Looking for a relief teacher

We are encouraging principals to think about whether they can work together in clusters to create a resource list of relief teachers and work together on recruitment.

There’s a pathway for everyone. In most cases the teacher can begin teaching straight away. 
 

What qualifications do relief teachers need?

A teacher needs to hold an approved teaching qualification, have NZ teacher registration, and hold a current practising certificate to be employed as a teacher in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is a legal requirement. However, there are several ways someone can get started as a relief teacher.

If a registered teacher has no practising certificate, they can relief teach for up to 20 half days per calendar year without a practising certificate. If you have a relief teacher who is planning to renew their practising certificate, they can do this while teaching.  

The Teaching Council can issue an Extension to Teach beyond 20 half days when their practising certificate has expired and there is an offer of employment.

Teacher who has completed some teaching in the past five years

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

If they do not meet the satisfactory recent teaching requirements outlined above, the Teaching Council will assess their application to see if their practising certificate can be renewed via one of these pathways (the Teaching Council will advise which pathway will enable them to renew their Practising Certificate (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). 
• 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. 

The Teaching Council can also issue an Extension to Teach beyond the 20 half days if a teacher's practising certificate has expired. To do this they have apply to renew their practising certificate and have an offer of ongoing employment. This allows time for a practising certificate to be renewed.

Teacher who has not completed any teaching in the past five years (or longer)

The Teaching Council will assess the teacher's application to see if their 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). 
• 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. 

The teacher may be required to undertake a Teacher Education Refresh (TER) programme. The Teaching Council will provide advice on options available, but they 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  

Possible relief teacher who is 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. For example, if you know a person who is 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. 

Ways to secure relief teachers

There are recruitment agencies who can help you secure relief teachers. Here are some organisations who can support in reliever recruitment: 

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

The Ministry does not endorse, or quality assure providers.

Other options include forming a cluster in your regions and sharing recruitment for relief teachers or creating shared lists of relief teachers available in their region.

Contact your local Te Mahau for advice and support

Know people in your community who might want to be a relief teacher?

If you know someone who you think would make a great relief teacher, then all the information they need the steps they need to take on the relief teacher page.

There are three adverts available for you to download and use to promote relief teaching in your community. They are free to use and can be added to social media, weekly newsletters or printed off.