Renew after time away
If you don't have enough satisfactory recent teaching service to meet the requirements, there's a range of options to renew your practising certificate after time away from teaching.
On this page
Refresh process options
Return to Practice Plan (RTPP) - This is a self-assessment completed by an experienced teacher who doesn't meet the satisfactory recent teaching experience requirement and/or hasn't taught for an extended period, to identify their learning needs and the professional development they intend to undertake when returning to teaching.
A formal Teacher Education Refresh (TER) programme - These are more structured programmes which are flexible and vary in length, starting from 12 weeks. They may be online and may have practicum requirements.
Which refresh process is right for you?
You can check which refresh process might be right for you below, however, when you submit your application for a practising certificate, we'll advise if you're required to complete one of the refresh processes and which option you should do. You may be eligible to teach while you complete the refresh process.
Return to Practice Plan (RTPP)
You'll be required to complete a RTPP if you:
- want to renew a Tūturu | Full (Category One) or Pūmau | Full (Category Two) Practising Certificate
- cannot meet the requirements for satisfactory recent teaching experience.
After five years or more of not being able to meet satisfactory recent teaching requirements, your teaching knowledge and practice may not be current in all areas.
A RTPP is designed for you to complete a self-assessment of your learning needs and to identify the professional development and learning you intend to undertake.
If you continue to renew your practising certificate using a RTPP, you may need to complete a TER programme.
Teacher Education Refresh programme (TER)
You'll be required to complete a TER programme if you:
- are applying for your first Tōmua | Provisional Practising Certificate and you graduated from your Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme more than five years ago
- last held a Provisional Practising Certificate (now Tōmua | Provisional) and have not been able to gain satisfactory recent teaching experience for five or more years
- have held a Tōmua | Provisional Practising Certificate for more than five years and want to renew it
- are an overseas teacher and your education qualification was completed more than five years ago and you have not taught in the last five years
- apply to renew a practising certificate but your overseas teaching experience was not equivalent to a teaching position in New Zealand, and you are not able to meet the requirement for satisfactory recent teaching experience.
You may be required to undertake a TER programme if you are seeking to renew a Tūturu | Full (Category One) or Pūmau | Full (Category Two) Practising Certificate and have renewed either of these practising certificate types using a RTPP for more than five years.
More information on TER
TER providers
| Provider | Contact |
|---|---|
Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Sector: Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Medium: English Regional coverage: National | |
Te Rito Maioha - Early Childhood New Zealand Sector: Early Childhood Education Medium: English and Māori Regional coverage: National | |
Institute of Registered Music Teachers NZ Sector: ECE, Primary and Secondary (music teachers only) Medium: English Regional coverage: National |
Requesting a review
A TER review request must demonstrate and provide evidence that your professional knowledge and practice is up to date and you have made significant progress toward meeting Ngā Paerewa | Standards for the Teaching Profession.
The panel considers all elements of your application for exemption including:
- a job offer - confirmation of job offer in a New Zealand kura | school or ECE setting. Please provide this to your registration officer. No other information is required.
If you do not have a job offer and would like to request a TER review, please provide the following:
- the length of time since you last taught in the New Zealand general education system
- the nature and period of any teaching outside the New Zealand general education system (including the equivalent of satisfactory recent teaching experience overseas). A job description may be required
- professional development completed
- recent professional leader testimony
- induction and mentoring progress.
If you would like to apply for a TER review, please submit an application, and request this through your assigned registration officer. An application is required to assess TER requirements.
How to renew
Log into our teacher portal | My Rawa.
If you don’t have a My Rawa account, you can visit this webpage or get in touch with our contact centre team. Call us on +64 4 471 0852 or email us at enquiries@teachingcouncil.nz
Log in using your My Rawa details.
Scroll down to the section named ‘I want to’.
Click on the card called Maintain my practising certificate.
Click the button titled 'Apply Now'.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Submit your application.
Your practice, your portal: My Rawa
Renew your practising certificate, view your digital certificate or make requests in Hapori Matatū through My Rawa - your go-to space for tailored support and practical tools.
