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ACT teacher registration

Teacher registration in the ACT: the TQI and WWVP

ACT teachers must register with the Teacher Quality Institute ($115 a year in 2026) and hold WWVP registration. Fees, steps, renewal and overseas applicants.

✓ Fact-checked against official sources Updated 16 October 2026 3 min read

Regulator

TQI

Fee

$115

Check

WWCC

On this page (6 sections)
  1. Registration at a glance
  2. TQI fees in 2026
  3. How to register with the TQI
  4. Keeping your registration current
  5. Coming from interstate, NZ or overseas
  6. FAQs

The short answer

Every teacher in an ACT school must be registered with the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI). The annual fee in 2026 is $115, or $58 for retired teachers, with cheaper part-year fees of $90 and $65. You also need Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration through Access Canberra. Interstate and NZ teachers can apply under mutual recognition.

The ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) registers teachers for public, Catholic and independent schools in the ACT. Its fees are set each year by a legal instrument, the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (Fees) Determination 2026 (No 1). Separately, you need WWVP registration from Access Canberra, the ACT's version of a Working with Children Check.

ACT teacher registration at a glance

Details
RegulatorACT Teacher Quality Institute
Annual fee$115 a year ($58 for retiree teachers); part-year applications $90 (months 4-6) or $65 (after month 6)
How it worksApply to the TQI for provisional or full registration before you teach in any ACT school. Fees are set by the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (Fees) Determination 2026 (No 1). The early career fee waiver lapsed on 31 Mar 2026.
Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration, Access CanberraCheck Access Canberra (fee not verified)

TQI fees in 2026

ACT Teacher Quality Institute fees, 2026
When you applyStandard feeRetiree teacher
Annual fee / months 1-3 of the year$115$58
Months 4-6$90$45
After month 6$65$33

Source: ACT TQI (Fees) Determination 2026 (No 1), DI2026-1. The early career teacher fee waiver lapsed on 31 March 2026.

How to register with the TQI

  1. 1

    Get your WWVP registration

    Apply to Access Canberra. Check its site for the current fee and how long registration lasts; we couldn't verify either.

  2. 2

    Gather your documents

    Degree transcripts showing an accredited teaching qualification, LANTITE results if you studied in an accredited program, identity documents and, for overseas qualifications, English evidence.

  3. 3

    Apply online to the TQI

    Choose the right category: provisional (new graduates), full, or mutual recognition if you are registered elsewhere.

  4. 4

    Pay the fee

    $115 for the year in 2026, or less if you apply part-way through the year.

  5. 5

    Move to full registration

    Provisionally registered teachers build evidence against the Proficient career stage of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. Read proficient teacher accreditation.

Keeping your registration current

  • Pay the annual fee each year. An unpaid fee can mean you can't be employed in an ACT school.
  • Keep up professional learning to the TQI's requirements and record it.
  • Keep your WWVP registration current. It's separate from TQI and runs on its own cycle.
  • Update your details with the TQI if you change name, employer or contact details.

Coming from interstate, NZ or overseas

Teachers registered in another Australian state can apply under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992, and NZ teachers with a current practising certificate under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997. Teaching is exempt from automatic deemed registration, so you still have to apply to the TQI, and you still need ACT WWVP registration; another state's check doesn't carry over.

Overseas-trained teachers apply as overseas-qualified. An AITSL skills assessment is for visa purposes only and doesn't register you to teach. AITSL itself asks for IELTS Academic with 7 in reading and writing and 8 in speaking and listening; confirm the TQI's own English rules before you book a test. See overseas teacher registration by state and the AITSL skills assessment.

Frequently asked questions

How much is TQI registration in the ACT?
The annual TQI fee is $115 in 2026, or $58 for retired teachers. If you apply part-way through the year it is $90 (months 4-6) or $65 (after month 6).
Do I need a Working with Children Check to teach in the ACT?
Yes. In the ACT it is called Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration and you get it from Access Canberra.
Is the TQI fee waived for new teachers?
Not any more. The early career teacher fee waiver lapsed on 31 March 2026, so new graduates now pay the standard fee.
Can NSW teachers teach in the ACT?
Yes, but they must register with the TQI, usually through mutual recognition, and get ACT WWVP registration. NESA accreditation alone isn't enough.
Is ACT teacher registration tax deductible?
Renewing registration to keep teaching is generally deductible. A first-time check or registration to get your first job usually isn't.

Sources we checked · last verified 16 October 2026

  1. 1.ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) EA 2023-2026, [2023] FWCA 2456 (AEU ACT copy)
  2. 2.AEU ACT: 2025/6 Teaching Staff Bargaining
  3. 3.Region Canberra: Term 4 strikes possible as teachers reject offer (14 Sep 2026)
  4. 4.ABC News: Canberra public school staff take more industrial action (24 Sep 2026)
  5. 5.ACT Teacher Quality Institute (Fees) Determination 2026 (No 1), DI2026-1
  6. 6.Your Agreement Explained: NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools EA 2025
  7. 7.IEU: Catholic systemic EAs 2025

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.