Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)

Additional admission requirements

For entry into this course applicants must:

• hold a prior Bachelor award and have appropriate academic background in the Key Learning Areas (KLAs) as determined by the NSW Institute of Teachers
  or
• furnish documentary evidence which demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Dean of the Faculty of Education that equivalent requirements to those set out above have been met.

You must upload a copy of your completed degree with your application. 

Literacy requirement

To be successful at studies within certain courses, students must be highly competent in spoken and written English literacy. All students who do not have this level of competence in spoken and written English will be required to independently organise some form of coaching in English literacy, such as a short TAFE course or other form of tuition to improve their skills. Students will be advised of their options by the Head of School from the campus where they are enrolled. If, after an agreed period of study in English literacy, a student's English literacy standard has not improved, the appropriate Head of School will provide further advice with regard to alternative career options.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

The IELTS test for academic purposes is an appropriate test for prospective teachers. The NSW Institute of Teachers requires that international applicants need to attain a minimum overall score of 7.5 including a minimum result of 8.0 in both the speaking and listening modules and 7.0 in reading and writing.

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership - Employment Requirement

AITSL has introduced changes to the assessment criteria for English language proficiency to be consistent with teacher registration requirements in Australian states and territories, as per below:

English Language proficiency requirements

An Academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test Report Form (TRF) that shows:

• a score of at least 7.0 for Reading and Writing; and
• a score of at least 8.0 for Speaking and Listening.

The IELTS test scores must appear on a single IELTS TRF and be the result of a test undertaken during the 12 month period prior to submitting an application.

OR

An applicant has completed study assessed by AITSL as comparable to at least four years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education (university) study, that results in a qualification/s comparable to the education level of an Australian bachelor degree or higher, (must include a recognised initial teacher education qualification) in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.

New South Wales Institute of Teachers - Employment Requirement

ACCEPTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTS
The tests and results which are accepted by the NSW Institute of Teachers are listed below.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
The IELTS test for academic purposes is an appropriate test for prospective teachers. The Institute requires that the applicant needs to attain a minimum overall score of 7.5 including a minimum result of 8.0 in both the speaking and listening modules and 7.0 in reading and writing. The test is widely accepted as an international standard for English language skills. Testing and locations can be found at www.ielts.org.

Professional English Assessment for Teachers (PEAT)
The applicant must have Band A in each of the four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing. This test has been developed for teachers intending to teach in the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET). DET requires relevant teachers to undertake the PEAT. The DET has advised that Band A is required for teaching in government schools. It is available at the University of NSW Institute of Languages. The website is www.lang.unsw.edu.au/PEAT/. Only the DET may refer teachers to undertake PEAT.

International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR)
The applicant must have a score of at least 4+ in each of the four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing. This test was originally developed as the ASLPR (Australian Second Language Proficiency Rating). It was developed at Griffith University and is available in a form specifically designed to test language proficiency in the teaching context. The website is www.islpr.org.

EXCEPTIONS
The following applicants generally do not need to complete one of the approved language tests:

• applicants for whom English is their first language
• applicants who have gained the majority of their qualifications in English, in a country where English is the main language. These countries are: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Republic of South Africa and the United States of America
• applicants who can provide evidence that they have successfully taught in English in a school in a country where English is the main language for a substantial period of time

CURRENCY OF RESULTS
The Institute has accepted the advice of the test providers regarding the length of currency of results. Applicants who submit results from IELTS must submit results from a test taken within a period of two years of their application for provisional or conditional accreditation. Applicants who submit results from ISLPR must submit results from a test taken within a period of twelve months of their application for provisional or conditional accreditation. A successful PEAT does not lose currency.

See the Workplace learning tab for special requirements for Professional Experience Placements.