History and Structure

To book a place for the aptitude test please email historyandstructure@teachingcouncil.ie quoting your name, address and your Qualifications Assessment Number (e.g. RS1234), or your Teaching Council Registration Number.

The recommended study resources are listed in an explanatory note on the Teaching Council website.

Yes. Sample exam papers are appended to the explanatory note.

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 by the Teaching Council) or an Adaptation Period in the History and Structure of the Irish Education System.  Further information is available here.

Online Aptitude Test – 28 November 2020:

The deadline for receipt of bookings for the November 2020 online assessment is now closed.

Online Aptitude Test(s) – 2021:

There are three scheduled sittings of the History and Structure Exam in each calendar year.  Information on the 2021 dates will be available in due course.

If you would like to register your interest in taking the online assessment in 2021, please email historyandstructure@teachingcouncil.ie and quote your name and Teaching Council Registration Number.  You will then be notified when online arrangements have been made.

You will need to bring your invitation letter and a piece of valid identification such as a passport, driving licence, work ID etc.

Yes. The Irish language version of the test is printed on the reverse of the page.

Candidates have a maximum of two hours to complete the test.

You can leave when you have completed the test but you must ensure to hand your exam paper to an invigilator before you leave the room. In the interest of fairness, candidates will not be permitted to leave the hall during the final 10 minutes of the test.

If you are unable to attend the test please notify the Council as soon as possible by emailing historyandstructure@teachingcouncil.ie or by contacting us on 01 651 7900.

Results of the test will be available within a maximum of 5 weeks from the date of the test.

Yes, you can re-sit the test at a future date. However, if your conditional registration is due to expire, please contact the Registration section at conditions@teachingcouncil.ie.

The History and Structure examination is held in April and November each year. The date of the next test will be published shortly on the Council's website www.teachingcouncil.ie