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International Teachers · National
AITSL Overseas
Qualification
Recognition Guide
How to get your overseas teaching degree recognised in Australia — documents, processing times, outcomes, state registration, and country-specific tips.
Information is general in nature. Requirements, fees, and processing times change regularly. Always verify current information directly with AITSL (aitsl.edu.au) and your intended state's registration body before applying. Reflects information available May 2026.
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AITSL Overseas Qualification Recognition Guide
About this guide

Every overseas-trained teacher planning to work in Australia needs an AITSL skills assessment before applying for a skilled visa. This guide is for teachers who are beginning the migration process, currently working through it, or trying to understand why an application has not gone as expected. It covers what AITSL assesses (and does not assess), documents required, processing times, how to interpret outcomes, and the state registration steps that follow a Suitable result.

Contents
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AITSL Overseas Qualification Recognition Guide
01
Section one
What AITSL actually assesses
Three criteria — all must be met

AITSL assesses whether your academic qualifications are equivalent to an Australian teaching degree — not your teaching ability, English proficiency, or classroom experience. Three criteria must all be met for a Suitable outcome.

1
Degree equivalence
Your overall qualification package must be comparable to an Australian Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) or higher.
2
Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
At least one year of full-time equivalent higher education study specific to the stage of schooling (primary or secondary) for which you are applying.
3
Supervised Teaching Practice (STP)
Minimum 45 days completed as part of your formal ITE qualification (60 days for special education specialisations). Work experience before or after your degree does not count.

Early childhood teachers (ANZSCO 241111) are assessed by ACECQA (Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority) from 7 December 2024, not AITSL.

Section 02 — The application process

Before creating your portal account, have every document ready. Missing a single document is the most common reason for delays.

1
Confirm your visa pathway
Required for Subclass 189, 190, and 491 skilled visas. Confirm with the Department of Home Affairs before starting.
2
Download your occupation checklist
From aitsl.edu.au — available for Primary (241213), Middle (241311), Secondary (241411), and specialist categories. The checklist is definitive.
3
Gather all documents simultaneously
Request the supervised teaching practice letter from your university first — it is the slowest document to obtain (can take 2–8 weeks).
4
Arrange certified translations
Any non-English document must have a certified translation. See Section 04 for the certified translation vs certified copy distinction.
5
Submit and pay through the RISR Applicant Portal
Once payment is processed, the application is locked and cannot be modified.
6
Wait — check your portal dashboard
AITSL does not respond to status enquiries by phone or email during processing. Portal statuses: Submitted → Under Assessment → Information Requested (if applicable) → Outcome Issued.
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AITSL Overseas Qualification Recognition Guide
03
Section three
Documents you need
Required for all applicants, and additional requirements
Required — every applicant
Passport Current valid passport
Identity ×2 Birth certificate, national identity card, or official photo-bearing documents (two additional documents)
Transcripts Every year of study, all subjects, marks, and credit points — not just the teaching components
Award cert. The testamur (degree certificate) showing date of award. Recent graduates may use a completion statement.
STP letter Official letter on institutional letterhead, signed by Registrar or equivalent — stating exact number of days, student age range, school setting, and supervised context as part of formal ITE program
English Study-based exemption documentation or IELTS Academic results (see Section 05)
Translations Certified translations for any non-English documents

Request the supervised teaching practice letter first. University administrative processes take 2 days to 8 weeks. In India, Ireland, and South Africa, allow 6–8 weeks. The letter must state the exact number of days — not a range, not "approximately."

Additional documents for some applicants
Graduate-entry programs
If you completed a one-year postgraduate ITE (PGCE, PGDE, GradDipEd) after an undergraduate degree, you need transcripts and degree certificates for both qualifications.
Credit or advanced standing
A letter from the awarding institution explaining any credit granted toward your qualification.

Do not submit: Short courses, QTS or equivalent overseas professional registration credentials, CVs, employment references, professional development certificates, secondary school certificates, induction documents, TESOL/TEFL qualifications. These will not be assessed and can slow the review.

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AITSL Overseas Qualification Recognition Guide
04
Section four
Certified translation vs certified copy
The distinction that delays applications
Certified copy
A photocopy of an original document with a statement that it is a true copy, signed by a Justice of the Peace, notary public, or equivalent. This verifies the copy is genuine — it does not translate anything.
Certified translation
A translation into English by a qualified translator who certifies the accuracy. Must include the translator's full name, qualifications, certifying body, and contact details on both the original and English documents.

For AITSL, non-English documents need certified translations — not certified copies.

Use NAATI-credentialled translators — required by the Department of Home Affairs for visa applications. If your translated documents will also be used for your visa or state registration, NAATI credentials ensure they are accepted across all processes. NAATI-credentialled translators are available online from any country.

Section 05 — English language requirements

The study-based exemption applies if all qualifications required for the AITSL assessment were completed in English in one of these countries: Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States of America. This is all-or-nothing.

PTE Academic is not accepted by AITSL. PTE is accepted for Australian visa applications through the Department of Home Affairs, but AITSL accepts IELTS Academic only. If you use PTE for your visa, you will still need to sit IELTS Academic separately for AITSL. Budget and plan for this.

IELTS Academic skill Minimum score required
Reading7.0
Writing7.0
Speaking8.0
Listening8.0

The IELTS result must have been taken within 24 months before your application date, in a single sitting.

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AITSL Overseas Qualification Recognition Guide
06
Section six
Fees, processing times & outcomes
Current fees, timelines, Suitable, Not Suitable, appeals
Service Fee (AUD, from 1 July 2025)
Skills Assessment$1,154
Skilled Employment Statement (optional)$255
Appeal of Assessment Outcome$904
Partial refund (withdrawn before assessment)$946 returned

No GST applies. Payment by Visa or MasterCard only. Fees are reviewed annually — check aitsl.edu.au/migrate-to-australia/fees for current figures. The assessment certificate is valid for 2 years from the date issued. AITSL's target is 4–6 weeks from receipt of a complete application; allow 10–12 weeks total. No expedited processing is available.

Assessment outcomes
Suitable
You receive a Skills Assessment Certificate valid for 2 years. You can then apply for your skilled visa and, after arrival in Australia, apply for state teacher registration.
Not Suitable
AITSL issues a letter with specific reasons. Read it carefully. Three options: (1) contact AITSL for clarification, (2) appeal within 60 days (fee $904, independent review, outcome within 10 weeks), or (3) submit a new application if you have new qualifications or IELTS results.

Appeals can only consider evidence from the time of your original application. If the reason for a Not Suitable outcome is insufficient supervised practice days, an appeal will not change that. The days were what they were. If you have new evidence, a new application is the correct pathway.

Information Requested (mid-process status) is not a rejection. It appears in your portal when AITSL needs additional documents before finalising assessment. Respond through the portal. If you do not respond, the assessment may proceed on documents as submitted or may be closed.

Source: AITSL fees page 2026; AITSL FAQ 2025. Fees reviewed annually — always verify at aitsl.edu.au before applying.
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AITSL Overseas Qualification Recognition Guide
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Section seven
AITSL vs state teacher registration
The difference, the sequence, and the state bodies
AITSL skills assessment
National — one result applies across all states. For skilled migration (visa) purposes. Assesses academic qualifications only. Conducted by AITSL (Commonwealth body). Result: Skills Assessment Certificate.
State teacher registration
State-specific — must register separately in each state where you intend to teach. Required to legally work as a teacher. Assesses qualifications, English, criminal history, Working with Children Check. Conducted by state/territory bodies. Result: Registration number.

The sequence: AITSL assessment → visa application → arrival in Australia → state registration → begin teaching. A positive AITSL assessment does not authorise you to teach. State registration is the legal authority to teach in Australian schools.

State and territory registration bodies
NSW NESA — NAATI translations required; SCK assessment for secondary teachers; Working with Children Check; eTAMS application system
VIC VIT — Mandatory pre-assessment for overseas teachers before registration (from July 2025); can complete offshore; IELTS if not from exempt English country
QLD QCT — Deemed registration allows starting work while full registration is processed; separate Education Queensland employer requirements apply
WA TRBWA — IELTS Academic: average 7.5, minimum 7.0 in all bands, 8+ in Speaking and Listening (higher than AITSL minimum)
SA TRBSA — Standard pathway; IELTS if not from exempt English country
ACT TQI — Standard pathway
TAS TRBT — Standard pathway
NT TRBNT — Standard pathway

Under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992, teachers registered in one Australian state can apply for registration in another. Some teachers register first in a state with a more straightforward process (e.g., QLD) before transferring. Note that NSW and VIC may still apply additional requirements.

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AITSL Overseas Qualification Recognition Guide
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Section eight
Country-specific notes
UK, Ireland, India, South Africa, Philippines, USA
Country-by-country key risks and requirements
UK IELTS exempt. QTS is not an academic qualification — full AITSL assessment required regardless. BEd (4-yr): straightforward. PGCE + 3-yr Bachelor: accepted; verify supervised practice days documented. VIT pre-assessment (VIC) applies to UK teachers.
Ireland IELTS exempt (Republic). PME (2-yr) + 3-yr Bachelor: meets requirements. PGDE (1-yr) + 3-yr Bachelor: meets requirements. Teaching Council of Ireland registration not assessed. Key risk: allow 6–8 weeks for university administrative letters.
India IELTS required. Most common Not Suitable reason: documented supervised practice days below 45. Post-graduation teaching experience cannot fill this gap. B.Ed (1-yr) + 3-yr Bachelor: check practice days carefully. Allow 4–8 weeks for transcripts and letters.
South Africa IELTS required. PGCE (1-yr) + 3-yr Bachelor: meets requirements. Commissioners of Oaths can certify copies; Afrikaans documents require NAATI translation. Qualifications 10+ years old may need additional evidence — contact AITSL before applying.
Philippines IELTS required. LET board registration not assessed. BS Education (4-yr): meets requirements. Ensure STP letter uses exact language required by AITSL — exact days, student age range, school setting, formal ITE context, signed by Registrar. Filipino documents need NAATI translation.
USA IELTS exempt. State teaching licenses not assessed. BEd/BSEd (4-yr): straightforward. MAT + 4-yr Bachelor: well above minimum. Student teaching (16–18 weeks) typically exceeds 45-day requirement. Ensure transcripts are official, complete, every semester.

Professional licences and registrations from your home country are not assessed by AITSL. UK QTS, Philippine LET, US state teaching licences, and South African SACE registration are employment authorisations — not academic qualifications. They do not substitute for the supervised teaching practice days documented in your ITE qualification.

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AITSL Overseas Qualification Recognition Guide
09
Section nine
Searching for jobs while you wait
Use the 3–6 month window productively

The AITSL assessment and state registration process combined typically takes 3–6 months. This does not mean you should wait before researching the Australian job market.

What you can do now
1
Research state teacher incentives
NSW, NT, WA, and QLD have regional teacher incentives worth $10,000–$50,000 per year. Regional and remote positions often have shorter waits for registration in some states.
2
Browse current vacancies
Understand what subjects, levels, and locations are in demand. Teaching vacancies are aggregated at teacherpassport.com.au/jobs by sector, state, and subject.
3
Learn the three school sectors
Government (state-funded), Catholic, and independent schools each recruit differently. Understanding the sectors helps you target your applications when you are eligible to work.
4
Register interest with school networks
Contact state Education departments and school networks about expressions of interest. Some dioceses and networks maintain interest registers for overseas-qualified teachers.

You cannot begin paid teaching work without both a valid work visa with work rights and state teacher registration. Do not accept offers of teaching employment before you have both. If you are already in Australia on a visa with work rights, check your visa conditions — you still need state registration before teaching in a school.

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Free for all teachers
Browse Teaching Jobs in Australia
Use the waiting period productively. Teacher Passport aggregates government, Catholic, and independent school roles across all Australian states. Filter by state, sector, subject, and level to understand the market while your AITSL assessment is underway.
All states and sectors Government, Catholic & independent State registration guides Updated daily
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