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Cancellation or surrender

Cancellation

The QCT must cancel a teacher's registration or Permission to Teach if:
  • the teacher is convicted of a serious offence
  • the teacher becomes a relevant excluded person
  • the teacher has not paid annual and late fees.
A relevant excluded person is someone who:
The QCT cannot grant registration or Permission to Teach again unless:
  • the conviction for the serious offence is overturned on appeal
  • the decision or order making the teacher a relevant excluded person is overturned on appeal (and it wasn’t related to a serious offence conviction)
  • the teacher applies for and is granted an eligibility declaration.
Further information

The teacher cannot appeal the decision if registration is cancelled due to a serious offence conviction. The QCT will notify the teacher, all relevant employers, and principals of the cancellation.

Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) cancellation

If QCAT finds a reason for disciplinary action after a hearing, they can cancel a teacher's registration or Permission to Teach.

  • The cancellation starts on the date listed in the notice or the day the notice is given.
  • The QCT must follow QCAT’s decision.
  • Either the teacher or the QCT can appeal the decision to QCAT.
If QCAT cancels a teacher's registration for disciplinary reasons, some details will be added to the public Queensland Register of Teachers, including:
  • the teacher’s name
  • their registration number
  • any prohibition period for reapplying
  • the reason for the cancellation and a brief description.

QCAT decisions are searchable.

Surrender

The QCT values the hard work and dedication of all teachers. Teachers must maintain registration if they're in a Queensland school:

  • teaching, or
  • supervising or assessing the work of a teacher or preservice teacher.

Even if not currently teaching, retired, or working in another field, many teachers choose to stay registered for flexibility and future opportunities.

Reasons to stay registered

Employment requirements
  • If a teacher is on leave but still employed by a school, they must check with their employer before letting their registration lapse. Some leave arrangements may require a teacher to stay registered.
  • A teacher can renew their registration even if they’re not actively teaching.
Cost effective
  • It’s more affordable to maintain registration than to reapply later.
Simplicity
  • Maintaining registration is easier than reapplying.
Qualification eligibility
  • Requirements for registration change over time. For example, until the 1990s, some teachers met qualification requirements with less than four years of higher education.
  • If a teacher falls into this category and allows their registration to expire, then later reapplies, they may not meet the current requirements.  Staying registered avoids this issue.
Working with children

Teachers may hold an exemption card because they are registered teachers. This allows them to work in regulated child-related services without requiring a blue card, for example:

  • working in an early childhood service
  • private tutoring
  • volunteering at a local children's sports club.

Allowing registration to end would invalidate the exemption card, and an application for a blue card would need to be lodged.

Non-teaching roles

Registration may be needed for roles other than classroom teaching, such as:

  • supervising student teachers undertaking professional experience
  • NAPLAN marking.

Surrendering registration

Email the QCT with your name, date of birth, registration number, and the date you wish to surrender.

  • Once registration has been surrendered, you cannot teach in Queensland schools.
  • To teach again in a Queensland school, you must:
    • reapply
    • pay the application fee
    • provide documentation
    • meet eligibility requirements current at the time you reapply
    • wait for the QCT to confirm that you have approval to start teaching again.
Last updated:
16 June 2026