Qualification Requirements for Primary Teachers Qualified in Ireland

In accordance to the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2016 and The Teaching Council [Registration] (Amendment) Regulations 2016, there are two main entry routes for persons wishing to register on the basis of qualifications in primary school teaching (Junior Infants to Sixth Class) awarded in Ireland:

• A recognised Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree.
• A recognised Graduate/Higher Diploma in Education (Primary) in combination with a primary degree at level 8 or a qualification at level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. 

• A list of providers of approved programmes is available here.

Whichever entry route is chosen, applicants must have achieved prescribed examination results at Leaving Certificate or, Northern Ireland GCSE/GCE A Level examinations. Further details are available from the website of the Department of Education and Skills.

Route 4 - Other

Applicants wishing to be registered on the basis of qualifications as a Montessori teacher must meet the qualifications requirements set out in Route Four of theTeaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2016  and The Teaching Council [Registration] (Amendment) Regulations 2016. Under Department of Education and Skills regulations, such teachers are eligible for employment as a teacher in restricted school settings, i.e. in certain categories of special schools and in certain classes in mainstream schools where Irish is not a curricular requirement.