Teachers & the TAE: Summary of qualifications requirements
The recently implemented changes to the Standards for RTOs 2015 have expanded the range of persons that RTOs can engage as trainers/assessors. As of March 2024, persons who hold a “credential issued by a higher education provider … which would enable the individual to satisfy the academic requirements for registration as a secondary school teacher … in at least one State or Territory“ can be engaged as trainers/assessors without the need for supervisor (so long as they also hold one of TAESS00011/TAESS00019 Assessor Skill Set or TAESS00024 VET Delivered to School Students Teacher Enhancement Skill Set, or their successors).
So what does this mean? There are a few elements to look at:
The teaching credential must be issued by a Higher Education provider.
The teaching credential must satisfy the academic requirements for registration as a secondary school teacher in at least one State or Territory.
The trainer/assessor must also hold a Skill Set.
What is a Higher Education Provider?
The meaning of “Higher Education provider” is found in section 16-1 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, and a list of approved higher education providers is maintained by TEQSA on the searchable National Register.
The requirement that the education degree be issued by an Australian Higher Education provider means that people with overseas education degrees cannot use those degrees to meet the trainer/assessor requirements of the Standards for RTOs 2015 (even if their degree could be recognised and used to obtain registration as a teacher to teach in an Australian school).
Which credentials meet the academic requirements for registration as a secondary school teacher in Australian states and territories?
Not all education degrees will meet the academic requirements for registration as a secondary school teacher in all Australian states and territories. Here is a breakdown by state/territory:
Queensland: An initial teacher education (ITE) program approved or accredited by the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). A list of QCT ITE programs is located here.
New South Wales: A teaching degree accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). A list of NESA-accredited programs is located here.
Australian Capital Territory: A teaching qualification consisting of at least four years of academic study and including an accredited pre-service teacher education program. More information here.
Victoria: An ITE program accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching. A list of Victorian ITE programs is located here.
Tasmania: An ITE program accredited by the Tasmanian Teacher Registration Board. A list of Tasmanian ITE programs is located here.
South Australia: ITE programs accredited by the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia which appear on the AITSL list here.
Western Australia: A Bachelor of Education with at least 3 years duration in secondary education. More information here.
Northern Territory: A degree awarded by a higher education institution on completion of a four-year full-time (or the equivalent part-time duration) initial (pre-service) teacher education course that includes a minimum of 45 days of supervised practice teaching in a school. More information here.
A register of Australia-wide accredited teaching programs can be accessed through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).
Other important considerations
To train/assess without restrictions, a person with a suitable education degree issued by a Higher Education provider must ALSO hold one of TAESS00011/TAESS00019 Assessor Skill Set or TAESS00024 VET Delivered to School Students Teacher Enhancement Skill Set.
If they do not hold one of these skill sets (or their successors), they must not assess and may only deliver training under supervision arrangements that meet the requirements of Clauses 1.17 to 1.20 of the Standards for RTOs 2015. See ASQA’s Spotlight Series 1, Chapter 4 for information on supervision requirements.
Holding an education degree is only relevant to Clause 1.14 of the Standards. The requirements of Clauses 1.13a (vocational competence), 1.13b (current industry skills) and 1.13c (current skills and knowledge in vocational training and learning) must still be satisfied.
More Information
For more information on the Early Changes to the Standards for RTOs 2015, see:
1. ASQA’s updated Users Guide to the Standards
2. DEWR’s information about the changes
TAC WA’s webinar on the early changes
At VETNexus, with several VET-qualified registered teachers on staff, we specialise in working with school RTOs and schools that work in partnership with RTOs. Get in touch with us today if your school needs assistance with compliance advice specific to VET in Secondary Schools.
