Requesting an extension to teach
Find out how to request an extension to teach while your application for a practising certificate is being processed.
What is an extension to teach?
An extension enables a professional leader to employ someone in a teaching position while their practising certificate or authorisation is being processed by the Teaching Council.
In New Zealand by law a teacher can continue to be employed in any teaching position without a practising certificate or LAT for up to 10 days (20 half-days) in a year. Beyond this, the teacher will need to be granted an extension to teach to teach lawfully.
Who is eligible for an extension?
A teacher who has applied to the Council for another practising certificate or LAT but there are administrative delays in the processing of the application which means their current practising certificate or LAT expires before a new one is issued.
We will not consider applications for extensions to teach if the teacher is under assistance and guidance or the subject of a mandatory report or complaint that is being considered or investigated by the Council.
Here are some other situations when an extension to teach might be appropriate:
Extension to teach whilst completing a TER programme or a TER review
When you submit your application for a practising certificate, you will be advised if you are required to complete a Teacher Education Refresh programme. You may be eligible for an extension to teach to allow you to continue teaching while you complete the TER programme or while any review of the requirement to do TER is underway.
Extension to teach for relief teachers
If you are a relief teacher, you may be eligible for an extension. Relief teachers only need to have one school’s professional leader approve an extension. One extension will cover you for teaching across several schools.
Note: Extension to teach for Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector
Whilst an extension can be issued to any teacher who meets the requirements, extensions are only recognised in schools where holding a practising certificate is compulsory. It is not compulsory to hold a practising certificate to work in early childhood settings.
Who can request an extension to teach?
A teacher can request an extension to teach once an online application has been submitted in Hapori Matatū.
A tumuaki or principal can request for an extension to teach once an application has been submitted, please refer to the section below for more information.
Requirements for an extension
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Your registration number (this is shown on your practising certificate card you can download from Hapori Matatū) - this is required for principals and acting principals
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The registration number of the teacher, or reference number for a beginning teacher who is not yet registered (refer to the acknowledgement letter/email sent by the Teaching Council to the teacher), or authorisation number for a Limited Authority to Teach (refer to the acknowledgement letter/email sent by the Teaching Council to the teacher)
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The learning centre's Ministry of Education (MOE) number (for tumuaki or principal extension).
How to request an extension
If your practising certificate has expired, you will need to submit an online application in Hapori Matatū as soon as possible.
When the online application is submitted, follow these steps to apply for an extension for teach in Hapori Matatū:
- Click on the Registration & Certification tab at the top of the page.
- Scroll down the page to My Application Cases.
- Click on the application case number.
- Select the Apply for extension purple button.
- Complete the questions on the form which will only take up to five minutes to complete.
- The tumuaki or principal will then receive an email notification to complete the approval request for your extension to teach.
- When the Teaching Council has finalised the extension to teach request, the extension expiry date will appear on the Online Register for teachers.
How a tumuaki or principal can approve an extension to teach request
As the tumuaki or principal, instead of completing an extension to teach form which was the previous process, you will now approve an extension to teach once the teacher has submitted a request in Hapori Matatū.
You will receive an email notification to go to Approval Requests in Hapori Matatu.
Please select My Extension Approvals in the drop down list, select by teacher’s name and approve.
The Teaching Council will process the extension to teach request, and the new expiry date will appear on the Online Register for Teachers.
I am a tumuaki or principal who needs an extension to teach for my practising certificate
If your practising certificate has expired, you will need to submit an online application in Hapori Matatū as soon as possible.
You’ll then need to download the Extension form for BOT Chairperson for Principal, submit an extension to teach request through Hapori Matatū, and upload the completed extension form.
When the online application is submitted, follow these steps to apply for an extension for teach in Hapori Matatū:
- Click on the Registration & Certification tab at the top of the page.
- Scroll down the page to My Application Cases.
- Click on the application case number.
- Select the Apply for extension purple button.
- Upload the completed extension form signed by your BOT Chairperson.
- When the Teaching Council has finalised the extension to teach request, the extension expiry date will appear on the Online Register of Teachers.