Recency of practice
Recency of practice policy
‘Recency of practice’ for the purposes of renewal of registration means that you have within the five-year period of registration either:
- practised as a teacher on a full or part-time basis for at least 100 days or
- attained experience the QCT recognises is equivalent to teaching at a Queensland school for at least 100 days.
The following teaching experience is acceptable:
- teaching in a recognised school in Australia
- teaching in another setting in Queensland where the educational program is based on a syllabus or kindergarten guideline approved or accredited by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.
If you do not meet recency of practice requirements in a registration period you can still have your full registration renewed. However, renewal will be subject to a Returning to Teaching (RTT) condition. This means that if you wish to continue or return to teaching in a Queensland school, you must complete a RTT program in the 12 months before or the first 12 months after returning to teaching, to ensure that your knowledge, skills and practice are up to date.
The QCT may also consider teaching experience other than that listed above on a case-by-case basis. To have your experience considered you must apply for a review of a RTT condition.
Meaning of 'teacher'
A ‘teacher’ is a person who
- delivers an educational program
- assesses student participation in an educational program and/or
- administers or provides consistent and substantial leadership to an educational program.
The teaching must be in a school or in another setting delivering an educational program prescribed under the Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 (the Act).
This requires the educational program to be based on a syllabus or kindergarten guideline approved or accredited by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA).
This means for example:
- teaching in a recognised school in Australia
- teaching the QCAA Kindergarten Learning Guideline or C&K Building Waterfalls Kindergarten Guideline with the Pre-Prep year (i.e. with 3½ to 4 ½ year old students)
- working as a non-teaching Principal
- working as an advisory teacher (time spent in school only).
Equivalence
Teaching in recognised schools in other Australian states and territories will be recognised as the equivalent of teaching in a Queensland school for the purposes of recency.
Other types of teaching experience may also be considered. The QCT will consider these on an individual basis through the process of a teacher applying for review of a Returning to Teaching condition.
Information for supply teachers
If you are a fully registered supply teacher who has taught for at least 100 days within your five year registration period, you have recency of practice. It is recommended that you keep employment records or payslips as evidence of the number of days you have worked as a teacher.
If you do not have recency of practice you can still maintain full registration and continue to teach by paying your annual fee, but on renewal your registration will be subject to a Returning to Teaching (RTT) condition.
Having a RTT condition means that if you wish to continue or return to teaching in a Queensland school you will be required to complete a RTT professional development program within 12 months of returning to teaching, to ensure that your knowledge, skills and practice are up to date.
Please note: The RTT condition is activated from the first day of supply/contract teaching after your registration has been renewed.
Find out more about the RTT condition and programs.
You must also complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities. CPD is an annual requirement for teachers with full registration regardless of whether you are teaching full time or part time, doing supply or contract teaching or not teaching at all.
