Renew after time away
A key requirement to renew your certificate is that you’ve had enough recent teaching experience (at least two years in the last five years), so that your knowledge and practice are up to date.
If you don't have enough satisfactory recent teaching experience to meet the requirements, there are two pathways to update your skills and knowledge so you can renew your practising certificate.
On this page
Who needs to complete a Refresh Process?
From 1 January 2026, you will be required to complete a Refresh Process if:
- Your initial teacher education qualification is less than five years old and you’re renewing your Tōmua | Provisional certificate
- You’ve held a Tōmua | Provisional certificate for a period of five years or more
- You are applying to renew your provisional practicing certificate, and you lack satisfactory recent teaching experience AND have completed your teaching qualification less than five years before your application
- You have a Tuturu | Full certificate (category one or two) and lack satisfactory recent teaching experience
- You are an overseas trained teacher who has taught overseas in a role (or roles) that is (or are) not equivalent to a teaching position in New Zealand; and lack satisfactory recent teaching experience.
We'll advise if you're required to complete one of the refresh processes and which option is best, once you’ve submitted your application.
Refresh pathway options
For those with a job offer: Kia Maia | Future-Ready Teaching Plan
“Kia Maia” in this context conveys a process to strengthen knowledge and build confidence, recognising the skills and experience each kaiako | teacher already has. This is a self-assessment to identify your learning needs and the professional development you need to support your entry or return to teaching. It should be developed with and approved by, your principal, professional leader or tumuaki. This applies from 1 January 2026.
Download
For those without a job offer: A Teacher Education Refresh (TER) programme
This is a structured programme that supports you to update your teaching knowledge and practice through online modules and practicum placements. It also provides modules for overseas-trained teachers about teaching in the New Zealand context.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to begin your online modules before entering the country, but please note that the TER programme includes a practicum that you will need to undertake in New Zealand.
More information on TER
TER providers
TER providers to be confirmed.
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.
