Authority to teach
Making sure teachers have the right authority to teach is a shared responsibility between the Teaching Council, teachers and their employers.
On this page
What is authority to teach?
Authority to teach means having the appropriate current authority to work in a teaching position.
For registered teachers, this will usually be a current practising certificate. In some circumstances, a person may teach under a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT).
Why it matters?
Holding the appropriate authority to teach is a legal requirement for teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand. It contributes to the safeguards in place to protect learner safety and helps maintain trust and confidence in the teaching profession.
The Teaching Council, teachers and employers each have responsibilities for making sure these requirements are understood and met.
Where someone is teaching without the required authority, the Teaching Council can take further regulatory action, including a formal warning or prosecution. Where a teacher is engaging with us and taking steps to address the issue, this will be taken into account. Further action may be considered where someone continues to teach without the required authority or is repeatedly in breach.
The Teaching Council does not issue fines directly. If a matter is prosecuted and a person is convicted, the court can impose a fine of up to $2,000 for an individual offence or $5,000 for an employer offence.
Responsibilities of the Teaching Council
The Teaching Council is responsible for supporting a fair, reliable, and transparent certification system.
Our responsibilities include:
- providing clear, accessible information about certification requirements
- maintaining accurate registration and certification records
- issuing appropriate renewal communications
- operating fair and reliable assurance processes
- recognising the limitations of information held across different systems
- giving people a reasonable opportunity to correct inaccurate information
- taking appropriate action when non-compliance has been confirmed.
Responsibilities of teachers
Teachers are responsible for making sure they hold the appropriate authority to teach and that it remains current.
What you need to do
- Check the status and expiry date of your practising certificate or Limited Authority to Teach.
- Check the Register of New Zealand Registered Teachers or Limited Authority to Teach List.
- Check that your details in My Rawa are up to date, particularly your contact details, so you receive reminders before your practising certificate is due for renewal. Move any Teaching Council emails that may be going to your spam, into your inbox – this will help ensure that you receive our updates.
- Log into My Rawa or find out more about My Rawa and how to log in.
- Monitor your application. If you have applied to renew your practising certificate or for a further Limited Authority to Teach, make sure you know the outcome so you can continue to teach lawfully.
If you are unsure about your current authority to teach, please contact the Teaching Council.
Responsibilities of leaders
Leaders and employers are responsible for making sure teachers hold the authority required for their teaching.
What you need to check
- Check authority at the time of employment and confirm it covers the teaching work to be undertaken.
- Check the Register of New Zealand Registered Teachers or Limited Authority to Teach List.
- Monitor expiry dates and renewals so authority remains current.
- Keep employment information current.
- Contact the Teaching Council If any of these requirements are unclear, or if you think there is an issue.
FAQs
Check the Register of New Zealand Registered Teachers or Limited Authority to Teach List for your current authorisation type and expiry date and review your personal information in My Rawa.
Registration is your professional status as a registered teacher in Aotearoa New Zealand. It remains with you unless you are removed from the register.
A current practising certificate is the authority a registered teacher needs to teach. Teachers must renew their practising certificate every three years to teach lawfully.
Different provisions may apply depending on the setting you work in and your circumstances. If your practising certificate or Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) has expired, please contact us so we can help you understand what options may be available to you.
You can apply to renew your practising certificate up to three months before it expires. We recommend applying early to allow time for your application to be processed before your current certificate expires.
Submitting an application to renew a practising certificate, or for a further Limited Authority to Teach, does not mean it has been approved or issued.
If your current authority expires while your application is being processed, different provisions may apply depending on your setting and circumstances. Please contact us to check what options are available to you.
An extension to teach allows an eligible teacher to continue teaching lawfully after their practising certificate or LAT has expired, while a renewal application is being processed. The renewal application must already have been submitted, and the extension can only be requested once the current practising certificate or LAT has expired. Your current professional leader will need to endorse your extension to teach request before this can be approved by the Teaching Council. Requests are made through My Rawa.
Yes. Relief teachers must also hold the appropriate authority to teach. If your practising certificate has expired, the options available to you may depend on the setting you work in and your circumstances. Please contact us if you are unsure what applies to you.
Contact the Teaching Council or email enquiries@teachingcouncil.nz so the discrepancy can be checked. A discrepancy does not mean you have done anything wrong.
