S.I. No. 482/2025 - Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2025

1. A person who applies to be entered on the register on the basis of qualifications as a teacher under this route shall satisfy the Council that he or she was previously registered under Regulation 3 (Montessori and Other Categories) of the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009 or under Route 4 (Other) of the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016.

2. Has obtained a qualification or qualifications in special needs education outside of the State which, in the opinion of the Council is or are of an equivalent standard to the standards required under paragraph 1 set forth above, having conducted an assessment of that qualification in accordance with the General System.

ROUTE 5: STUDENT TEACHERS

A person who applies to be entered on the register as a student teacher shall satisfy the Council that they are a registered student undertaking an undergraduate degree referred to in paragraph 1 of Route 1 or paragraph 1 of Route 2 and has successfully completed year two of that undergraduate degree.

The Minister for Education and Youth consents to the making of the foregoing Regulations.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Minister for Education and Youth,

16 October, 2025.

HELEN MCENTEE,

Minister for Education and Youth.

GIVEN under the Official Seal of the Teaching Council of the Teaching Council of Ireland,

16 October, 2025.

EAMON DENNEHY,

Chairperson.

DR. LYNN RAMSEY,

Director.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(

This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.

)

These Regulations are made under

sections 4

,

29

,

31

and

33

of the

Teaching Council Act 2001

. They provide for a number of matters in relation to the register of teachers and the registration, and renewal of registration, of teachers on that register.

These Regulations revoke the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016, the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 and the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2023.

These Regulations may be cited as the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2025.

1 OJ No. L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 22

2 OJ No. L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 141.

3 OJ No. L 320, 6.12.2007, p. 3

4 OJ No. L 205, 1.8.2008, p. 10.

5 OJ No. L 311, 21.11.2008, p. 1.

6 OJ No. L 93, 7.4.2009, p. 11.

7 OJ No. L 59, 4.3.2011, p. 4.

8 OJ No. L 112, 24.4.2012, p. 6.

9 OJ No. L 180, 12.7.2012, p. 9.

10 OJ No. L 158, 10.6.2013, p. 368.

11 OJ No. L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 132.

12 The Teaching Council, may at its discretion, grant conditional registration to applicants to permit the completion of qualifications under Route 3, paragraph 2.

13 The Teaching Council, may at its discretion, grant conditional registration to applicants to permit the completion of qualifications under Route 3, paragraph 3.

3. A post-graduate qualification

13

in teacher education which—

(a) includes school placement, foundation studies and professional studies,

(b) is accredited by the Teaching Council for the purposes of further education teaching,

(c) is at level 8 or higher on the NFQ,

(d) has a ECTS weighting of at least 60 credits,

(e) is commenced following the award of an undergraduate degree or equivalent at level 7 or higher on the NFQ which has a ECTS credit weighting of at least 180 credits, and

(f) either—

(i) an appropriate additional qualification, or

(ii) certified accreditation of prior learning based on a minimum of three years post qualification experience in a workplace or instructional setting which is relevant to the candidate’s qualifications such as may be recognised by the Council as suitable for the purpose of registration as a teacher under this route.

OR

4. A qualification or qualifications which in the opinion of the Teaching Council meets or meet the criteria for registration under Route 2: Post-Primary.

OR

5. A qualification or qualifications obtained outside of the State which, in the opinion of the Council, is or are of an equivalent standard to the standards required under paragraphs 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 set forth above, having conducted an assessment of that qualification in accordance with the General System.

OR

6. A qualification or qualifications obtained in the State which, in the opinion of the Council, is or are of an equivalent standard to the standards required under paragraphs 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 set forth above, having carried out a holistic assessment of the person’s qualification(s), training and experience.

ROUTE 4: OTHER

7. (1) Registered teachers may inspect the information on the register, which relates to them, by logging in to the Council’s website.

(2) A paymaster may access the information set out in Regulation 5(a)(i) and (vi), (b), (c)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), and (d)(i) and (ii), together with such further information referred to in Regulation 5 as the Council considers appropriate from time to time, through the Council’s website or by means of online data transfer.

(3) The following information from the register shall be made available for public inspection on the Council’s website—

(a) name under which the person carries out professional duties as a teacher,

(b) registration number,

(c) route of registration,

(d) alternative route by which could also have gained registration (if applicable),

(e) registration status, which may where appropriate include details of any undertaking(s) from the registered teacher to the Council or High Court, or any suspension of the registration of the registered teacher imposed under section 44 or section 47 of the Act,

(f) any condition(s) attached to registration under section 31, 33 or 44 of the Act,

(g) name and address of employer where applicable, including school name and school roll number,

(h) date(s) of registration, and

(i) such other information as the Council may deem necessary in the public interest.

Obtaining copy of extract of register

8. Where the Director provides a copy of an entry or extract of the register pursuant to

section 29(6)(b)

of the Act, it may contain the information listed in Regulation 7(3)(a) to (i).

Correction of register

9. (1) Registered teachers shall ensure that the information recorded in the register in relation to their registration is accurate and up to date.

(2) Registered teachers may view their registration details online and may edit the following personal details—

(a) address for correspondence,

(b) contact email address and telephone numbers,

(c) employment details, and

(d) such further details as the Council deems appropriate from time to time.

(3) In the case of certain changes in relation to the information recorded in the register relating to a registered teacher, to include details concerning a registered teacher’s name or qualifications, the registered teacher shall be required to provide documentary evidence of these changes, and the requirements of Regulation 10(2) shall apply to such evidence as if the registered teacher was applying for registration.

(4) When an application for correction of the register results in a change in information contained in a registration certificate, the Council may make available an updated certificate to the registered teacher in question.

PART 3

REGISTRATION

Applications for registration

10. (1) An application for registration shall be made in such form as is provided from time to time by the Council.

(2) An application for registration shall contain the following information—

(a) details of the applicant’s personal information including—

(i) name under which the applicant shall carry out their professional duties as a teacher,

(ii) any other name(s), or previous name(s), by which the applicant is or was known, if any,

(iii) date of birth,

(iv) gender,

(v) nationality,

(vi) PPSN, where applicable,

(vii) a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate or passport,

(viii) if the applicant’s name has changed, a copy of the applicant’s marriage or civil partnership certificate, or an authenticated copy of the deed of name change; and

(ix) any other proof of identity that the Council may feel is necessary for identification purposes,

(b) the applicant’s contact details including—

(i) the applicant’s postal address for correspondence and service of notices by or on behalf of the Council under the Act,

(ii) the applicant’s email address for correspondence, and

(iii) the applicant’s contact telephone number(s),

(c) the applicant’s employment details, if applicable, including—

(i) name and address of employer,

(ii) school roll number,

(iii) employment dates (including start and cease dates), and

(iv) employment status and position, where relevant,

(d) details and evidence of the applicant’s qualification(s) in reliance upon which the application is made, which may include–

(i) a copy of degrees and diplomas, if applicable,

(ii) copies of qualification transcripts of results for each year of undergraduate and postgraduate qualification(s), and/or permission to view the applicant’s results online,

(iii) a copy of the sections in the course handbook or course related documents for each year of the course studied by the applicant as may be deemed relevant by the Council,

(iv) a copy of translations of some or all of the documents referred to at (i) to (iii) above or extracts of them, if requested by the Council, which must be verified by an independent translator, and

(v) any other information that the Council may consider is necessary for the verification of the applicant’s qualifications,

(e) details and evidence as to the applicant being a fit and proper person to teach, including—

(i) a declaration of consent and other information which is required by the Council to enable it to obtain a vetting disclosure in respect of the applicant,

(ii) a foreign vetting or police disclosure or a sworn declaration regarding foreign police clearance (if applicable),

(iii) a completed declaration of criminal convictions or pending prosecutions against them, as contained in the application form,

(iv) a completed declaration as to disciplinary history, as contained in the application form, along with details of any process completed, of which the applicant has been the subject, in which adverse findings were made or as a result of which workplace restrictions were imposed, or as a result of which the applicant was restricted, in any manner, from having contact with children or vulnerable persons, including a process carried out by the Health Service Executive, the Child and Family Agency, An Garda Síochána, an employer or any other body in the State or elsewhere (including the equivalent of the Council in any other jurisdiction), as contained in the application form,

(v) a completed declaration as to any ongoing investigations by the Health Service Executive, the Child and Family Agency, An Garda Síochána, an employer or any other body in the State or elsewhere (including the equivalent of the Council in any other jurisdiction), as contained in the application form,

(vi) satisfactory character reference(s) from a suitable person, as identified by the Council, and employment reference(s) if requested,

(vii) certificates of good standing from any other professional or regulatory body of which they have been a member, if applicable, and

(viii) any other information that the Council may consider is necessary including evidence from the applicant or any other relevant person to verify information submitted by the applicant,

(f) details and evidence of successful completion of post-qualification professional practice as set down by the Council, if applicable,

(g) details and evidence of medical fitness to teach, where requested,

(h) details and evidence of competence in the English language, where applicable,

(i) details of the applicant’s previous registration by the Council, and information as to why the applicant is no longer on the Register, if applicable, including information as to how the applicant intends to comply with any condition(s) to be imposed under

section 31(6)(b)

of the Act, where requested,

(j) details of the applicant’s current or previous registration, licensing or authorisation (howsoever described) with, or by, equivalent or similar bodies to the Council in other jurisdictions, if applicable,

(k) details of whether the applicant has worked or is working in any other jurisdiction as a teacher, and

(l) any other information that the Council may require on the basis that it is necessary for the purpose of

section 31

of the Act.

(3) The Council may seek originals or certified copies of some or all of the documents listed in paragraph (2) above, together with any other documents that the Council deems appropriate.

(4) The Council may seek additional information in relation to matters being considered under

section 31

of the Act.

(5) An application for registration shall be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed by the Council under

section 23

of the Act.

(6) An application for registration shall be completed in full, in the manner set out by the Council in the application.

(7) The Council may process personal and special category data as part of an application for registration only to the extent that such processing is necessary and proportionate and subject to suitable and specific measures to be taken to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of the applicant.

Requirements for registration

11. (1) Other requirements to be met for registration, as referred to in

section 31(5)(c

) of the Act include—

(a) that the qualification(s) which the applicant possesses meets the education, training and qualifications criteria for admission to the register by one or more of the following routes—

(i) primary,

(ii) post-primary,

(iii) further education,

(iv) other, or

(v) student teacher,

as set down in the Schedule,

(b) where a concern exists or arises in relation to the health of the applicant, that the applicant is medically fit to teach,

(c) that the applicant has sufficient competence in the English language, as determined by the Council, and

(d) where the applicant was previously registered with the Council and did not comply, or was not complying, with conditions attached to his or her registration, that the applicant has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Council that he or she will comply with any condition(s) to be imposed under

section 31(6)(b)

of the Act.

(2) If the Council is not satisfied that an applicant with qualifications obtained outside of the State meets the education, training and qualifications requirements determined by the Council in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) following an assessment of his or her qualifications under the General System, it may require that applicant to complete an adaptation period or take an aptitude test, in accordance with the Professional Qualifications Directive and the Professional Qualifications Regulations, and the applicant may be registered subject to condition(s) for the purpose of completing such adaptation period or aptitude test.

(3) For the avoidance of doubt, paragraph (2) shall also apply to applicants from relevant states who do not come within the scope of the Professional Qualifications Directive or the Professional Qualifications Regulations, and to third country applicants.

(4) The Council may decide to grant registration to an applicant with or without conditions, or it may decide to refuse registration.

Registration with conditions attached pursuant to section 31(6)(b)

12. (1) The Council may register an applicant subject to such condition(s) as the Council considers appropriate. For the avoidance of doubt, this applies to all applicants, including an applicant who was previously registered with the Council and withdrew from the register, lapsed from the register, or was removed.

(2) All newly qualified teachers who meet the requirements for registration shall be registered with a condition that they must complete a period of post-qualification professional practice as set down by the Council, within a specified period. This is in addition to any other condition(s) considered appropriate by the Council.

(3) Without prejudice to the Council’s entitlement to attach such additional conditions to the applicant’s registration as it considers appropriate, a student teacher granted registration pursuant to Route 5 of the Schedule shall be registered subject to the following conditions—

(a) they shall remain as a registered student on the accredited programme in teacher education in respect of which they were registered, until the successful completion of that programme,

(b) they shall only engage in teaching on a substitute basis until the successful completion of the accredited programme in teacher education in respect of which they were registered,

(c) they shall participate fully in the accredited programme in teacher education in respect of which they were registered, until the successful completion of that programme, and

(d) within a specified period from the date of successful completion of the accredited programme in teacher education, they shall complete a period of post-qualification professional practice, as set down by the Council.

(4) In accordance with Regulation 11(2), an applicant with qualifications obtained outside of the State may be required to complete an adaptation period or take an aptitude test in accordance with the Professional Qualifications Directive and the Professional Qualifications Regulations, and the applicant may be registered subject to condition(s) for the purpose of completing such adaptation period or aptitude test.

(5) For the avoidance of doubt, paragraph (4) shall also apply to applicants from relevant states who do not come within the scope of the Professional Qualifications Directive or the Professional Qualifications Regulations, and to third country applicants.

(6) A registered teacher may apply in writing to the Council for an extension of the specified period to comply with condition(s) imposed under

section 31(6)(b)

of the Act and any extension shall be at the discretion of the Council.

(7) Where a registered teacher fails to comply with condition(s) imposed under

section 31(6)(b) of the Act

within the specified period or, where applicable, any extension of that period, the conditional registration shall lapse.

(8) Where a teacher who is registered subject to a condition imposed under

section 31(6)(b

) of the Act ceases to be registered and later reapplies to be admitted to the register, the Council will consider whether it is appropriate to allocate that teacher the balance of the time period originally granted to meet the requirements of the condition or conditions, as originally specified.

Internal review of registration decision

13. An applicant for registration may request an internal review of a decision of the Council to refuse registration or impose conditions on registration, without prejudice to the applicant’s right of appeal under

section 31(8)

of the Act.

PART 4

RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION

Applications for renewal

14. (1) An application for renewal of registration shall be made in such form as is provided from time to time by the Council.

(2) An application for renewal of registration shall contain the following information—

(a) the applicant’s personal details, which may include the applicant’s PPSN,

(b) the applicant’s postal address for correspondence, contact email address and telephone number(s),

(c) the name and address of the applicant’s employer, if any,

(d) school roll number,

(e) employment dates (including start and cease dates),

(f) employment status and position,

(g) a completed declaration as to whether the applicant has resigned or retired from a teaching position on ill health or medical fitness grounds, as contained in the application for renewal,

(h) where the Council is carrying out an assessment regarding whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to have his or her registration renewed, evidence as to the applicant’s good character, insofar as it relates to the applicant being a fit and proper person to teach, which may include a declaration of consent and any other information which is required by the Council to enable it to obtain a vetting disclosure in respect of the applicant, or a foreign vetting or police disclosure (if applicable),

(i) a completed declaration of criminal convictions, pending prosecutions, or ongoing police investigations against the applicant, as contained in the application for renewal,

(j) a completed declaration as to disciplinary history, as contained in the application, along with details of any process completed, of which the applicant has been the subject, in which adverse findings were made, or as a result of which workplace restrictions were imposed, or as a result of which the applicant was restricted, in any manner, from having contact with children or vulnerable persons, including a process carried out by the Health Service Executive, the Child and Family Agency, An Garda Síochána, an employer or any other body in the State or elsewhere (including the equivalent of the Council in any other jurisdiction), as contained in the application for renewal,

(k) a completed declaration as to any ongoing investigations by the Health Service Executive, the Child and Family Agency, An Garda Síochána, an employer or any other body in the State or elsewhere, for which the applicant has been placed on administrative leave, or suspended by an employer, or where the applicant has been restricted, in any manner, from having contact with children or vulnerable persons, as contained in the application for renewal,

(l) any other information that the Council may consider is necessary, including all information requested by the Council in the event of a positive declaration being made by the applicant in response to (g), (i), (j) or (k) above, and evidence from the applicant or any other relevant person to verify information submitted by the applicant,

(m) details of the applicant’s current or previous registration, licensing or authorisation (howsoever described) with or by equivalent or similar bodies to the Council in other jurisdictions, if applicable,

(n) details of whether the applicant has worked or is working in any other jurisdiction as a teacher, and

(o) any other information that the Council may require.

(3) The Council may seek additional information in relation to matters arising from or being considered under

section 33

of the Act.

(4) An application for renewal of registration shall be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed by Council under

section 23

of the Act and set out in the application for renewal.

(5) An application for renewal of registration shall be completed in full by the applicant, who shall declare that the details contained in the Register are correct.

(6) An application for renewal shall be made online or sent to the Council in the manner set out in the renewal notice.

(7) The Council may process personal and special category data as part of an application for registration only to the extent that such processing is necessary and proportionate and subject to suitable and specific measures to be taken to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of the applicant.

(8) An applicant for renewal of registration may request an internal review of a decision of the Council to refuse to renew registration or impose conditions on registration, without prejudice to the applicant’s right of appeal under

section 33(19)

of the Act.

(9) A certificate of registration issued under

section 33(24)

of the Act shall contain, but shall not be limited to, the following information—

(a) name under which the registered teacher carries out his or her professional duties as a teacher,

(b) registration number,

(c) date(s) of registration,

(d) route of registration,

(e) alternative route by which the registered teacher could also have gained registration (if applicable),

(f) subject

(s)

or area

(s)

of study through which deemed eligible for registration, if applicable,

(g) registration status, which may where appropriate include details of any undertaking(s) from the registered teacher to the Council or High Court, or any suspension of the registration of the registered teacher imposed under

section 44

or

section 47

of the Act,

(h) any condition(s) attached to registration under

section 31, 33

or

44

of the Act, and the expiry date of the condition(s),

(i) a statement that the teacher has obtained the required qualifications to satisfy the Council for registration under

section 31

of the Act as a teacher, which may include details of any substantial differences in training for which the teacher has to complete an aptitude test or adaptation period,

(j) where appropriate, the adverse findings and sanction from any disciplinary proceedings under

Part 5

of the Act, including any measures confirmed by a panel under

section 44(1A)

of the Act.

Requirements for renewal of registration

15. (1) Other requirements to be met for renewal of registration, as referred to in

section 33(2)(d)

of the Act include—

(a) where a concern exists or arises in relation to the health of the applicant, that the Council is satisfied that the applicant is medically fit to teach, and

(b) that the applicant has submitted the information and declarations referred to in Regulation 14(2).

(2) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (1), a teacher registered through Route 5 of the Schedule shall not be entitled to have their registration renewed unless, at the date on which their registration is due for renewal—

(a) they have completed their qualification, such that they have met the qualification criteria for admission to the register referred to in another route of registration provided for in the Schedule, or

(b) they continue to be a registered student on an accredited programme in initial teacher education referred to in paragraph 1 of Route 1, or paragraph 1 of Route 2 of the Schedule.

(3) The Council may decide to—

(a) renew an applicant’s registration with or without conditions, or

(b) refuse to renew the applicant’s registration.

Renewal of registration with conditions attached pursuant to section 33(16) of the Act

16. (1) The Council may renew the registration of a registered teacher subject to such condition(s) as the Council considers appropriate.

(2) A registered teacher may apply in writing to the Council for an extension of the specified period to comply with condition(s) imposed under

section 33(16)(c)

of the Act and any extension shall be at the discretion of the Council.

(3) Where a registered teacher fails to comply with condition(s) imposed under section 33(16)(c) within the specified period or, where applicable, any extension of that period, the teacher shall be removed from the register.

PART 5

REVOCATION AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Revocation

17. The following are revoked—

(a) the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016 (

S.I. No. 444 of 2016

),

(b) the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (

S.I. No. 557 of 2016

),

(c) the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (

S.I. No. 269 of 2020

),

(d) the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (

S.I. No. 266 of 2021

),

(e) the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (

S.I. No. 745 of 2021

), and

(f) the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (

S.I. No. 12 of 2023

).

Transitional provisions

18. Notwithstanding Regulation 17, where, before the entry into force of these Regulations, an application for registration under the Regulations referred to in Regulation 17 had been made but not yet determined, those Regulations shall continue to apply to the application as if they had not been revoked.

Schedule

Regulation 10(1)

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS CRITERIA for admission to the register by one or more of the routes identified in

Regulation 11(1)

Glossary of terms

In this Schedule

“accredited” means accredited under section 38 (as amended by section 10 of the Act of 2012) of the

Act;

“European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System or ECTS credits” means the credit system for higher education used in the European Higher Education Area;

“further education” means qualified to teach students in recognised schools who are normally 16 years of age and older and who are attending education and training settings outside the post-primary schooling but which are not part of the third-level system;

“Other” means the route by which applicants may obtain entry onto the register in the particular circumstances which are set out in that route;

“National Framework of Qualifications or NFQ” means the ten-level system (1-10) giving an academic or vocational value to qualifications obtained in Ireland;

“post-primary” means qualified to teach pupils or students from first year to sixth year, normally age range 12 to 18 years;

“primary” means qualified to teach pupils or students normally from junior infants to sixth class, age range 4 to 12 years.

ROUTE 1: PRIMARY

A person who applies to be entered on the register on the basis of qualifications as a primary teacher shall satisfy the Council that he or she has obtained one of the following—