How to become a teacher

Find information on how to become a teacher in NSW, including entry requirements for teaching degrees, what Professional Experience is, and how to find a teaching job in NSW.

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Become a teacher in NSW

To become a teacher in NSW, you must complete an accredited teaching degree.

You can choose to be an early childhood, a primary, or a secondary school teacher.

Most students complete one of the following:

  • accredited 4-year teaching degree (for example a Bachelor of Education)
  • accredited combined degree (for example a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education)
  • undergraduate degree and an accredited graduate entry teaching degree (for example a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Teaching).

To be accredited as an early childhood teacher your qualification must be approved by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Understand course entry requirements

To study undergraduate teaching you must have achieved a minimum of 3 HSC Band 5s (including one in English), or do the following: 

  • pass bridging units benchmarked to a Band 5 HSC result
  • enrol in an accredited degree that has a full year of academic studies in the subjects you will teach before you begin studying teaching
  • complete a NESA-approved alternative entry pathway as advised by your prospective university.

HSC extension courses with Band E3 or above results meet the Band 5 requirements.

If you want to study primary education, you must also achieve a minimum of Band 4 in HSC Mathematics. This is in addition to the 3 Band 5 requirements outlined above.

If you did not achieve a Band 4 in HSC Mathematics, you can ask your prospective course provider for an approved comparable measure.

Decide on your preferred teaching area

Find out what's involved in studying primary or secondary teaching areas.

Primary teaching

To study a graduate entry teaching degree, your undergraduate degree must meet certain content requirements.

Content requirements are either:

  • at least one year of full-time study in a key learning area (KLA) (for example 8 semester-long units)
  • a combination of KLAs from the primary school curriculum.

KLAs are:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science and Technology
  • Human Society and its Environment
  • Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
  • Creative Arts.

NESA-recognised primary teaching specialisations

NESA has developed a set of requirements in the following Primary teaching areas:

  • Mathematics
  • Science and Technology
  • Languages
  • English.

As a teacher education student, you may complete an optional NESA-recognised primary teaching specialisation. If your course provider offers it, this involves studying extra units in the content of your chosen KLA and how to teach it.

The best source of information on what to study is your ITE provider. They are aware of NESA's requirements. You can find providers that offer Primary specialisation programs on our Accredited teaching degrees page.

Secondary teaching

Secondary teachers may teach one or more teaching areas from the secondary school curriculum. For the area or areas you intend to teach, your undergraduate studies must meet subject content knowledge requirements.

The best source of information on what to study is your ITE provider. They are aware of NESA's requirements.

Find an accredited tertiary course

Completing an accredited degree allows you to achieve Provisional accreditation in NSW.

View our list of universities and other ITE providers that offer accredited teaching degrees. Visit their websites for course information including entry requirements, teaching areas offered, and special features.

If you choose an interstate course provider, you should ensure that the teaching degree is accredited by that state’s teacher registration body. If they recognise the degree, NSW will also recognise it.

If you wish to teach in NSW after completing an interstate teaching degree, you will need to meet NESA's accreditation requirements.

Pass the national Literacy and Numeracy test

All NSW teacher education students must pass the national Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). This is to prove that you have the literacy and numeracy skills expected of a teacher.

You can choose to sit the test before starting or during your studies. It must be taken before your final professional experience placement so that you can be eligible to graduate and gain Provisional accreditation.

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) administers the test.

For more information and to register visit the ACER website.

Complete your Professional Experience

During your teaching studies, you will need to complete Professional Experience (PEX).

Placements occur in a school or education service. They allow you to develop your knowledge and understanding of students and how they learn, observe good teaching practices, and have your knowledge of teaching assessed.

NESA sets the minimum total number of days you must complete.

They are:

  • 60 days for a 2-year full-time equivalent graduate entry program
  • 80 days for a 4 or 5-year full-time equivalent undergraduate program.

Apply for accreditation in NSW

To get a job as a teacher in NSW you must get accredited.

There are 2 types of first-time accreditation:

  • Conditional - You can apply for Conditional accreditation once you can provide a transcript indicating at least 75% completion of your undergraduate ITE degree, or at least 50% of your Master of Teaching program.
  • Provisional - You can apply for Provisional accreditation once you can provide an official transcript and a testamur, indicating completion of your ITE degree.

Completing your final placement while employed as a teacher

If you gain Conditional accreditation while studying an ITE program and become employed at a primary or secondary school, you may be able to complete your final PEX placement at that school.

If you wish to do so, you will need to liaise with your ITE provider to organise their submission for a waiver to Appendix B of NESA's Professional Experience (PEX) Policy (PDF 244.24KB). Also called a 'Waiver B' the submission requires confirmation that your school supports keeping you employed and that you have previously completed a satisfactory placement at another school.

Your final PEX placement must be formally supervised and assessed as per normal placement requirements.

You will still need to complete your accredited teaching degree to be able to move to the next stages of accreditation, as a Provisional or Proficient Teacher.

Completing your degree needs to happen before your Conditional accreditation timeframe ends. This is to ensure you remain accredited while employed as a teacher.

Your Conditional accreditation timeframe starts from the day you are accredited and depends on your employment status at the time:

  • 4 years if employed full-time
  • 6 years if employed part-time or casual.

Apply for a teaching job

Once accredited you can apply for work with your employer of choice:

Who to contact

If you need more information about the requirements to become a teacher please contact your education faculty of choice. For questions about applying for teacher accreditation, please contact NESA. This will usually be when you are in, or approaching, the final year of your teaching degree and eligible for Conditional accreditation.

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