Qualified outside of Ireland (Induction not completed)

Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation, 2023 

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

Requirements to apply for registration under (Amendment) Regulation, 2023

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 not  need 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.

The Irish language requirement (ILR) 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.

and 

  • meet the requirements for at least one curricular subject.

The History and Structure of the Irish Education system will be applied as a condition to your registration.

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.

How to apply under (Amendment) Regulation, 2023

  • Applications opened on 22 February 2023.  
  • To request an application, please email your request to car@teachingcouncil.ie.
  • All queries should be directed to car@teachingcouncil.ie.
  • The closing date for applications is 1 February 2024. 

Employment

Once registered teachers are eligible to seek employment through online platforms such as www.educationposts.ie, www.publicjobs.ie, individual ETB websites, or by contacting schools in the locality. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. I qualified as a teacher outside of Ireland and gained Qualified Teacher Status. However, I did not complete the statutory period of induction required in the country in which I qualified. Can I apply for registration?

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. 

2. What is Qualified Teacher Status?

Your application cannot be processed without evidence of Qualified Teacher Status/Licence to teach and completion of an accredited programme of primary or post-primary initial teacher education in the country in which you qualified. This evidence can be obtained from the competent authority in the country that you have completed your qualification (e.g., Teaching Council equivalent body/ Department/Ministry of Education).

3. Will I have to complete induction in Ireland?

Yes, teachers who register in accordance with the Teaching Council (Registration)(Amendment) Regulation, 2023: Route 1 (Primary) and Route 2 (Post-Primary) will be registered with the condition of the completion of Induction. Droichead is the Teaching Council’s Integrated Professional Induction Framework in Ireland. 

4. What qualification requirements must I meet in order to be eligible to apply for registration as a primary teacher?

The Irish Language Requirement (ILR) will be applied as a condition to your registration. If applying for primary registration, you must have a primary focused (4-12 years) teacher education qualification which is comparable to the standard of Irish graduates, save for the Irish language requirement (ILR). Teachers may be registered on a conditional basis for a maximum of three years as this requirement is being fulfilled.

4(a) How will I address the condition of the ILR?

The Irish Language Requirement (ILR) can be completed via an Aptitude test  (The Scrudú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge which includes a period of attendance at the Gaeltacht) or via an Adaptation Period (Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge). More information is available at irlweb. 

5. What qualification requirements must I meet in order to be eligible to apply as a post-primary teacher?

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) 

5(a) How do I address the History and Structure of the Irish Education System requirement?

The History and Structure of the Irish Education system will be applied as a condition to your registration. 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

5(b) What curricular subject requirements must I meet for Route 2 (Post-primary) registration?

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. 

6. I qualified as a teacher outside of Ireland and also completed the statutory period of induction required in the country in which I qualified. How do I apply for registration?

Applicants who qualified out of State and completed the statutory period of induction and applicants who qualified out of State where a period of induction is not required (e.g. Northern Ireland) must apply via the online application portal.