How to Become a Teacher in the ACT 2026: Steps and Pay

On this page (6 sections)

Step by step: from student to ACT teacher
Money help while you study
What you'll earn as an ACT graduate
The New Educator years
Not fully qualified yet? The Permit to Teach
FAQs

The short answer

To teach in an ACT school you need an accredited teaching degree, registration with the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI, $115 a year) and Working with Vulnerable People registration. ACT public graduates start at Teacher Level 1 on $91,396 and get a reduced teaching load for their first three years as New Educators.

The ACT is a small system with one big employer: the ACT Education Directorate, which runs Canberra's public schools. Catholic schools are run by Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education (CECG), and there is a group of independent schools. All of them need you to be registered with the TQI.

One thing to know before you start: ACT public pay has been frozen since 4 December 2025 while the government and the AEU ACT bargain over a new agreement. The pay figures on this page are today's; check the ACT pay rise tracker for what happens next.

Step by step: from student to ACT teacher

1

Complete an accredited teaching qualification

A four-year education degree, or a degree in another field followed by a two-year Master of Teaching. Canberra-based options include the University of Canberra and the Australian Catholic University's Canberra campus. See teaching degrees in Australia.
2

Pass LANTITE

The literacy and numeracy test is required for graduates of accredited programs. Read LANTITE explained.
3

Get WWVP registration

Apply to Access Canberra for Working with Vulnerable People registration.
4

Register with the TQI

Apply for registration before you teach in any ACT school. See ACT teacher registration.
5

Apply for jobs and the casual list

Apply to the Education Directorate's graduate and permanent recruitment rounds, Catholic and independent schools, and register for relief work.

Money help while you study

Commonwealth Prac Payment: $338.60 a week (2026) during eligible mandatory placements, means-tested, applied for through your university. See the Commonwealth Prac Payment.
Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships: $10,000 a year, up to $40,000 for an undergraduate or $20,000 for a postgraduate degree, with a service obligation in government schools. See Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships.
Employment-based pathways: some programs pay you while you train. See employment-based teaching pathways and check whether ACT schools are taking part this year.

What you'll earn as an ACT graduate

Worked example

TL1 graduate, ACT public school, 2026-27

Salary (TL1, from 4 Dec 2025): $91,396
Income tax after LITO: $17,939
Medicare levy: $1,828
Take-home (no HELP): $71,629 a year
Employer super at 12.5%: $11,425 on top

Take-home per fortnight about $2,755

From the site's 2026-27 tax engine. A HELP debt adds a compulsory repayment; see the HECS-HELP calculator.

You move up one level every 27 January if you meet the performance and development requirements, reaching TL8 ($129,106) after seven increments. Catholic schools in Canberra currently pay graduates a bit more: $94,596 at Step 1 from 1 August 2026, because their agreement has had a rise and the public one hasn't. Full detail is on the ACT graduate teacher salary page.

The New Educator years

The ACT's first three levels (TL1-TL3) are called New Educator levels and come with a lighter face-to-face load than experienced teachers get:

Maximum face-to-face teaching hours a week, ACT public schools

Stage	Primary	Secondary
New Educator year 1	18.5 hrs	17 hrs
New Educator years 2-3	19.5 hrs	17.5 hrs
Experienced Teacher	21 hrs	19 hrs (averaged)

Source: ACT Teaching Staff EA 2023-2026.

Not fully qualified yet? The Permit to Teach

The TQI can issue a Permit to Teach to people who aren't eligible for full registration, for example final-year students filling a gap. ACT public schools pay permit holders $82,796 a year, or $329 a day as a casual. It is a stepping stone, not a substitute for finishing your degree.

Frequently asked questions

What qualifications do I need to teach in the ACT?

You need an accredited initial teacher education qualification, TQI registration and WWVP registration. Graduates of accredited programs also need to have passed LANTITE.

How much does a graduate teacher earn in the ACT?

ACT public graduates start at TL1 on $91,396 a year, the rate since 4 December 2025. Canberra Catholic schools pay $94,596 at Step 1 from 1 August 2026.

Where can I study teaching in Canberra?

The University of Canberra and the Australian Catholic University's Canberra campus both offer teaching degrees. Online accredited degrees from other universities are also accepted for TQI registration.

Do new ACT teachers get a reduced load?

Yes. New Educators teach at most 18.5 hours a week (primary) or 17 hours (secondary) in year 1, and 19.5 or 17.5 hours in years 2 and 3.

Can I teach in the ACT without being fully registered?

Only with a TQI Permit to Teach, which is for limited circumstances. ACT public schools pay permit holders $82,796 a year.

Is it a good time to start teaching in the ACT?

Graduate pay is high nationally, but public salaries have been frozen since December 2025 while bargaining continues. A new agreement could lift pay, so check the latest before you compare offers.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

About this page

Written and fact-checked by the TeacherPay AU editorial team against the enterprise agreements, awards and official pages listed in the sources. It is general information, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it, usually within a day. See our editorial policy and how we calculate.