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Being issued with a full practising certificate

The process for being issued with a full practising certificate in New Zealand, with information for teachers, professional leaders and mentor teachers.

To be issued with a full practising certificate, a teacher must have undertaken a period of induction and mentoring and have met the Practising Teacher Criteria.

Check out the step by step guide to applying for a full practising certificate – or download the PDF.

Moving from provisional to full certification

To be eligible for full certification you must:

  • be employed in a teaching position of at least 0.5 Full Time Teacher Equivalent (FTTE) in New Zealand
  • teach in a continuous position (teaching of less than six weeks is not considered)
  • be employed as a teacher – not a teacher aide or a volunteer worker – in the general education system
  • participate in an induction programme being mentored and supported by a fully certificated mentor teacher for at least two years
  • hold a current practising certificate
  • have completed satisfactory recent teaching experience.

If you’re a provisionally certificated teacher or a mentor find out more. If you'd like to know if you qualify for induction and mentoring support, find out more here. 

Information for teachers with overseas teaching experience

If you have completed teaching under the supervision of a mentor teacher overseas, your experience may be eligible to be considered towards the requirements for full certification. The employment must have been in a school or learning centre recognised by the education authority of the relevant state or country. A maximum of one year of overseas teaching can be considered towards the requirement of two years of mentored teaching.
 
When you apply for full certification you will need to provide a statement on school letterhead outlining the system of professional support, guidance and evidence, including appraisal involving a mentor teacher (provided for the duration of your employment at the school or centre).
 

Information for teachers with certification subject to confirmation

To be issued with a full practising certificate, teachers certificated subject to confirmation (STC) must:

  • be employed in a teaching position that provides sufficient opportunities for ongoing meaningful assessment against the Practising Teacher Criteria
  • teach in a continuous position (teaching of less than six weeks is not considered)
  • be employed within the general education system in New Zealand
  • undertake an induction and mentoring programme while teaching for at least one year and be mentored using the Practising Teacher Criteria.

The requirements for being issued with a full practising certificate are described in further detail in 'Section Two, Part C: Pathway to being issued with a Full Practising Certificate' in the Registration Policy.

The role of professional leaders

As a professional leader or centre manager, you play a critical role in supporting provisionally certificated teachers (PCTs) and teachers certificated subject to confirmation.

There is a lot to consider and plan, from selecting the right mentor teacher to devising and documenting an induction programme. To help you welcome, induct and mentor teachers who do not hold full certification at your school or centre, read the tips for professional leaders and mentors.

Please note that if you are acting as a mentor teacher for a PCT doing an induction and mentoring programme, you need to be fully certificated.

Apply for full certification

Check out the step by step guide to teacher certification in New Zealand – or download the PDF.

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