Relief teaching
Relief teaching roles are perfect for registered teachers, recently retired teachers or teachers looking for a more flexible schedule
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.
Information on free practising certificate renewals and 1-year LAT applications
There is a temporary arrangement in place to fund:
- practising certificate renewals that are expired more than 12 months, and
- one-year LAT applications from previously registered teachers who hold an expired certificate (of any length of time).
The funding applies to applications received by the Teaching Council from 6 September 2024 until further notice. You will need to apply to the Teaching Council for a renewal or LAT application in the usual way and seek reimbursement once your application has been assessed and the eligibility criteria is met.
Eligibility requirements
If you were previously certificated and your practising certificate expired more than 12 months ago you may be eligible for a free practising certificate renewal. If a school | kura is offering you employment as a relief teacher, there is no requirement to complete a TER (Teacher Education Refresh) programme. The Teaching may require a light-touch 'Return to Practice Plan' to be completed with the agreement of your principal | tumuaki.
If you were previously certificated and your practising certificate has expired (for any length of time) you may be eligible for a free 1-year LAT. To be eligible you must have an offer of employment from a school or kura.
All other existing requirements for a practising certificate renewal or LAT application remain in place.
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)
| Collective Agreement | Daily rate range (untrained) |
| Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement | $266.67 to $277.52* |
| Area school Teachers' Collective Agreement | $269.26 to $291.25* |
| Secondary Teachers' Collective Agreement** | $269.26 to $400.06* |
*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:
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
Looking for something else?
Try one of the links below.-
Te tono rēhita kaiako, tiwhikete kaiako hoki
Applying for teacher registration and certification
Register as a teacher and apply for your practising certificate with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New ZealandBecoming a teacher in New Zealandeast -
Te hoki mai hei kaiako
Returning to teaching after a break
See how you can return to the classroom after taking a breakeast -
Te hoki mai i tāwāhi
Returning from overseas
If you’re returning from overseas to teach, there are things you need to do before heading back to the classroomeast