The Teaching Council

Important Notice for Applicant Post-Primary Teachers

Following its establishment on 28 March 2006, the Teaching Council assumed responsibility for the recognition of teaching qualifications and the Registration of teachers.

Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, stipulates that Registration with the Teaching Council will in future be a requirement to be employed in a State funded school. The current requirements for registration are set out in The Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009. Regulation Four, which relates to post-primary registration, requires that applicants hold a third level degree, obtained following a course of study of at least three years full time study and carrying at least 180 ECTS . The degree must comply with the minimum requirements as published by the Teaching Council which will enable the holder to teach at least one of the approved subjects at the highest standard within the curriculum as approved by the Department of Education and Skills.

1. Hold a recognised third level degree or equivalent that meets The Teaching Council registration requirements for at least one post-primary curricular subject
2. Hold a recognised teacher education qualification i.e. the Postgraduate Diploma in Education
3. Complete a Garda vetting form

In relation to (1) above, when applying to the Postgradute Diploma in Education Applications Centre (PDEAC), you are asked to declare that you are the holder of, or are in the final year of a recognised degree. If you declare that your degree is recognised, by reference to List A, it is vitally important that you ensure that your degree meets all the General and Special Requirements for Teachers of Recognised Subjects in Mainstream Post Primary Education set out by the Teaching Council in relation to your proposed teaching subjects. This is to ensure that, irrespective of any modular options you may have taken in your degree studies, your degree satisfies all the requirements.

Again, in relation to (1) above, if your degree is not listed on List A or if you are unsure whether you satisfy the Teaching Council General and Special Requirements for Teachers of Recognised Subjects in Mainstream Post Primary Education, you should make an application to the Teaching Council for recognition of your degree. This must be done no later than 9th January 2011.

Failure to match the specific requirements will deem your degree ineligible for the purposes of Registration, on completion of your Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

Please note also that teachers will only be eligible to be registered to teach subjects for which they meet all the subject Special Requirements. Registration cannot be granted for a subject studied in Year 1 of a degree and subsequently dropped. Likewise taking a subject methodology as part of your Postgraduate Diploma in Education will not entitle you to be registered as a teacher of that subject.