6 August 2025
Ranjit
[FYI request #31676 email] Official Information Act Request – Overseas trained teachers
Tēnā koe Ranjit
Thank you for your email dated 21 July 2025 requesting information as follows:
I would like to request the below information under Official Information Act.
1. What are the minimum requirements for an applicant to be considered as an overseas trained
teacher? The requirements I am specifically looking for are when an applicant's time for
induction gets reduced to 1 year.
2. Please share the official policy, process that registration officers use to assess if an overseas
teacher is required to complete 2 years or 1 year of induction in New Zealand prior to moving to
full category one registration.
3. If an applicant is not satisfied with council's decision, what is the process to file a complaint/
reassessment?
Before I answer your specific questions, it’s important to understand the purpose of Induction and
Mentoring for even the most experienced overseas-trained teachers. Induction and mentoring serve as
a bridge for overseas-trained teachers to transition into the unique educational, cultural, and
professional landscape of New Zealand. This period is not just procedural - it is deeply pedagogical and
relational.
Overseas-trained teachers must meet the same criteria as locally trained teachers to gain registration
and certification. This includes demonstrating proficiency in English or te reo Māori, being of good
character, and showing they are satisfactorily trained to teach
The induction period allows teachers to:
• Understand the New Zealand curriculum and pedagogy.
• Engage with key education strategies and frameworks such as
Tapasā for Pacific learners
• Familiarise themselves with the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the cultural diversity of
Aotearoa
Even experienced overseas teachers benefit from structured support when adapting to a new system.
The mentoring process helps them:
• Build confidence in classroom management and curriculum delivery
• Address challenges such as working with whānau, managing diverse learner needs, and
navigating behavioural issues
• Receive feedback and guidance through educative mentoring relationships
Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) and I can advise as
follows.
In response to Part 1 of your request an applicant is considered an overseas trained teacher if they
have completed their education and training outside of New Zealand. They would need to have their
qualifications assessed by NZQA through an International Qualifications Assessment (IQA) to determine
whether it is comparable to a New Zealand Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualification at Level 7 or
above. Furthermore, I can confirm that in accordance with the Teaching Council’s
Registration Policy, an
overseas-trained teacher may be eligible for a reduced induction period of one year if:
1. They have already completed induction and mentoring overseas,
or
2. They have substantial teaching experience overseas in settings equivalent to New Zealand
educational institutions.
In response to Part 2 of your request, our registration policy states that to be endorsed for Full (Category
One) registration, overseas-trained teachers must complete an induction and mentoring programme in
New Zealand. The duration depends on prior experience:
• Two years of teaching at 0.5 FTE or more in New Zealand is required for most teachers.
• One year may be sufficient if the teacher has Council-approved evidence of completing at least
one year of induction and mentoring and teaching overseas
Below outlines the criteria for considering and assessing a one-year reduction of two-year requirements:
• UK = Induction certificate
• Philippines = PRC certificate and exam results + recent lesson observation
• Scotland = Full registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland)
• Ireland = Full registration with the Teaching Council Ireland (Droichead completed)
• Other countries statement letters confirming the following:
- employment must have been in a school or learning centre recognised by the education
authority of the relevant state or country
- maximum of one year of overseas teaching can be considered towards the requirement
- statement (on school letterhead) from the teacher’s overseas Principal outlining the system
of professional support, guidance and evidence, including appraisal involving a mentor
teacher
• further considering evidence: senior leadership role held over a period of time (evidence
required); moved to another country previously; 10+ years teaching experience
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Our registration officers will ask for further information to support an application:
• Reference - This should be in the form of testimonials or references (on official letterhead,
signed and dated). Their testimonial may comment on; your role in the organisation, your
professional practice, responsibilities you held, and anything else they think may be relevant.
These testimonials should be written by the Principal, or Centre Manager for Early Childhood
Education Centres, and in addition testimonials from other Senior Teachers can be
considered. These should be recent and up to date (usually within the last 10 years)
• Appraisal documents (last 5 years)
• List of Professional Development completed in last 5 years
• Letter of Induction and Mentoring completion
• Overseas registration if applicable
In response to Part 3 of your request, any applicant who is unhappy with a decision of the Teaching
Council may ask for a review of that decision. Note that such a review may attract a fee.
Alternatively, applicants can raise concerns about the decision-making process itself. For example:
• If they believe there was a procedural error or misunderstanding.
• If they feel the decision was inconsistent with the Council’s standards or policies.
Please see our
Complaints Policy for further information on how to make a complaint.
Finally, applicants have the legal right to appeal certain decisions of the Teaching Council to the District
Court. This must be done within 28 days of the decision being issued. This right is grounded in the
Education and Training Act 2020 and applies particularly to decisions related to registration and
practising certificates.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of this
response. Information about how to make a complaint is availab
le at Office of the Privacy Commissioner
| Complain to the Privacy Commissioner
Noho ora mai
Clive Jones
Pou Kaiāwhā | Deputy Chief Executive
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