Registration categories

The Teacher Registration Act 2012 (Act) creates four categories of teacher registration in Western Australia.

If you currently hold teacher registration in any other Australian State or Territory or New Zealand, you may be eligible to apply for registration with the TRBWA through Mutual Recognition. Further Information is available on the Mutual Recognition page.

Full Registration

You can apply for Full Registration if you:

have the required teaching qualification(s)
have taught in one or more educational institutions in Western Australia or other Australian or New Zealand schools
meet English language requirements
meet the Professional Standards for Teachers in Western Australia at the Proficient Career Stage
are a fit and proper person to be a teacher in Western Australia.

Provisional Registration

There are two subcategories of Provisional Registration, being Graduate Teacher, and Returning Teacher (including overseas teachers).

Provisional Registration – Graduate Teacher

If you completed an accredited Australian or New Zealand Initial Teaching Qualification within 5 years of making this application (undergraduate ITE programs must be a minimum of 4 years in duration, and post-graduate ITE programs must be a minimum of one year in duration).

Provisional Registration – Returning Teacher

If you completed a teaching qualification outside of Australia or New Zealand; or
If you completed an Australian or New Zealand Teaching Qualification more than 5 years prior to making this application.

You must also

meet the English Language requirements; and
be a fit and proper person to be registered.

Subject to assessment of application for registration, if you have completed an Australian or New Zealand accredited initial teacher education (ITE) program within five years of making your application, then the sub-category of Provisional Registration - Graduate Teacher would be granted. If you have completed an Australian or New Zealand accredited initial teacher education (ITE) program greater than five years from making your application, then the sub-category of Provisional Registration - Returning Teacher would be granted.

Non-Practising Registration

If you hold Full Registration or Provisional Registration, and will be taking a sustained break from teaching, you can apply to change your category of registration to Non-Practising Registration.

Teachers holding Non-Practising Registration still appear on the Register of Teachers, but they are not permitted to teach as a registered teacher in any WA school or early childhood service. Teachers holding Non-Practising Registration will be required to change their category of registration before they commence teaching.

Limited Registration

If you do not meet the qualification requirements for Full, Provisional and Non-Practising Registration you may be eligible for Limited Registration.

The category of Limited Registration was created to allow employers the ability to employ suitably qualified people who are not registered teachers to fill specific teaching roles when needed.

To be eligible for the grant of Limited Registration, the nominee (teacher) must:

have the required skills, expertise and/or qualification(s) for the duties of the teaching position offered
have the English language skills required for teachers in Western Australia
be a fit and proper person to be registered.