To teach in NSW public schools and apply for teaching jobs, you will need to undertake three distinct but related processes:

1. Gain qualifications by completing teacher education studies;
2. Gain accreditation through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA); and
3. Gain approval to teach by the NSW Department of Education.

Check you are qualified to teach

Before you can be accredited to teach in NSW public schools, you must have completed a minimum of four years of tertiary study that included a teaching qualification in primary, secondary or K-12 teaching.

Check you are accredited to teach

To find out if you are accredited to teach in NSW contact NESA via email: contactus@nswteachers.nsw.edu.au or phone 1300 739 338.

Check you have approval to teach

If you have been approved by the department to teach in NSW public schools, you will have been issued with an approval letter stating that you have satisfied all the requirements for approval. The letter confirms your teaching/personnel ID number, the type of approval you have been granted (i.e. permanent, casual or temporary) and the subjects you're approved to teach.

Your approval to teach is valid for five years from the date of issue, provided you have current accreditation with NESA and a current Working with Children Check clearance for paid employment.

Get accredited and approved to teach in NSW public schools

If you don't have approval to teach, there are specific steps you need to follow depending on your circumstances:

• University students
• Experienced NSW public school teachers
• NSW teachers from other systems
• Interstate teachers
• International teachers.