For guidance counsellors
Guidance counsellors in schools play an important role in supporting student learning and wellbeing.
We encourage teachers who work as guidance counsellors to keep their practising certificate up to date. This page provides advice to help guidance counsellors to do that.
Options for renewing a practising certificate
Some guidance counsellors are also registered kaiako | teachers who may be required or wish to retain a current practising certificate.
The options for renewing a practising certificate for kaiako | teachers who work in guidance counselling roles are:
Your role includes both guidance counselling and classroom teaching
You'll need to maintain a current practising certificate for your classroom teaching role.
If you have teaching service, you're likely to be able to renew your practising certificate, either by meeting the satisfactory recent requirement (SRT) of two years in the past five years, or by the Teaching Council approving a shorter period of service.
If you are involved in classroom teaching, but are unable to meet SRT requirements, you may be able to renew using a Return to Practice Plan (RTPP), or by seeking the endorsement of a professional leader by using information provided in your completed Quality Practice Template (QPT). The work you undertake as a guidance counsellor can be counted towards meeting SRT requirements if you are able to show how this work aligns to Ngā Paerewa | Standards, and the professional leader is comfortable endorsing your application to renew.
The QPT will help you identify how your work aligns to Ngā Paerewa | Standards. The QPT is also a useful resource that can be used in professional conversations with your professional leader as part of your setting’s Professional Growth Cycle (PGC).
Note: you don't need to submit your QPT to the Teaching Council.
See an example of a completed school guidance counsellor QPT.
Your role is solely guidance counselling
We encourage you to renew your practising certificate, and to keep your knowledge and expertise in teaching practice up to date. However, you can choose not to renew your practising certificate, unless your job description stipulates it's required. If you decide to let your practising certificate lapse, you'll be able to renew it in the future – but you're likely to need to complete a teacher refresh process to do this. Learn more.
If you choose to renew your practising certificate, you'll need to meet Satisfactory Recent Teaching (SRT) requirements of two years in the past five years or a shorter period at the Teaching Council’s discretion. The work you undertake as a guidance counsellor can be considered towards meeting SRT requirements if you're able to show how this work aligns to Ngā Paerewa | Standards, and your professional leader endorses your application to renew.
Guidance counsellors can use the School Guidance Counsellors Quality Practice Template (QPT).
The QPT will help you identify how your work aligns to Ngā Paerewa | Standards. The QPT is also a useful resource that can be used in professional conversations with your professional leader as part of your setting’s Professional Growth Cycle (PGC).
Note: you don't need to submit your QPT to the Teaching Council.
See an example of a completed school guidance counsellor QPT.
If you're unable to obtain a professional leader endorsement for your application because your professional leader has insufficient knowledge of your practice and how it aligns to Ngā Paerewa | Standards, you may be able to renew your practising certificate using a Return to Practice Plan (RTPP). When you submit your application to renew your practising certificate, a registration officer will be able to advise whether you need to complete an RTPP.