The Teacher Education Refresh is for teachers who are required by The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand to complete the four-course programme before regaining their Practising Certificate.
Courses you need to enrol in
The Teacher Education Refresh Programme has been set up under two training schemes. The course codes are OP7701 Teaching as a Profession and OP7702 Teaching Practice. Each training scheme has two courses within it as follows:
OP7701 Teaching as a Profession
EDU701 - Teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand
EDU702 - Creating a Culture for Learning
OP7702 Teaching Practice
EDU703 - Effective Design for Learning
We request that you enrol in one course at a time starting with EDU701 Teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand. Your final course enrolment will be EDU704 Teaching Practicum.
Each course will take 12 weeks but you are welcome to complete in a shorter timeframe if you wish.
Practicum 2024
To enrol in 2024, you must have completed results for EDU703 Effective Design for Learning. The last intake into practicum in 2024 is October 2024. Practicum is closed in November/December (2024) and January (2025).
If you have any general queries regarding TER please email our team at customerservices@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Language competency requirements
From 1 January 2019, The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand shifted their approach to focus on evidence-based English language proficiency. Many people seeking to register as teachers speak a number of languages. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the teaching profession. This is recognised in their approach to language competency by providing opportunities for candidates to demonstrate their competency in English or te reo Māori. They accept a broad range of specified evidence. Please ensure you meet their requirements for registration by reviewing their website page below.
The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand website - Language competency requirements
Fee free offer for this programme
The Ministry of Education is paying the student fee for enrolment in the Teacher Education Refresh.
This fee free offer is for a limited period. We will confirm when the end date of this offer is by publishing it on this page two weeks prior to the offer ending.
The free offer only applies to students who are eligible students to enrol in courses Teacher Education Refresh courses under our standard terms and conditions of enrolment.
This fee free offer includes:
- the programme’s course fees
- the annual Administration fee.
It does not include:
- provision of textbooks
- any other additional fees incurred by a student in taking these programmes.
These will remain the responsibility of the student.
How to enrol
- When you get to the payment screen of the enrolment form choose ‘contract id’ and enter '0805'.
- Under ‘contract name’ enter 'TER'
- Please ignore the message in the contract field: "A letter of authorisation from the Contract holder must be sent to the Open Polytechnic." It is not required for this offer.
About TER
This programme is provided by the Open Polytechnic through a subcontracting agreement with CORE Education Ltd.
We provide of the Teacher Education Refresh programme for early childhood, primary and secondary teachers.
Teachers can complete this course online, at their own pace over a period of up to 12 months.
Who the TER is for
The TER is aimed at early childhood, primary and secondary teachers:
- who have graduated from an initial teacher education programme, but have not achieved a full practicing certificate within a six-year period
- who are returning to the workforce after a lengthy period; or have trained overseas.
When you complete a TER, you can be provisionally certified for an additional five years. The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand expects that you will satisfactorily meet the Standards for the Teaching Profession in this time.
If you need to complete the TER programme to renew your practising certificate, you may be able to continue to be employed in a teaching position.
If you are employed in the primary or secondary sector your principal can apply for an extension to teach for you, provided you have done the following:
- enrolled in the TER programme, and provided this information to the The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
- obtained a clear police vet.
Teachers should apply for their practising certificate with the Teaching Council via Hapori Matatū https://haporimatatu.teachingcouncil.nz/s/. The cost will be either $464.37 (NZ trained teachers) or $564.37 (overseas trained teachers registering for the first time).
Please note that the Council is unable to issue an extension to teach for early childhood education teachers.
If you have any general queries regarding TER please email our team at customerservices@openpolytechnic.ac.nz