Annual fee

All NSW teachers pay an annual fee for their accreditation. The $100 fee is tax deductible and GST-free. Learn about payment, waivers and exemptions.

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Your annual fee

Teachers in NSW must pay an annual fee as a condition of their accreditation.

The fee is $100 and covers the calendar year. It is tax deductible and GST-free.

If you do not pay your fee, your accreditation may be revoked or suspended.

Teacher accreditation is a license to teach and a requirement for all NSW teachers.

Your annual fee directly supports the continual regulation of teachers to ensure quality teaching for children, young people and communities in NSW.

Teacher accreditation safeguards the quality of the teaching profession. It requires teachers to:

  • have a teaching qualification and be suitable to work as a teacher
  • meet professional teaching standards
  • stay up to date with new developments in education.

How to pay your fee

NESA emails teachers at the end of each calendar year with an invoice for next year's fee.

You can:

  • use the Pay Now link on the email to pay your invoice online.
  • view and pay your invoice in the ‘My Finances’ section of your NESA online account (eTAMS).

Other payment options listed on your invoice are:

TA fee direct debit sample page

It may take up to 48 hours for NESA to receive your payment.

Once it is received, you will be sent a payment confirmation email. You can download your annual fee receipts in your eTAMS account. Go to ‘My Receipts’ under the 'My Finances' section.

Newly accredited teachers

If you get accredited between:

  • 1 January and 14 September you must pay the current calendar year’s accreditation fee.
  • 15 September and 31 December you do not have to pay that calendar year’s accreditation fee.

Fee waivers

NESA may waive your annual fee if you are taking a continuous Leave of Absence for more than 6 consecutive months of the current calendar year.

To qualify for a waiver:

  • you must apply for your Leave of Absence by 27 January of the year you are taking leave
  • your leave must start before 1 May and end after 1 October of that year.

If you are a newly accredited teacher, NESA may waive your fee if you apply for leave within 3 months of your initial accreditation date. To qualify for the fee waiver, your leave needs to end after 1 October in the same year.

Fee exemptions

You may be exempt from the annual fee if you do not:

  • live in NSW, and
  • teach exclusively in NSW (for example you teach in multiple jurisdictions).

To apply for an exemption you must provide proof of your:

  • ongoing full registration with an interstate teacher registration authority (for example a certified copy of your registration card)
  • employment as a teacher in a jurisdiction outside NSW (for example a statement of service)
  • interstate address, such as a certified copy of your driver licence or a utility bill
  • receipt(s) issued by an interstate teacher registration authority for teacher registration fee(s).

Apply for an exemption by emailing your relevant evidence to NESA at TAfees@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

Late payment of accreditation fees

If you do not pay your annual accreditation fee by the due date, your accreditation to teach is at risk of being suspended. This means you will not be able to teach in any NSW school or early childhood service.

NESA may revoke a teacher’s accreditation if they have been suspended for 12 or more months for non-payment of the annual fee.

Applying for a Leave of Absence when suspended

If you are suspended due to outstanding accreditation fees and you do not want to voluntarily cancel your accreditation, you may apply for a Leave of Absence if eligible.

You can apply for up to 5 years' Leave of Absence. You will not be able to come off leave of absence until all outstanding fees are paid.

Apply using the using the

File

NESA application for leave of absence for suspended teachers (PDF 699.77KB)

Digital teacher accreditation card

Your digital teacher accreditation card is accessed through your NESA online account (eTAMS). It identifies you as a teacher in NSW and can be used to access benefits associated with teaching.

The digital card can be downloaded as a pdf or saved to your device for easy access.

The digital card cannot be used to confirm your accreditation status or proficiency level. Principals and service directors will continue to use their NESA online account (eTAMS) to manage the accreditation of teachers working in their schools or services.

Contact

If you have any questions about your annual fee:

Related information

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