Qualified outside of Ireland (Induction not completed)

Specific eligibility and qualification requirements must be met by applicants seeking to apply for registration under the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation, 2023 

These requirements are: 

1. Qualified Teacher Status (or equivalent)

You must have qualified as a teacher outside of Ireland and gained Qualified Teacher Status or equivalent (e.g. licence to teach) and completed  an accredited programme of initial teacher education) in the country in which you qualified.However, you do notneed to have completed the statutory period of induction required in the country in which you have qualified. 

Evidence of Qualified Teacher Status or equivalent must be provided from the competent authority in the country that you have completed your qualification (e.g. Teaching Council equivalent body/ Department/Ministry of Education). 

2(a) Qualification Requirements – Primary Applicants 

If applying for primary registration, you must have: 

• a primary teacher education qualification aimed at 4 to 12-year-olds which is comparable to the standard of Irish graduates, save for the Irish language requirement (ILR) (which will be applied as a condition to your registration).

2(b) Qualification Requirements - Post-Primary Applicants 

If applying for post-primary registration you must have: 

• a post-primary teacher education qualification aimed at 12 to 18-year-olds which is comparable to the standard of Irish graduates, save for the History and Structure of the Irish Education system (which will be a condition attached to your registration)

and 

• meet the requirements for at least one curricular subject.

Curricular Subject Requirement 

In relation to the curricular subject requirement, you must refer to the Council’s  Curricular Subject Requirements (Post-Primary) to ensure that you meet the requirements for at least one post-primary curricular subject.  

You will be registered for the curricular subject(s) for which your qualification(s) meet the requirements in full. If your qualification(s) do not fully meet the requirements for any curricular subject, you may be registered for the subject for which your qualification(s) is closest to meeting requirements (subject to conditions) as determined by the Council.

• Applications will open on 22 February 2023.  
• All queries should be directed to car@teachingcouncil.ie.
• The closing date for applications is 1 February 2024. 

To assist with teacher supply challenges in the context of the current public health situation, the Teaching Council will accept applications from primary and post-primary teachers who have qualified outside of Ireland but who have not completed the required period of induction in the country in which they qualified. 

Applications are made in accordance with the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation, 2023: Route 1 (Primary) and Route 2 (Post-primary). 

You must also meet certain qualification requirements in order to be eligible to apply. Please refer to FAQs 4 and 5 below. 

Applications will be accepted from 22 February 2023 until 1 February 2024. 

If applying for post-primary registration you must have  

• a post-primary focused (12-18 years) teacher education qualification which is equivalent to the standard of Irish graduates, save for the History and Structure of the Irish Education system which will be a condition attached to your registration) and meet the requirements for at least one curricular subject. 

The History and Structure of the Irish Education System requirement will be applied as a condition to your registration. Teachers may be registered on a conditional basis for a maximum of three years as this requirement is being fulfilled. 

and 

• meet the requirements for at least one curricular subject (see question 5b below) 

The History and Structure of the Irish Education System (H&S) exam is organised online several times a year by the Teaching Council. The exam is intended to assess whether applicants have a knowledge and understanding of the history and structure of education in the Republic of Ireland, particularly second level education, since the foundation of the State in 1922. Applicants should have an understanding of key issues relating to the control and management of post-primary schools and of curriculum and assessment at post-primary. 

History-and-Structure FAQs are available here

In order to register with the Teaching Council as a post-primary teacher you must also meet the requirements for at least one post-primary curricular subject. Before making an application you should refer to the Council’s Post-primary Curricular Subject Requirements to ensure that you meet the requirements for at least one post-primary curricular subject.  

You will be registered for the curricular subject(s) for which you meet the requirements in full. If you do not meet the requirements in full for any subject you may be registered for the subject for which you are closest to meeting requirements (subject to conditions) as determined by the Council.