1. Background

The Education Standards Authority Act 2013 (NESA Act) and Teacher Accreditation Act 2004 (TA Act) authorise the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to be the responsible decision-maker for overseeing and approving the accreditation of initial teacher education programs delivered in NSW.

In accordance with Section 19 of the TA Act, the NSW Minister for Education approves the professional teaching standards in relation to Provisional Accreditation afforded to graduate teachers.

These standards are the national requirements described in the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs in Australia: Standards and Procedures (the National Standards and Procedures) together with NSW supplementary requirements approved from time to time by the NSW Minister. The National Standards and Procedures include the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate career stage (Graduate Teacher Standards).

Initial teacher education programs that are approved by NESA are included on the AITSL accredited programs list and are recognised by other jurisdictions as being nationally accredited.