Initial Registration FAQs

The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration:

• Route 1 – Primary,
• Route 2 – Post-primary,
• Route 3 – Further Education,
• Route 4 – Other
• Route 5 – Student Teacher

The qualification(s) required in order to be eligible to register under each route are set out in the Schedule of the Regulations.

To register as a primary teacher, you must have completed the qualification(s) from options 1 or 2 below: 

1. An undergraduate primary teacher education qualification i.e. a Bachelor of Education degree in primary teaching   

OR 

2. A qualification at a minimum of level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which has a credit weighting of at least 180 ECTS credits 

AND

A postgraduate primary teacher education qualification i.e. a Professional Master of Education in primary teaching.

To register as a post-primary teacher, you must have completed the qualification(s) from options 1 or 2 below: 

1. An undergraduate post-primary teacher education qualification i.e. a Bachelor of Education degree in post-primary teaching which satisfies the curricular subject requirements for at least one post-primary curricular subject

OR

2. A qualification at a minimum of level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications(which has a credit weighting of at least 180 ECTS credits  which meets the curricular subject requirements for at least one curricular subject

AND

A postgraduate post-primary teacher education qualification i.e. a Professional Master of Education in post-primary teaching.

To register as a further education teacher, you must have completed the qualification(s) from options 1 or 2 below: 

1. An undergraduate Further Education teacher education qualification i.e. a Bachelor of Education degree in Further Education 

OR 

2. A qualification at a minimum of level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which has a credit weighting of at least 180 ECTS credits. 

OR

A qualification at a minimum of level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which has a ECTS credit weighting of at least 180 credits and either 

• An appropriate additional qualification, or 

• A minimum of three years’ experience in a workplace or instructional setting which is relevant to the qualification(s) 

AND

A postgraduate Further Education teacher education qualification.* 

*If you have the required degree qualification but have not completed an accredited Teacher Education Qualification (TEQ), you may be registered for a period of three years with the condition of completion of a TEQ. You must complete a TEQ within this three-year period.  

To register under Route 4 – Other you must meet the qualification requirements from options 1 or 2 below: 

 1. Hold a special education teacher education qualification obtained outside the State. To be eligible for registration, you will need to be fully recognised as a teacher by the competent authority/teacher licensing body in the country in which you qualified and have completed any post qualification requirements such as teacher induction.  

2. Have previously been registered with the Teaching Council under Regulation Three – Montessori and Other Categories or Route 4- Other. 

If you have successfully completed the first two years of an accredited undergraduate primary or post-primary teacher education programme and have commenced year three, you may be eligible to register with the Council as a student teacher.  

If you are eligible, your teacher education provider will be in contact with you at the commencement of year three of your teacher education programme, to request your consent for your details to be transferred to the Teaching Council. On receipt of your details from your provider, the Council will send you an invitation to apply to register. 

If you qualified as a teacher outside of the Republic of Ireland please click here for further information about how to apply for registration. 

Please find a link here to all Teaching Council accredited primary, post-primary and further education teacher education programmes.

The Fit and Proper Character Reference Form must be signed by a person in a position of academic responsibility, who has known you in a professional capacity for at least one academic year in the last five years.

For example: 

• A registered teacher (the teacher must be currently registered with the Teaching Council in Ireland). They must include their Teaching Council registration number. 
• The Head of School Placement of the college or university where you completed your Teacher Education Programme – they must include the college/university stamp on the form. 
• A School Principal or Director of an ETB – they must include a school/ETB stamp on the form. 
• A tutor of the college or university where you completed your Teacher Education Programme or Primary degree – they must include the college/university stamp on the form. 

 If none of the above applies to you, please email info@teachingcouncil.ie for advice on who you may get to sign the form for you. 

Application processing timeframes are outlined here.