To be registered as a teacher, a person must be assessed as a fit and proper person, pursuant to s.24 of the Teacher Registration Act 2012 (Act). The fit and proper assessment is undertaken for applications for registration or renewal.

As part of the registration process, applicants are required to provide information to the TRBWA, in relation to a broad range of matters that may affect whether a person is fit and proper to be registered. Matters considered by the Board include:

• the person's history of compliance with the Act, or laws of another Australian State or a Territory or New Zealand that deals with the registration of teachers
• any decision related to the registration of a person under the Act or laws mentioned above, for example related to the refusal to register or renew, or suspension or cancellation of the person's registration
• the person's criminal history, particularly as identified through the national criminal history check and overseas criminal history check/s
• whether the person's behaviour departs from the standard of behaviour reasonably expected of a registered teacher, or shows that the person is not of good character 
• whether the person has failed to pay any costs, expenses or fines payable by them under the Act
• whether the person has contravened an order of the Board, a disciplinary committee or the Tribunal under Part 5 of the Act or an order of a disciplinary body or a court or tribunal of another jurisdiction exercising jurisdiction or powers by way of appear or review of an order of a disciplinary body that deals with the registration of teachers (however described)
• whether a person has provided the TRBWA with false or misleading information during the application process
• whether the person would be unable to carry out the inherent requirements of the work of a registered teacher because of an impairment
• any other matters relating to the person that the TRBWA considers appropriate

The following documents are provided to assist applicants with information about matters that may have a bearing on a determination that an applicant is a fit and proper person to be registered.

Fit and proper policy

Guideline for the consideration of criminal history

Guideline for the consideration of medical conditions and impairments (fit and proper)

Request for fit and proper advice

Before making an application for registration, a person may seek written advice from the Board as to whether that person is a fit and proper person to be registered as a teacher in Western Australia.

Written advice may be sought from the Board by submitting the Request for fit and proper advice form via Teacher Login and on payment of a non-refundable fee. This is normally requested only if a person has a circumstance, such as a criminal history, that the person needs considered by the Board before they commit to making an application.

A person with no criminal history or special circumstances needing consideration for a fit and proper assessment, should just submit an application for registration, and undergo a normal fit and proper assessment, rather than requesting advice in advance.

Advice is valid for five years from the date of the advice. It may not be considered valid, however, if more relevant information is available to the Board when assessing a subsequent application.