Work at school while you study

You can complete an initial teacher education programme while working in a school.

You may be:

• employed in a school as a teacher aide, librarian, or member of learning support staff
• connected with a school; or
• someone with a specialist skill or a skill in short supply that has a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT), or is eligible for one.

If you are eager to pursue a career in the classroom as a teacher, there are a range of flexible study options to meet your individual needs while you continue to work.

Find an initial teacher education programme

Options to continue earning while you study

Learn about the ways you can continue earning while you study to become a qualified teacher.

Study while employed in a school

Are you already working in a school or would like to? There are initial teacher education programmes flexible enough to allow you to remain employed and continue earning while you study. 

There may be an opportunity for you to gain employment at a school while you study to become a teacher, or continue in your current role in a way that fits with study. This could be as a learning assistant, teacher aide, untrained teacher, or member of the support staff. You will need to apply for a programme that allows you to work around your study commitments.

Ask a school leader if there is opportunity to continue employment or be employed you while you study to become qualified.
 

Study while employed with a Limited Authority to Teach

You may be employed or thinking about employment in a school as an untrained teacher with a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) because of your specialist skills or skills that are in short supply. 

If that describes your situation, there are initial teacher education programmes that allow you to work as an untrained teacher while you study to become qualified. 

You must apply to the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand for a Limited Authority to teach. 

Employment-based study

If you are interested in training to become a teacher while working in a secondary school, you may want to look at the Ako Mātātupu Teach First NZ Programme.

The programme is employment-based and provides selected applicants with the opportunity to teach in a secondary school serving a low-income community, while completing a postgraduate initial teacher education programme.