Primary and post-primary registration
If you are currently registered, you do not need to re-apply for vetting for registration; skip to Step 2 below.
If you need to be vetted, please follow the four steps below.
Step 1 – Vetting
How to be vetted as a NQT
(Only NQTs in the Republic of Ireland can use these links.)
You must upload proof of identity and proof of address as part of the process.
If you have lived outside the Republic of Ireland for a cumulative period of more than 12 months after the age of 18, you must provide police clearance for each country you have lived in.
We can only accept vetting carried out by the Teaching Council for registration.
If your vetting is from another body such as a sports club or voluntary organisation, we cannot accept it.
Step 2 – Consent for transfer of student details from your course provider
Your course provider will contact you for your consent to transfer your details to the Teaching Council. This will include personal and academic information for example name, PPS number, contact details, qualification details and results.
Please follow your course provider’s instructions and provide your consent.
Please ensure that the email address is the same as the one you provided for vetting.
If you do not consent to this process, your final results will not be transferred for the fast-track registration process and you will have to apply by the slower standard application process.
Step 3 – Character reference
We must check that all applicants are fit and proper persons to be admitted to the Register of Teachers.
For the fast-track process, the Council receives a bulk character reference for NQT applicants as part of the transfer of results from the course provider. This will happen automatically and you do not need to do anything.
If a course provider declines to provide a reference, the course provider will notify the applicant and we will make other arrangements.
Step 4 – Registration
If you granted consent (Step 2) to your course provider, we will receive your personal details and final results when you complete your teacher education qualification.
We will email you a secure link to complete your NQT registration application online.
Please do not contact us for status reports during the registration process as this will delay the processing of all registrations.
Documents to upload
If you are registering for the first time, please upload the required documents when making your registration application to avoid any delays.
Academic transcripts
You must submit full academic transcripts (all years and result confirmed) for your undergraduate qualification if you are in either of the following situations:
- You completed a consecutive post-primary teacher education qualification (Professional Masters of Education (PME)) and did not do the PME Verification project in your first year.
- You completed a consecutive primary teacher education qualification (PME).
If you are currently registered with the Council
If you are already registered with the Council under another route, you will still need to complete Step 2 above (Consent for transfer of your details to the Council).
Your registration number stays the same.
You do not need to:
- Submit an additional registration fee
- Re-apply for vetting
We will email you a secure link to complete your NQT registration online.
If you are currently registered under Route 3 Further Education
If you are registering as a NQT under the post-primary route, your registration in the Further Education route will be removed.
If you wish to keep this route, please email nqt@teachingcouncil.ie with your registration number before 30 August.
Receiving your certificate through My Registration
When your registration is finalised, you will receive an email advising that you can access your Certificate of Registration by logging into “My Registration” on the Teaching Council website.
You can update your contact details and renew your registration online annually.
Please make a note of your anniversary date and renew on time to maintain your registration.
You can access full details in relation to registration and conditions in the registration handbook you will receive when you register. This also includes full details in relation to the conditions of Droichead.
Curricular Language Subjects (including Irish)
Immersive Educational Experience (IEE)
If you are applying to register to teach a language subject and/ or Irish, you must submit evidence of an Immersive Educational Experience (IEE) in the language applied for of at least four weeks duration.
You can do your IEE in two blocks, both which must be at least two weeks duration.
One of these blocks must be in a setting where the language is the native or vernacular language of the region or country.
Your IEE must be one of the following:
- Attending a language course
- Working as a staff member in an educational setting
- Carrying out an action research project relevant to your teaching studies
- Engaging in school placement
You can read our guidance note on IEE for further information.
Evidence of linguistic competence
You must provide evidence of your competence in the language. You can show this by providing evidence of either:
- Achieving a B2.2 or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (or equivalent) from your university or college
- A certification of achieving level B2.2 from an independent language competency test.