Registration with Conditions

The Teaching Council may register an applicant with conditions in circumstances where all of the requirements for full registration have not been met. The Council will inform the registered teacher of the conditions imposed, the measures required to meet them, and the time within which they must be met. Conditions will be recorded on the register and on the letter confirming registration. The teacher’s registration entry on the Teaching Council's website will also indicate that conditional registration has been granted, and will also indicate the nature of the conditions. When all registration conditions have been met, a certificate of registration will be issued to the registered teacher. The Council expects that all registered teachers will meet their conditions within the specified period. Failing that, the teacher’s registration will lapse unless the Council grants an extension.

Induction Condition

In line with the Council having responsibility from September 2012 for the induction of teachers, the Council has decided that participation in a programme of induction workshops will be a requirement for all NQTs who complete their teacher education qualification in 2012 and subsequently. In addition, other teachers who apply for registration from 02 July 2012 under Regulation 2 (primary), Regulation 3 (Montessori and other categories) and Regulation 4 (post-primary including VECs)* are required to complete the induction workshop programme provided that they have not previously:

met the requirements of Post Qualification Employment (PQE) (post-primary)
met the requirements of Probation (primary)
completed an induction programme in another jurisdiction.

This means that induction will be a condition of registration in the same manner as probation (primary teachers) and post-qualification experience (PQE) (post-primary teachers) are conditions of registration.

The Council believes this represents a positive development for NQTs and for teaching as a profession.

* The Council will consult with relevant stakeholders regarding the induction of new teachers in the Further Education sector.

The programme consists of 12 workshops. Workshops take place in the late afternoon or evening time and each is two hours in duration. They take place in education centres and/or outreach venues around the country.

NQTs will be required to attend all workshops within three years of their date of registration. Once all of the workshops have been completed, the Education Centre Network will provide participants with a Certificate of Attendance and will notify the Council of same. The condition will then be removed and the teacher's registration status will be updated on the Register of Teachers.

The workshop programme will continue to be coordinated by the National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT) and funded by the Department of Education and Skills.

The NIPT will continue to coordinate the in-school mentoring programme, to facilitate local or regional professional support groups and to offer professional support to NQTs via phone and email and through its website.

NQTs who have graduated in recent years and have been awarded conditional registration (with the condition of probation), will be eligible to attend the workshops, should they so wish.

Click here to view a list of frequently asked questions on induction

Conditions relating to Qualification Shortfalls

Where an applicant (who is deemed fully qualified as a teacher in another EU Member State) falls short of the required qualifications for registration in Ireland, they may be registered on condition that they rectify the shortfall(s) within a specified period, usually not exceeding three years from the date of registration. This policy is consistent with European Directive 2005/36/EC, transposed into Irish Law in Statutory Instrument Number 139 of 2008.

Qualification shortfalls may be identified in undergraduate and/or teaching qualifications and may include shortfalls in curricular subject knowledge; foundation studies in education; subject teaching methodologies; teaching practice; and knowledge of the history and structure of the Irish education system.

The Council normally grants conditional registration due to qualification shortfalls where an applicant has been fully recognised as a teacher in another jurisdiction. It does not grant conditional registration to applicants who have partially completed a qualification; or who have not previously been recognised as teachers, who have an obvious qualification shortfall at the time of applying. This policy is consistent with European Directive 2005/36/EC.

Qualification shortfalls are notified to the applicant when they complete the registration process. The conditions imposed and their respective expiry dates are recorded on the register and on the letter confirming registration.

In some circumstances, a registered teacher will be required to satisfy one condition before satisfying a second. For example, this applies to primary teachers who must address a shortfall in the Irish language requirement before begining the probationary process. In such cases, the period set for completing the second shortfall does not begin until the first condition has been met.

Post-Qualification Conditions relating to Probation and/or Post-Qualification Employment

Probation

The condition relating to successful completion of a probationary period currently applies to Primary teachers and to teachers registered under Regulation Three – Montessori and Other Categories, who are employed in Primary Schools and Special Schools.

To register fully, all primary teachers must complete a probationary process. This is set out in detail in the Department of Education and Skills Circular 0047/2011. Where a teacher has completed a probationary period in another jurisdiction, he/she may apply to the Teaching Council to have this recognised as satisfying the condition of probation. In all other cases the applicant must undergo probation in this State. The probationary process will involve a minimum teaching service requirement (100 days) and professional competency element i.e. incidental visits from a Department of Education and Skills Inspector, who will prepare a report on the teacher's suitability.

Teachers who began service on or after September 1st, 2010, should notify the Teaching Council once they have completed the required service requirement and have received a satisfactory report from the Department of Education and Skills Inspectorate. They should complete and return Form C (available here) when they have completed both the service and competence requirements of the probationary process. Teaching service in State-inspected Primary schools outside Ireland may also be considered towards the service requirement.

All new registrants have a period of three years from their date of registration, to meet the requirement of any condition.

Primary teachers who began service prior to September 1st 2010, have until 31st August 2015 to satisfy the probationary requirement.

Post-Qualification Employment (PQE) for Post-Primary Teachers

The condition of Post-Qualification Employment currently applies to Post-Primary Teachers, i.e. those registered under Regulation Four.

In order to become fully registered as a Post-Primary teacher, an applicant must complete a period of Post-Qualification Employment (PQE). They must provide evidence of 300 hours' employment as a teacher in a recognised Post-Primary school; this is verified and signed by the school principal. A minimum of 200 hours of the approved service must relate to teaching a recognised Post-Primary curricular subject to a designated class on the School's timetable. Up to 100 hours of the approved teaching may be carried out in a learning support, special needs, language support, or guidance counselling role. Teaching service in State-inspected Post-Primary schools outside Ireland may also be considered towards the service requirement.

Teaching service completed before beginning a teacher education qualification, or during Teaching Practice as part of a teacher education qualification, cannot be included in the 300 hour requirement.

A maximum period of three years is allowed to meet this requirement. On fulfilling this condition, registrants should complete Form B (available here), have it signed and stamped by the school principal and return it to the Teaching Council.

Appealing a Registration Condition

An applicant who has had a registration condition imposed may request a review of the Council’s decision. The Council’s Review of Decision Process document is available here.

Should the review not overturn the decision of the Council to apply conditions, an applicant may apply to the High Court for an annulment of the decision, under section 31(8) of the Teaching Council Act, 2001.

Application for an extension to the specified period

If a registered teacher is unable to complete the requirements of a registration condition within the specified period, he or she may apply to the Council for an extension. This application must be made in the year in which the specified period is due to expire. The teacher must outline the difficulties and/or extenuating circumstances preventing the completion of the required measures in the time specified. The Council will consider such requests in the context of the nature of the registration condition, the progress made to date and the work that remains to be completed. Every application for an extension is evaluated on its own merits. Extensions are typically granted for the following reasons:

a prolonged illness which prevents a teacher from working; or a serious illness of a close relative for whom the teacher has acted as a carer
bereavement involving the death of family members or dependents
maternity, paternity, adoptive or unpaid leave has been granted
a teacher has not secured employment necessary to meet a condition
long-term foreign travel or employment outside Ireland

The teacher may apply for an extension by writing to the relevant registration section of the Teaching Council (Primary or Post-Primary). The application may include a letter outlining the reasons for requesting an extension and. In certain circumstances, documentary evidence will be required. The Director or his/her nominee will consider the application for an extension. If an application is refused, an applicant can appeal the decision. This appeal will be considered by the Registration Committee of the Council.

Lapsed registrations: failure to meet a registration condition within the specified period

If a registered teacher fails to fulfil the requirements of a registration condition in the specified period and has not requested or been granted an extension, the registration will lapse. It is the responsibility of a teacher to inform the Teaching Council before the expiry date, when the requirements of the condition have been satisfied; otherwise the registration will lapse.

Readmission to the register following lapse of registration

If a teacher whose registration has lapsed wishes to be readmitted to the register, the provisions of section 31(5) of the Teaching Council Act will apply. This may involve submitting an application form, transcripts, evidence of character documentation and other supporting documentation. The original requirements of the condition will also have to be met.

Where a teacher registered with conditions voluntarily leaves the register and later seeks readmission, that teacher will be allowed the balance of the period originally granted to meet the requirements of the conditions.

Specific Registration Conditions

1. Probation – Primary Teachers (including Montessori and other categories)

To gain full registration, all Primary teachers must complete a probationary process after satisfying all other registration conditions. The probationary process is set out in detail in the Department of Education and Skills Circular 004/2011. Where a teacher has completed a probationary period in another jurisdiction, he or she may apply to the Teaching Council to have this recognised as satisfying the condition of probation. In all other cases the teacher must undergo probation in this State. The probationary process will involve a minimum teaching service requirement (100 days) and incidental visits from a Department of Education and Skills Inspector, who will prepare a report on the suitability of the teacher.

Teachers who began service on or after September 2010 should notify the Teaching Council once they have completed the required service requirement and have received a satisfactory report from the Department of Education and Skills Inspectorate. This should be done by completing and returning Form C.

Click here to download Form C

Probation begins only after all other registration conditions have been met. From that date, a maximum period of three years is permitted to meet this requirement.

Click here to read further about the Probationary Process

Click here to download the Department of Education and Skills Circular 47/2011 (probationary requirements for registration purposes for primary teachers)

2. Irish Language Requirement (ILR) – Primary Teachers only

Where an applicant has completed a programme of teacher education outside Ireland, an Irish Language Requirement (ILR) condition normally applies to his/her registration. The applicant can either complete an Aptitude Test (SCG – An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge) or an Adaptation Period (OCG – Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge), which confirms the applicant's competence to teach the Irish language as well as a range of primary school curricular subjects through the medium of Irish. Conditional registration is granted to those in the process of completing this requirement.

A maximum period of three years is permitted to satisfy this condition.

Both the SCG (Aptitude Test) and OCG (Adaptation Period) are administered by Institiúid Oideachais Marino, Dublin 9. For full information visit www.ilrweb.ie

3. Qualification Shortfalls (QS) – Primary and Post-Primary Teachers

Where shortfalls are identified in a teacher's application, the condition of Qualification Shortfalls will be applied to that teacher’s registration. This may be addressed by successfully completing an Aptitude Test, i.e. an approved module or course and/or Examination in a named subject area; or by successfully completing an Adaptation Period.

A maximum period of three years is permitted to satisfy this condition.

4. Post Qualification Employment (PQE) – Post-Primary Teachers only

To become fully registered as a Post-Primary teacher, all teachers must complete a period of Post-Qualification Employment (PQE). This involves providing evidence of 300 hours' teaching experience in a recognised school, which is verified and signed by the school principal.This involves a minimum of 200 hours teaching a recognised curricular subject to a designated class on the School's timetable. Up to 100 hours of the approved teaching may be carried out in a learning support, special needs, language support, or guidance counselling role.

A maximum period of three years is permitted to meet this requirement.

Having fulfilled this condition, registrants should complete Form B, have it signed and stamped by the school principal and return it to the Teaching Council. Click here to download Form B

5. History and Structure Examination (H&S) – Post-Primary Teachers only

Where an applicant for registration as a Post-Primary teacher has completed a programme of teacher education outside of the Republic of Ireland, they are required to gain a knowledge and understanding of the history and structure of the Irish education system. They can do this by successfully completing an Aptitude Test (facilitated twice yearly by the Teaching Council) or an Adaptation Period in the History and Structure of the Irish Education System.