
Key requirement: Evidence of proficient practice
How universities support you through the registration process
Your university does more to help than you might think.
Throughout your degree, you're being assessed against the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching.
“Registration is connected with every single assessment item, because those [Australian Professional Standards for Teaching] are woven through our process,” says Loraine.
By the time you graduate, you've already ticked the boxes. You just need to make it official.
Many universities run information sessions and have streamlined processes with registration authorities.
At Griffith, students can pre-register during their final term. “When your transcript is finalised, that information goes automatically to Queensland College of Teachers and your registration basically occurs within 48 hours," Loraine says.
Your uni can help with paperwork, state-specific processes, and timelines, too. “The actual registration part is actually pretty straightforward" – especially when you tap into the support that's there,” says Danielle Heinrichs Henry, the program director for the Master of Secondary Teaching at Griffith University.
Tips for a smooth teacher registration journey
Start early and stay organised
Research your state's requirements during your final year and check if your uni offers pre-registration.
“If you're organised, you can pre-register, and it's not a stressful process,” says Danielle. Compared to everything else happening at the end of your degree, registration is straightforward, she says.
Keep evidence as you go
While initial registration is based on finishing your degree, keeping evidence helps when you apply for full registration later.
Griffith encourages students to maintain a portfolio. "We promote it as a conversation tool," Loraine says, explaining it’s something to discuss with supervisors during placement. It's also practical "because you'll have to do it again in first year when you go for full registration."
Save lesson plans, student work examples, supervisor feedback, and reflections.
Know your state's requirements
Registration doesn't work the same everywhere. Check how many teaching days you need, what evidence is required, costs, and timelines.
Budget for it
Registration fees, criminal history checks, and Working With Children checks add up.
Speak up early
Worried about meeting requirements? Talk to your uni and registration authority early.
Coming from another career? If you're making a career change into teaching, our guide on the simplest way to make a career change into teaching can help you navigate the transition alongside registration requirements
What you need to do to maintain your registration
Teacher registration isn't a one-off thing. You will need to renew it every 3-5 years (depending on your state) and keep up your professional learning throughout your career.
Renewal typically means paying a fee, confirming you're still suitable to teach, showing you've done required professional development, and keeping your Working With Children and criminal history checks current.
All states require ongoing professional development, such as workshops, courses, conferences, mentoring, or self-directed learning. How many hours and what counts varies by state, but the idea's the same: teaching is a profession where you keep growing. You never really ‘finish’ learning how to be a better teacher.
What if you don't renew?
If your registration lapses, you won't be able to teach until you sort it. Some states may even charge penalties for late renewals.
If you plan to take a career break, you may be able to maintain registration while you’re not teaching while others may require you to reapply.
The best approach? Keep your registration current, and you’re always ready to teach.
Start your journey toward teacher registration
Explore nationally approved primary and secondary teaching qualifications.
About the author
Sarah Vercoe
Contributor
Sarah Vercoe is a Queensland-based writer bringing lifestyle, education, and human-interest stories to life for national publications and non-profits. When she’s not writing, she’s lost in a book with her cat by her side.
FAQs about teacher registration
I've finished my course, but my results aren't final yet. Can I still apply for registration?
You can't get provisional registration until your results are confirmed and your degree is conferred. But many states let you start the application beforehand, so you’re ready to go once your results are finalised.
What happens if I can't afford registration immediately after graduating?
Unfortunately, you can't teach without registration. Check for reduced first-year teacher fees or payment plans, and see if schools will wait a few weeks if you have a job offer.
Can I teach in another state once I'm registered?
Yes, through mutual recognition. Apply to the new state's authority, show proof of current registration, pay a fee, and meet any state-specific requirements.
How long does mutual recognition take?
Usually a few weeks to a couple of months. Start early if you're planning an interstate move.
Can I work in a school while my registration is pending?
This depends on your state. Some have Permission to Teach provisions for pending applications. Otherwise, you can't teach unsupervised without at least provisional registration. Some schools might hire you as a teacher’s aide temporarily.
I have a mental health condition. Do I need to disclose it?
Only if it might affect your ability to teach safely and effectively. A managed condition that doesn't impact your teaching capacity likely doesn't need disclosure. If unsure, read your state's guidelines, talk to a health professional familiar with fitness-to-teach requirements, or contact your registration authority's confidential service.
Who has access to health-related information?
Only authorised registration authority staff. It's confidential and used solely to assess whether you're suitable to teach. Your employer won't see it unless you share it separately.
Are there culturally safe supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates?
Yes. Many universities and some states offer specific support including dedicated officers, cultural mentoring, and help navigating the process. Connect with your university’s Indigenous student support services, state Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education organisations, and your registration authority.
Who can I talk to if the process is overwhelming?
Your university can help, and so can your registration authority's inquiry service and professional associations.
