Guidelines for providers of teacher education courses and qualifications that lead to teacher registration

Guidelines for providers of courses that lead to teacher registration are now available. The guidelines aim to clarify the respective roles of each agency and to simplify the requirements for providers. The document details the processes, sequencing and timing of procedures required by all parties.

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality, and the New Zealand Teachers Council (Teachers Council) have worked collectively to develop these guidelines.

The document was prepared under the mandate of an agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU covers the statutory functions of the Teachers Council and the Qualifications Authority relating to the approval and accreditation of courses leading to teacher registration. It encompasses the functions and responsibilities delegated by the Qualifications Authority under s260 of the Education Act 1989 to the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand and the Association of Colleges of Education in New Zealand, operated by their respective quality assurance bodies ITP Quality and the Colleges of Education Accreditation Committee.

The MoU is a high level principle-based agreement focusing on the approval, monitoring and review or re-approval processes adopted by each party to fulfil their statutory functions.

Please note that this document does not signal the lifting of the moratorium of approval of new teacher education courses and providers will still be required to seek an exemption from the moratorium.

View guidelines in Word or PDF

Further information and contacts

Website links

ITP Quality
NZ Teachers Council

Page updated: 23 May 2006