The entry requirements for initial teacher education in Ireland and the application process for entry to programmes, are outlined on the website of the
Department of Education and Skills.
To be eligible for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (post-primary) candidates must have obtained a third-level degree deemed by the Teaching Council to be suitable for the purposes of teaching at post-primary level. More information, including the list of relevant qualifications, is
available here.
The Council has supported the publication of a career advice booklet on Teaching and Education in Ireland. The booklet, produced by GradIreland, includes advice on teaching qualifications, routes of entry to the teaching profession, the types of teaching roles available, and career profiles. You can download the booklet from
gradireland.com.
Consultation on Entry Requirements
In June 2011, the Council published Initial Teacher Education: Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers. That document stated the Council's intention to initiate a consultation process in relation to revised minimum entry requirements, based on the proposals as set out in the table below. It is expected that the consultation process will commence later in the year. At that point, this page will be updated and feedback will be invited from all stakeholders. All feedback will be considered by the Council before adopting revised entry requirements.
In the event of the current entry requirements being raised, new entry requirements would be introduced with a sufficient lead-in time to allow those entering post-primary education to make appropriate choices in relation to subjects and levels. Furthermore, the Council would engage in a communications campaign to ensure that students and their parents, guidance counsellors and others with an interest in teaching as a profession would be au fait with any new requirements.
| Primary Teacher Education | Post-Primary Teacher Education |
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Proposed Minimum Entry Requirements (subject to consultation)Proposed Leaving Certificate levels: - Maths: A1 Ordinary or C3 Higher
- English: B1 Higher
- Irish: B1 Higher
| Post-graduate: Satisfy general and subject specific criteria, in undergraduate degree, set out by the Teaching Council. Concurrent: Minimum Leaving Certificate level, or equivalent, in subject(s) being studied for teacher education purposes, to be set by HEIs. |
Proposed requirements in respect of mature applicants:
In cases where more than five years has elapsed since the applicant completed the Leaving Certificate examination, she/he would be required to demonstrate:
- literacy (English) and numeracy competence by means of an Admissions Test
- competence in Gaeilge by means of an Irish language Admissions Test.
| Proposed requirements in respect of mature applicants:
In cases where more than five years has elapsed since the applicant completed the Leaving Certificate examination she/he would be required to demonstrate:
- literacy (English) and numeracy competence by means of an Admissions Test
- competence in Gaeilge by means of an Irish language Admissions Test (for those applicants who would be teaching Irish).
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