Relief teaching

Returning to teaching as a certificated teacher

If you are applying to renew your practising certificate which expired more than 12 months ago then you will be paid on the trained teacher scale established in your employment agreement. The rate and step you are on will be specific to you. 

Whether you have had no change to your qualifications or experience since you previously taught or have additional qualifications you should complete a salary assessment.

Visit Education Payroll's website for more information on the salary assessment process.
Salary assessment - EdPay

Working as a casual day reliever

If you are employed as a casual day reliever, the daily rates you receive will depend on whether you are working as a trained teacher (certificated) or as a LAT.

Daily rate of casual day relievers – trained

If you are a trained teacher (certificated) you will be paid a daily rate range $310.67 to $406.38, regardless of whether you are in a primary, area, or secondary school. These rates will increase on 2 December 2024.

(IMPORTANT: If you were previously a certificated teacher and are moving to a 1-year LAT, you will be paid on the untrained scale. This is due to the definitions and settings of the collective agreements which specifically indicate that those on a Limited Authority to Teach are paid on the untrained scale.)

Daily rate of casual day relievers – untrained (on a LAT)

*Maximum reliever cap rates for primary and area school teachers are step 6, and maximum reliever cap rates for secondary teachers are step 8. 
** These rates increase on 2 December 2024. 

If you’re a registered teacher with an expired practising certificate and only want to do a few days relieving at your local school or kura, you don’t need a practising certificate of any kind. You can do this if you do less than 20 half-days relieving in a calendar year.

If you’re a registered teacher interested in doing some short-term relief teaching under a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT), you can apply for a one-year LAT until 31 December 2024. No matter how long it’s been since you last taught, there’s no requirement to do a Teacher Education Refresh (TER) programme.

If you’re looking to return to teaching long-term, you can renew your practising certificate. If you have not taught for more than five years, the great news is that you won’t have to do TER if you have an offer of employment. Instead of completing a TER programme, you may be asked to do a light-touch Return to Practice Plan (with the agreement of your principal or tumuaki).

You will need to provide details of your experience, qualifications, and other key information before being accepted as a relief teacher.

If you would prefer to go through a recruitment agency, here are some organisations who can support you with reliever recruitment:

• Candidex (ECE only)
• EP Education
• Oasis Education
• Prospero Teaching
• Randstad
• Talk Recruitment

The Ministry does not endorse, or quality assure providers.

If you meet satisfactory recent teaching experience requirements (two years uninterrupted teaching in the past five years or a shorter period as determined by the Teaching Council) you are likely to be able to renew the practising certificate you previously held, 

If you do not meet the satisfactory recent teaching requirements outlined above, the Teaching Council will assess your application to see if your practising certificate can be renewed via one of these pathways (the Council will advise which pathway will enable you to renew your PC):

Complete a New/Beginning Teacher Practice Plan (for teachers who were issued with Tiwhikete Whakaakoranga Tōmua | Provisional practising certificate less than five years ago and are seeking to renew this PC type for the second time). Your practice plan acts as a proxy for satisfactory recent teaching, which means your application can be processed so you can teach. Specific goals in your practice plan can be completed while teaching.

Complete a Return to Practice Plan (for experienced teachers who hold or previously held a Tiwhikete Whakaakoranga Tūturu | Full (Category One or Tiwhikete Whakaakoranga Pūmau | Full (Category Two) practising certificate. Your practice plan acts as a proxy for satisfactory recent teaching, which means your application can be processed so you can teach. Specific goals in your practice plan can be completed while you teach.

The Teaching Council can also issue an Extension to Teach beyond the 20 half days if your practising certificate has expired, you have applied to renew your practising certificate, and you have an offer of ongoing employment. This allows time for a practising certificate to be renewed.  

The Teaching Council will assess your application to see if your practising certificate can be renewed via one of the following pathways.

• Complete a New/Beginning Teacher Practice Plan (for teachers who were issued with Tiwhikete Whakaakoranga Tōmua | Provisional practising certificate less than five years ago and are seeking to renew this PC type for the second time). Your practice plan acts as a proxy for satisfactory recent teaching, which means your application can be processed so you can teach. Specific goals in your practice plan can be completed while teaching.
• Complete a Return to Practice Plan (for experienced teachers who hold or previously held a Tiwhikete Whakaakoranga Tūturu | Full (Category One or Tiwhikete Whakaakoranga Pūmau | Full (Category Two) practising certificate. Your practice plan acts as a proxy for satisfactory recent teaching, which means your application can be processed so you can teach. Specific goals in your practice plan can be completed while you teach.

You may be required to undertake a Teacher Education Refresh (TER) programme. The Teaching Council will provide advice on your options, but you may be able to complete a TER programme while teaching. TER programmes are flexible and vary in length, starting from 12 weeks, are mainly completed online and are delivered by four Council-approved providers around the country. 

The Teaching Council can also issue an Extension to Teach beyond the 20 half days when the practising certificate has expired and there is an offer of ongoing employment. This allows time for a practising certificate to be renewed but means the teacher can continue to be employed.

How do I renew my practising certificate?

If you are an New Zealand registered teacher but do not have a current practising certificate and would like to return to teaching, this section contains a summary of what you need to do if you have had a short or extended break from the profession.  

The type of practising certificate you hold as a reliever depends on your role and your recent teaching experience.

Your application for a practising certificate will be checked by the Teaching Council. They will review:  

• Time taught - how much teaching you have completed in the last five years and what practising certificate type you currently hold or last held
• How recent your teaching has been over the last five years.  

More detail on renewing a practising certificate is available on the Teaching Council's website.

The Teaching Council can issue a LAT for day to day relieving teaching positions which should be filled by a registered teacher but for which there are currently no such teachers available because of supply issues. If you are currently working as a teacher aide, this may be an option for you.

Learn more about a Limited Authority to Teach - Teaching Council