Relief teaching

Being a relief teacher means you can support your education colleagues who may need time away from the classroom for various reasons including sick leave or professional development.

Benefits of being a relief teacher

• Relief teaching allows you to work a schedule that fits with your life, earn an income while maintaining important community and social links.
• You can support your school community and permanent teachers.
• You will work in partnership with the school on what needs to be delivered in the classroom you will be looking after.
• You will not work school holidays.
• You can maintain your registration and possible PLD opportunities
• There are opportunities to work in a range of schools and levels of your choice
• There are travel allowance and sick leave entitlements.

How do I get started as a relief teacher? 

You need to hold an approved teaching qualification, have NZ teacher registration, and hold a current practising certificate to be employed as a teacher. This is a legal requirement. However, there are several ways you can get started as a relief teacher.

Additional information

If you are a registered teacher with no practising certificate, you can relief teach for up to 20 half days per calendar year without a practising certificate. If you are planning to renew your practising certificate, you can do this while teaching.  

The Teaching Council can issue an Extension to Teach beyond 20 half days when your practising certificate has expired and there is an offer of employment. This allows you time to renew your practising certificate. 

If you are registered as a teacher and have a current practising certificate, you can contact your local school or school principal directly and provide them with your information for relief teaching.

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

I am registered and hold a current practising certificate 

If you are a registered teacher and have a current practising certificate, you can contact your local school or school principal directly and provide them with your CV and any other relevant information.  

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 two organisations who can support reliever recruitment - there are others. The Ministry does not endorse, or quality assure providers.

https://www.randstadeducation.co.nz/

https://www.talkrecruitment.co.nz/

How do I renew my practising certificate?

If you are an NZ 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.

I have completed some teaching in the past five years

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. 
 

I have not completed any teaching in the past five years (or longer) 

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

More information about being issued with or renewing a practising certificate for relief teaching   

If you are not a registered teacher 

A Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) is also an option. 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. The current application fee for a LAT is $117.96 for one year. 

How much will you earn as a relief teacher?

Relief teacher pay rates increased in April of this year to $406.38 per day and will increase from 2 December 2024 to $422.23 per day for qualified teachers.

A full break down of relief teacher pay rates.