Registration and Renewal

Why do I need to register?

The Minister for Education and Skills commenced Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 on 28 January 2014. Section 30 makes it a requirement for teachers to register with the Teaching Council in order to be paid salary by the state.

How do I register?

The registration process for Route 1 (Primary), Route 2 (Post-Primary) and Route 4 (Other) depends on whether an applicant qualified in Ireland or outside Ireland. Applicants for Route 3 (Further Education) should follow the options for Qualified in Ireland (regardless of where qualification was attained).

Please see registration section for full details.

What is the registration fee?

The standard registration fee is €90 per annum. The renewal fee is €65. Please refer to the schedule of fees for overseas assessment fees.

What is a transcript of results?

A transcript of results is a document that shows the modules you studied in each year of your qualification and the grades that were awarded, commonly referred to as an academic transcript.

The Teaching Council requires a transcript for each year of your qualification outlining the modules study and grade received. The transcript should also outline the final award and overall grade attained.

What is it necessary to renew registration annually?

The Teaching Council Acts, 2001-2015, requires that teachers renew their registration annually. Annual renewal also provides an opportunity to check and update your details on the Register. It allows the Council to continue as a valuable repository of information for the teaching profession in Ireland.

If you do not renew, your registration will lapse and your name will be removed from the Register.

A person who ceases to be a registered teacher will not be entitled to receive a salary as a teacher in a recognised school from the date his or her registration with the Council lapses.

To re-register, they must apply again in full. This may include providing relevant transcripts and will include undergoing vetting through the National Vetting Bureau (NVB).

Is tax relief available on the annual renewal fee?

Income tax relief applies to the Teaching Council's annual registration renewal fee. The tax credit is added to the teacher's flat-rate expense allowance. This means that the annual registration renewal fee of €65 in real terms is close to €38 per annum for those paying the higher rate of tax.

What must I do to claim the tax credit for the renewal fee?

Teachers should check their Tax Credit Certificate to ensure that their Flat Rate Expenses figure has been increased by the amount of the Teaching Council annual registration renewal fee. For more details on Flat Rate Expenses and the amounts allowable to differing categories of teachers please see www.revenue.ie. If the correct allowance has not been included you should contact your local tax office.

How does the Council spend the money it receives from teachers through the fee?

The money received through the registration renewal fee is used to fund the work of the Council as it implements its statutory functions.

The Council’s audited financial statements are available here.

I am a part-time teacher / I do occasional substitute teaching. Is there a partial fee applicable?

At present, there is a standard renewal fee and the Council's fee structure does not allow for reduced fees to be levied. Registration provides a license to teach, regardless of how frequently one teaches.

I am currently out of work. Do I need to maintain my registration?

Even if you are not currently working as a teacher, you should keep your name on the Register, so that when you are offered a teaching job, you can start as soon as possible. If you let your registration lapse at any time, you will have to re-register in advance of starting work as a teacher again, this may take a number of weeks. This means that a standard registration application form must be completed and you will have to undergo vetting if you do not hold a valid disclosure. If a teacher has previously provided relevant qualification transcripts, he/she need not submit them a second time.

Section 30 is a requirement within the Teaching Council Act, 2001-2015, that a teacher has to be registered in order to be paid a salary from public funds.

I expect to retire in August. Do I need to pay the full fee?

Yes. At present, the Council's fee structure does not allow for a partial fee to be levied. Please refer to the Department of Education and Skills Circular 0031/2011 with regard to the employment of retired teachers.

In order to receive salary for the period of your employment, you must remain registered whilst employed as a teacher. Please contact your paymaster with regard to any salary matters.

I am about to retire. Can I let my registration lapse?

In order to receive salary for the period of your employment, you must remain registered whilst employed as a teacher. Please contact your paymaster with regard to any salary matters.

Please also note that the State Examinations Commission require all teachers employed as Examination Superintendents to be registered with the Council.

I no longer wish to be registered with the Teaching Council as I am no longer working in the education sector or in receipt of salary as a teacher. How do I request to have my name removed from the register of teachers?

Should you wish to voluntarily remove your name from the register of teachers, you will need to send your request in writing to info@teachingcouncil.ie or send your request by post to The Teaching Council, Block A, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, W23 Y7X0. Please quote your registration number in all correspondence.

Note: To take up any substitute teaching position, or engage in work with the State Examinations Commission, it is necessary to be registered with the Teaching Council for these purposes.

How can I pay my registration renewal fee?

The registration renewal fee is payable by:

Credit or debit card (Visa or Mastercard)- preferred method
Cheque, postal order or bank draft made payable to the Teaching Council

Please click here to renew online.

What will happen if I don't renew my registration?

If you do not renew, your registration with the Teaching Council will lapse and your name will be removed from the Register.

Why do I have to pay a registration fee?

As the Council is self-funded and receives no funding from the State, the fee is essential. It funds the Council's work in the same way that any professional body is funded by its members. The fee underpins the Council's status as the regulator of the teaching profession.

Click here to find out more about the role of the Teaching Council.

Who receives an e-Card and e-Receipt?

Teachers who renew online will receive an e-Card and e-Receipt which can be saved directly onto mobile devices for easy, anytime access. Teachers who continue to renew by post or over the phone can log onto the My Registration section of the Council's website to access and print their receipts.

How do I receive my e-Card and e-Receipt?

There are two ways to receive an e-Card and e-Receipt. When the teacher renews online by using their own unique pin, they can access, download and print their e-Cards, receipts and Certificates of Registration. They can also access this facility by logging onto the My Registration section of the Council's website.

Will the Council provide me with a printed receipt and card as in previous years should I require?

The Council will provide a printed receipt upon request. If requested and for a short period of time only, the Council can provide the teacher with a card.

I did not receive my registration renewal form. Can you issue a second one?

Yes. However, you can also renew online using your registration number and password.

If you do not have your password, you can generate a new one here.

Why do I get an error message when I enter my password to renew online?

If you have forgotten your password here is how you can create a new password.

I've tried paying my fee online but there appears to be a technical problem. What can I do?

If you experience technical difficulties in renewing online, contact our technical support at renewals@teachingcouncil.ie. Include your registration number and as much detail as possible about the technical issue.

Do I need a password in order to use the online access to the Register?

Yes. To use the online My Registration facility, you will need your registration number and password.

If you do not have your password, you can generate a new one using a combination of:

your registration number
your PPS number
your date of birth

Passwords must be seven characters long and include both letters and numbers e.g. George27

How do I know if I am registered with the Teaching Council?

You can check your registration status and all your details here.

I am already registered as a post-primary teacher but wish to know how to go about qualifying to teach an additional curricular subject?

As a registered post-primary teacher, you have met the registration requirements that enable you to teach at least one post-primary curricular subject. Employment within schools to teach subjects is a matter for individual school authorities. It is not a registration requirement to be recognised for additional subjects.

If, however, you wish to have an additional curricular subject recorded on the Register of Teachers you must demonstrate that you meet the criteria for the subject. This does not mean that you have to complete another degree.

It means you need to study the subject to degree-level by combining modules from a level 8 degree or completing a level 9 postgraduate diploma ensuring that you study:

the required amount of ECTS credits in the subject (varies between 60 - 90 ECTS credits)
the required areas in the subject as outlined in our curricular subject requirements
a specific methodology in the subject if it has been specified as a requirement.

If you are interested in adding an additional subject you should firstly contact the relevant department in a Higher Education Institute (HEI) and ask them about your options for studying a subject to degree level as an occasional/full-time student.

When should I expect to receive an update on my application?

The average handling time is 6 - 8 weeks (qualified within Ireland), and 8 - 12 weeks (qualified outside of Ireland) from receipt of all required documentation.

The Council will update you during the application process. We will acknowledge receipt of your application, liaise with you until all documentation has been received and confirm the process has been finalised.

Please note that submitting all of the required documentation with your application form significantly speeds up the process. We highly recommend that you complete the checklist on the back of the application form.