A teacher who has been registered subject to conditions by the Teaching Council, and who has satisfied all conditions other than satisfactorily completing a probationary period, may commence probation in a teaching post recognised by the Department of Education and Skills for this purpose.
Eligible teachers must apply for inspection visits to Limerick Education Centre (which administers details of probationary teachers on behalf of the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills) using the online form OP1 available at
www.lec.ie. Applications must be made as soon as the teacher commences service in a post recognised for probationary purposes. The Teaching Council does not accept applications for inspection visits.
If you have any questions about the probationary process contact Limerick Education Centre. Tel: 061 312 360; Email:
info@lec.ie; Web: www.lec.ie
Requirements are set out in full in the Department of Education and Skills Circular 0047/2011. Here is a summary.
A. Service Requirement
A probationary teacher must complete a minimum of 100 school days and comprise either two period of at least 50 consecutive school days or one period of 100 school days from the date of first appointment. Under the rules of the Department of Education and Skills, service in a permanent, temporary or substitute teaching post in a Primary school may be considered for probationary purposes, subject to the conditions outlined below. Service may be in a mainstream, special class or special school setting or in a post as a full-time resource teacher (low incidence disabilities) under the Department’s General Allocation Model. This service must be completed within three years from the date of registration or, if applicable, within three years from the date by which all other registration conditions are successfully met.
B. Professional Competence Requirement
Teachers must provide proof that they have satisfactorily completed the competence element. The Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills evaluates the professional competence of teachers for the purposes of informing the Teaching Council’s decisions regarding the registration of primary teachers.
The time limits set by the Teaching Council, during which a teacher may satisfy the requirements of probation as well as other conditions, are set out below.
- For 2010 graduates of teacher education programmes in Ireland and for teachers who registered after 01/09/2010, who have no other registration conditions, the probationary condition must be completed within three years from the date of first registration.
- In the case of teachers who registered after 01/09/2010, and who have other registration conditions, for example, conditions relating to qualification shortfalls or the Irish Language Requirement, the probationary condition must be completed within three years after the date on which all other non-probationary conditions have been met, i.e. two consecutive periods are permitted.
- Teachers who registered before 01/09/2010 and were employed in posts recognised for probationary purposes, whose period of probation has not expired by that date, will have until 31 August 2015 to satisfy the probationary requirement.
Only in exceptional circumstances, where a teacher has not been able to complete probation within these time limits, the Teaching Council will accept applications to extend the probation period. A teacher seeking an extension will be asked to submit documentary evidence to support their stated reasons why they could not complete the probation in the time allowed.
Once a teacher has completed both requirements for probation, he or she must apply to the Teaching Council using Form C along with an appropriate inspection result letter. Incomplete applications will be returned to teachers. The probationary period ends when the Teaching Council is satisfied that both the service requirement and the professional competence requirements are fully met. At this time, the Teaching Council will contact the teacher, confirming full registration.