Provisional Registration
What is provisional registration?
Provisional registration represents a period of supported introduction to the teaching profession in Queensland. It forms part of the continuum of ongoing development from preservice education to career-long learning.
Provisional registration is a transition period to full registration. It is provided for recent teacher education graduates from universities in Australia, some teachers applying for registration after a career break or applying for Queensland registration from interstate or overseas. Features of this period include:
- teaching experience;
- guided reflection on practice;
- professional development and growth; and
- collegial support and participation in collegial activities.
What teaching experience do I require to attain full registration?
All provisionally registered teachers must have completed a minimum of one year of teaching experience and meet the standards when applying for full registration. Teaching experience commences from the date provisional registration was granted.
The initial period of provisional registration is two years, with one extension of two years possible. If you do not meet the requirements for full registration by the end of the extended provisional registration period, you need to re-apply for provisional registration. Teaching experience and supporting examples of practice remain current for five years only.
What professional development should I expect during my provisional registration period?
Your professional development program will include a range of formal and informal opportunities. You will engage in ongoing reflection, identifying learning goals and areas for development and professional learning activities aligned with the Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers. The College strongly endorses expectations that you will be provided with, and engage in, an effective induction program. Your induction program should involve a planned program of professional learning and development against the Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers with the support of one or more fully registered teachers.
What if I am a relief teacher or my teaching is in more than one school?
You are not required to complete the minimum amount of teaching experience in one school. The teaching experience may include a number of individual days as well as periods of continuous teaching across a number of schools. The principal will need to have sufficient knowledge of your successful practice to make a judgement and complete the Recommendation Report.
When should my Recommendation Report be completed?
The Provisional to Full Registration Recommendation Report is completed after you gain a minimum of one year of teaching experience and when the principal has sufficient knowledge of your demonstrated practice against each of the standards to make a holistic judgement.
One Year defined
One year of teaching experience is defined as 200 days or 1000 hours.
What is my role as a provisionally registered teacher in the process?
You will take supported responsibility for:
- becoming familiar with the Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers (also available from the website: www.qct.edu.au);
- informing the principal of your status as a provisionally registered teacher;
- engaging in ongoing reflection, identifying learning goals and professional learning and development against the Standards during the period of provisional registration;
- participating in all aspects of a school’s induction program;
- selecting the necessary examples of practice to demonstrate development against the Standards;
- through established school practices, presenting your examples of practice to the principal for review against the Standards; and
- signing the Provisional to Full Registration Recommendation Report.
School-based practices
Principals will have established school-based practices, which may include the involvement of other school personnel in considering your teaching practice and in engaging in collegial professional discussions about how you have achieved against the standards.
What is the role of the principal in the process?
The principal has the overall responsibility for all staff development. The role includes responsibility for ensuring that you receive the support, advice and guidance needed to successfully transition to full registration. The role includes:
- reviewing and guiding your professional practice against the standards and making a holistic judgement about your achievement of the standards;
- providing the culminating judgement and recommendation to the College through completion of the Provisional to Full Registration Recommendation Report; and
- advising you of the appeal process if full registration is not recommended.
What is the role of the Queensland College of Teachers in the process?
The Queensland College of Teacher’s Professional Standards for Queensland Teachers provide a framework for reflection on practice, identification of learning goals and continuing professional development. Achievement of full registration is a significant achievement and important milestone in a teacher’s career. Comprehensive information and tools are being developed and refined by the College to support the process, for both the provisionally registered teacher and schools. The College will continue to work with employers, principals, teacher groups, universities and others in this area.
The College:
- makes the final decision to grant or not grant full registration; and
- conducts the review process if a provisionally registered teacher appeals a recommendation by the principal.
Recommendation options
The principal may provide a recommendation for:
- full registration; or
- a further period of provisional registration; or
- cancellation of registration.