For guidance counsellors
Guidance counsellors in schools play an important role in supporting student learning and wellbeing. Find information about options for renewing a practising certificate.
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 have insufficient classroom teaching service, you may be able to renew by either using a Return to Practice Plan (RTPP) or by seeking endorsement from your professional leader using information you provide in your Quality Practice Template (QPT).
Your role is solely guidance counselling
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 – 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 SRT requirements (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.
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. It's simply a tool you can choose to use to support professional conversations with your professional leader as part of the PGC in your setting.
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 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.