Teachers with the NSW Department of Education have access to countless opportunities. Follow these steps to get started on your teaching journey.

Step 1

Decide what type of teacher you would like to become.

Note: Becoming a qualified teacher in a high-demand subject area would increase your chances of gaining employment in NSW public schools.

Step 2

Find out what teacher education course you will need to complete in order to become the type of teacher you want to be. You may need to study specific subjects in high school in order to gain entrance to the university degree you choose to study. Your school's careers adviser should be able to help you select the subjects you need to study.

Note: To teach in NSW public schools, you will need to complete teacher education studies at a recognised Australian university or tertiary institution. Your studies will need to meet the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) academic requirements for employment as a teacher. The NSW Department of Education has a number of programs on offer for future teachers to apply for a scholarship and get paid to study to become teachers of high-demand subject areas and in high-demand locations.

Step 3

Apply for admission to the university course you've decided to study through the University Admissions Centre.

Step 4

Complete your HSC.

Note: You will need to achieve three Band 5s, including in English, to enter a teacher education university course.

Step 5

Complete your teacher education studies - share your teaching journey via Instagram with #teachnsw.

Step 6

Apply for approval to teach in NSW public schools.

Step 7

Get accredited by NESA.

Step 8

Apply for advertised teaching positions in NSW public schools.

Step 1

Complete teacher education studies at a recognised Australian teacher education institution. Your studies will need to meet NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) academic requirements for employment as a teacher.

Note: As part of your teacher education studies you will likely undertake a practicum placement in a NSW public school. University students are required to complete an online placement registration for pre-service teachers, at least two weeks prior to your first placement. This includes having your Working With Children Check (WWCC) verified by the department for compliance. You will then be required to show photo identification at your first placement school in order to complete the WWCC verification process. You will not be able to commence your placement without your WWCC clearance being verified by the department.

For more information, view the Practicum Student WWCC Factsheet.

To support teacher education students, the department has developed a range of resources that communicate mandatory requirements and best practice in completing your school induction.

Step 2

Gain your accreditation with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

For additional information on obtaining accreditation when studying outside of NSW, view the guide for interstate students.

Step 3

Apply for approval to teach in NSW public schools with the NSW Department of Education.

Step 4

Subscribe to JobFeed, a weekly e-newsletter, outlining advertised permanent and temporary teaching positions in NSW public schools.

Step 1

Decide what type of teacher you would like to become.

Note: Becoming a qualified teacher in a high-demand subject area would increase your chances of gaining employment in NSW public schools.

Step 2

Apply for admission to the university course you've decided to study through the University Admissions Centre

Step 3

Find out what teacher education course you will need to complete in order to become the type of teacher you want to be. If you have existing tertiary qualifications you may be eligible to complete a Master of Teaching.

Note: To teach in NSW public schools, you will need to complete teacher education studies at a recognised Australian teacher education institution. Your studies will need to meet the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) academic requirements for employment as a teacher.

The NSW Department of Education has a number of programs on offer for future teachers to apply for a scholarship and get paid to study to become teachers of high-demand subject areas and in high-demand metropolitan or rural and remote locations.

Step 4

Complete your teacher education studies - share your teaching journey via Instagram with #teachNSW

Step 5

Get accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

Step 6

Apply for approval to teach in NSW public schools.

Step 7

Apply for advertised teaching positions.

If you are a qualified teacher returning to teaching in NSW public schools after an absence of five years or more you will need to re-apply for approval to teach.

If you are a qualified teacher returning to teaching in NSW public schools after an absence of twelve months or less, and only want to teach as a casual teacher, complete the casual approval after separation request form.

You will need to obtain a NSW Working with Children Check clearance for paid employment prior to applying for accreditation as a teacher by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

Once you have been accredited by NESA and approved by the NSW Department of Education to teach in NSW public schools, you will be able to seek work as a casual teacher and apply for temporary and permanent teaching positions advertised in JobFeed.

Subscribe to JobFeed to have the newly advertised teaching positions delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.

Are you a qualified teacher currently teaching at a Catholic or independent school in NSW and considering teaching in NSW public schools? You will need to apply for approval to teach, unless you have previously been approved to teach, have current accreditation from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the last time you taught in a NSW public school was not more than five years ago.

When you apply for approval to teach in NSW public schools, you will need to provide evidence of quality teaching experience supported by a work report or written reference from your principal or authorised officer.

Once you have been approved to teach in NSW public schools, you will be able to seek work as a casual teacher and also apply for the temporary and permanent teaching positions advertised in JobFeed. Subscribe to JobFeed to have the newly advertised teaching positions delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.

If you are a qualified teacher in another Australian state or territory and would like to teach in NSW public schools, you will need to gain accreditation through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and gain approval to teach by the NSW Department of Education. If you are currently registered with another Australian teacher registration body, that registration may be recognised by NESA and your accreditation status updated to the equivalent NSW level. Refer to the NESA website for a guide to getting your interstate teaching registration recognised.

You will need to provide evidence of quality teaching experience supported by a work report or written reference from your principal or authorised officer when applying for approval to teach in NSW public schools.

Once you have been accredited and approved to teach in NSW public schools, you will be able to work as a casual teacher and apply for the temporary and permanent teaching positions advertised in JobFeed. Subscribe to JobFeed to have the newly advertised teaching positions delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.

If you have completed teacher education studies at a tertiary institution outside of Australia and would like to teach in NSW public schools, you will need to be accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and gain approval to teach by the NSW Department of Education.

NESA will assess your university qualifications and provide an accreditation decision to you. Refer to the NESA website for more information about applying for and gaining accreditation for overseas-trained teachers.

If your teacher education studies were completed in a country where English is not the main language, NESA accreditation requirements include the need to demonstrate that your English language proficiency is of a standard which would enable you to teach and interact effectively and confidently in a NSW school.

If you did not complete a full four years of tertiary study from a country where English is the main language, you will be required by NESA to demonstrate your English language competency by undertaking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This is a requirement to gain accreditation to teach in NSW prior to seeking an approval to teach in NSW public schools. NESA will advise you if you need to undertake IELTS.

Please note that to apply for permanent teaching positions in NSW public schools you will need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.