Requesting an extension to teach
What is an extension to teach?
An extension to teach allows a professional leader to employ someone in a teaching position while their practising certificate or authorisation is being processed.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, by law, a teacher can continue to be employed in any teaching position without a practising certificate or Limited Authority to Teach (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.
Find out who is eligible for an extension.
How a tumuaki or principal can approve an extension to teach request
When a teacher has submitted an online application in Hapori Matatū and followed the steps to apply for an extension to teach, you'll receive an email notification to complete the approval request for their extension to teach.
Please follow these steps:
Go to Approval Requests in Hapori Matatu.
Please select My Extension Approvals in the drop down list, select by teacher’s name and approve.
When the Teaching Council has finalised the extension to teach request, the extension 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'll 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.