Qualified outside Ireland (qualifications awarded in EU/EEA countries)
Teachers fully qualified* in one EU member state are entitled to have their qualifications recognised in all other member states.
This recognition may be granted subject to conditions, pending the making good of any shortfalls (e.g. qualification shortfalls and/or the Irish Language Requirement)
Click here to find out more about Registration with Conditions
Where applicants hold primary teaching qualifications awarded in EU/EEA countries, their qualifications must be assessed by the Council, to ensure that they meet the qualifications criteria set out in Regulation Two of the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009, As well as this, their qualifications must be of a comparable standard to those of primary teacher education qualifications already recognised in Ireland.
Applications cannot be processed without an original statement of qualified teacher status from the competent authority in the member state in which the qualification was recognised.
Application Process
1. Applicants who have qualified outside of Ireland, but within the EU/EEA, and wish to register as a primary teacher should apply by submitting application form PRQA-01.
Completed application forms must be submitted with:
- original transcripts and course handbooks
- proof of identity
- other documentary evidence (see the application form)
- the appropriate fee (see the application form).
Applicants are advised to ensure the form is fully completed prior submission, by reference to the checklist included in each form.
2. Teaching Council staff examine the application to ensure that it is complete and that all necessary documentation has been submitted. If the application is incomplete, the Council requests the applicant to forward any missing documentation or fill in any incomplete sections of the form.
3. Once the application is complete, it may be referred to an external assessor. The assessors in relation to the recognition of primary teaching qualifications are drawn from the Colleges of Education in Ireland.
4. The assessor’s recommendations are reviewed by the Council's Primary Applications Panel.
5. Where the assessor does not recommend that the qualifications be recognised, the applicant may supply additional information to support the application. This will be considered anew by the assessor.
6. The Primary Applications Panel may:
- endorse the recommendation of the assessor
- reject the recommendation of the assessor
- defer a decision, pending further information or clarification from the assessor or the applicant.
7. Where the qualifications have met the requirements for registration, the application continues to be processed in accordance with Section 31(5) of the Teaching Council Act, 2001. This involves assessing the application with regard to:
8. Where the Primary Applications Panel decides not to recognise the qualifications, the applicant may request a review of the decision by the Council’s Registration Committee Review Group.
Where, following a review, the Council’s Registration Committee Review Group decides not to recognise an applicant’s qualifications, the applicant has a right to appeal this decision to the High Court within 21 days. See here for further details on the Review of Decision process.
Application Form
Application form PRQA-01 can be downloaded here.
*A fully qualified teacher has completed a recognised teacher education qualification and programme of induction and can provide an official letter from the Competent Authority or Ministry of Education in the EU Member State in which the qualification was awarded confirming recognition as a fully qualified teacher in that State.