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Four steps to complete: Step 1

Have your qualifications assessed

  • Your qualifications must be assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority for the purposes of teacher registration and starting salary.
  • This process involves producing evidence of having a teacher education qualification in the form of a degree or diploma. You will need to provide originals of all documentation to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).  This includes providing original transcripts for the full length of your relevant qualification. These things take some time to complete and there is a cost involved. Check NZQA's website for more details.
  • An NZQA statement is also required to ensure that primary and secondary teachers receive the correct salary. When you start teaching in a primary or secondary school you will be paid as an untrained  teacher if the NZQA statement is not available (although you will be back-paid when it comes through).
  • For the salary assessment, you also need to provide a certified statement of all your teaching service, something which is much easier to organise before you leave rather than sending back to your home country for documents. This certified statement must be on letterhead from the school or teaching authority and be signed by a person of authority. It needs to include a start and finish date and either that you were employed in a full-time position or, if part time, the number of hours you worked per week.  
Go to Step 2: Register with the New Zealand Teachers Council