For relief teachers
Find information about relief teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand
Are you interested in relief teaching?
If you’re an ex-teacher or retired teacher, here are two easy ways to become a relief teacher.
- If you’re a registered teacher with an expired practising certificate and only want to do a few days relieving at your local school | kura, you don’t need a practising certificate of any kind.
So long as you do less than 20 half-days relieving in a calendar year, you’re good to go!
2. Are you a registered teacher interested in renewing your practising certificate? If you’re looking to return to teaching as a reliever, you can renew your practising certificate. If you have an offer of employment to do relief teaching, the great news is that you won't need to do a Teacher Education Refresh (TER) programme - even if you have not taught for five years or more. Instead of a TER programme, you may be asked to do a light-touch Return to Practice Plan (with the agreement of your principal | tumuaki).
This applies to practising certificates that expired 12 months or more prior to 6 September 2024. This TER programme exemption offer has now been extended and expires on 11 April 2025. You may also be eligible to have the cost of your practising certificate reimbursed -see disclaimer below for more information.
Potential cost reimbursement
If you’re an ex-teacher or retired teacher returning to help out as reliever in a school | kura, you may be eligible to have the cost of your practising certificate reimbursed from a central fund. This limited offer is being extended to eligible applications approved between 14 December 2024 and 11 April 2025. Our Registration Team assess your eligibilibity for any reimbursement as part of their consideration of your application. Eligibility criteria apply and funding is limited to first in, first served, so get in quick.
(Note: the previous temporary relief teaching policy effective from 6 September to 13 December 2024 has been extended, but the option for a registered teacher to gain a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) is no longer available).
(Disclaimer: This information is current at the date of publication but subject to change. The advice is intended for general guidance purposes only. Eligibility for a practising certificate and reimbursement of the applicable fees can only be confirmed once your completed online application has been received. Every application will be subject to requiring a clear police vet and the applicant being of good character and fit to be a teacher).
Not a qualified teacher but still want to help out?
You’ll need a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT). There are two types of LATs related to skills in short supply or specialist skills for specific subjects like music, languages, etc. The principal | tumuaki of any school | kura can help you apply for a LAT.
Applying for a LAT may also be an option for you if you're currently working as a teacher aide and your school | kura wishes to employ you as a day relief teacher.
Are you a teacher with a current practising certificate interested in relief teaching?
If you hold a current practising certificate and are interested in relief teaching, the great news is that you're eligible to work as a reliever. If you need to renew your practising certificate, see below to learn what practising certificate is right for you?
What practising certificate is right for you?
You'll need to apply to renew the same practising certificate type that you currently hold or last held.
Our registration team will let you know if a change of category or refresh process is needed, once they've completed an initial assessment of your application.
What are the different practising certificate categories?
Tūturu | Full (Category One) - indicates that a teacher is meeting the Ngā Paerewa | Standards. This could be demonstrated by meeting the satisfactory teaching service requirement, or through completion of a teacher refresh process. Satisfactory recent teaching service is at least two years of uninterrupted teaching, or a shorter period as determined by the Teaching Council.
Pūmau | Full (Category Two) - previously known as Subject to Confirmation (STC), indicates that you are an experienced teacher who is likely to meet Ngā Paerewa | Standards. This practising certificate recognises your experience, but also acknowledges that because of your role type, you may not be able to demonstrate that you currently meet Ngā Parewa | Standards, and so are considered ‘likely’ to meet them.
Tōmua | Provisional – indicates that a teacher is meeting Ngā Paerewa | Standards with support, as they are required to complete an induction and mentoring programme before being endorsed as independently meeting Ngā Paerewa | Standards.