Every Australian state and territory requires registered teachers to complete ongoing professional development, but the amounts differ. Victoria, Queensland and the ACT require 20 hours a year. NSW, WA, SA and the NT require 100 hours over a five-year cycle, and NSW gives casual and part-time teachers seven years. Tasmania requires ongoing engagement each year rather than a set hour count. This guide compares teacher PD requirements in every state, verified against each regulator’s current published rules, with what counts, what applies to casual teachers, and how to complete your hours online.
| State/Territory | Regulator | PD required | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | NESA | 100 hours | Per maintenance period: 5 years full-time, 7 years casual/part-time |
| VIC | VIT | 20 hours | Each registration year (1 October to 30 September) |
| QLD | QCT | 20 hours | Each calendar year in which you teach 20 or more days |
| WA | TRBWA | 100 hours full registration; 60 hours provisional/limited | Per registration period (5 years full; 3 years provisional) |
| SA | TRB SA | 100 hours | Per 5-year registration term |
| TAS | TRB Tasmania | Ongoing engagement, no set hour count | Each year, assessed at 5-year renewal |
| NT | TRB NT | 100 hours minimum | Per 5-year registration period |
| ACT | TQI | 20 hours | Each school year |
Requirements change, so treat your regulator’s site as the source of truth and check in before your renewal or maintenance period closes.
What are the PD requirements for teachers in NSW?
Teachers maintaining accreditation at Proficient, Highly Accomplished or Lead level must complete 100 hours of PD in each maintenance period, related to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. The maintenance period is five years for full-time teachers and seven years for casual and part-time teachers.
NESA has simplified the framework in recent years. From 16 August 2024, the separate Accredited and Elective PD categories were removed to give teachers more flexibility in how they complete the 100 hours, and record-keeping for Elective PD has been streamlined so you can keep your own record rather than logging everything in eTAMS. Because the reform is still bedding down, check the NESA PD requirements page for the current rules on accredited course minimums before you plan your hours.
What are the PD requirements for teachers in Victoria?
Teachers with full registration must complete at least 20 hours of professional learning each registration year (1 October to 30 September), covering at least one descriptor in each of the three domains of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. The 20-hour requirement applies equally whether you work full-time, part-time or casually. Fully registered teachers also declare at least 20 days of professional practice per year as part of annual registration. Provisional and non-practising registrants are exempt from the professional learning requirement.
What are the PD requirements for teachers in Queensland?
Fully registered teachers must complete at least 20 hours of CPD in any calendar year in which they teach 20 days or more. Teach fewer than 20 days in a year and no CPD is required for that year, a rule that matters for occasional relief teachers. CPD should balance employer-directed and teacher-identified learning and align with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers; workshops, online courses, professional reading and formal study all count.
What are the PD requirements for teachers in WA?
Renewal of full registration requires 100 hours of professional learning completed since registration was last granted or renewed, across the five-year registration period. Provisional and limited registrants renewing a three-year registration need 60 hours. The learning must include both formal and informal activities related to the Professional Standards for Teachers in WA. The TRBWA is explicit that there is no waiver for relief teachers or teachers on short contracts: the same hours apply.
What are the PD requirements for teachers in SA?
Registered teachers must complete a minimum of 100 hours of professional learning per five-year registration term, regardless of whether they teach full-time, part-time, as a temporary relief teacher, or are on extended leave including parental leave. The learning must sit over and above normal teaching duties, be referenced against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, and be recorded regularly on the Teachers Portal with evidence retained.
What are the PD requirements for teachers in Tasmania?
Tasmania takes an engagement-based approach rather than setting a fixed annual hour count. Registered teachers are expected to participate in professional learning each year, with evidence of practice and professional development assessed at the five-year renewal. Check current requirements directly with the Teachers Registration Board of Tasmania, as the detail of what satisfies renewal is set out in the Board’s guidance.
What are the PD requirements for teachers in the NT?
Renewal of registration requires a minimum of 100 hours of professional development within the preceding five-year period, drawn from a broad range of activities across the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers or the Standard for Principals. Teachers also need to show 180 days of teaching practice over the same five years. Keep records: the TRB NT audits a sample of renewals each cycle.
What are the PD requirements for teachers in the ACT?
Teachers must record and reflect on a minimum of 20 hours of professional learning during each school year, made up of at least 5 hours of TQI-accredited programs, at least 5 hours of teacher-identified activities, and the balance from either. The requirement applies to all registered teachers, including casual teachers, teachers on leave and those not currently working in the ACT. PD is recorded in the TQI portal and verified by a school delegate.
Do casual and relief teachers have to do PD?
Yes, in every jurisdiction, with two softenings: NSW gives casual and part-time teachers a seven-year maintenance period instead of five, and Queensland waives the requirement in any year you teach fewer than 20 days. Everywhere else the hours are identical to full-time colleagues, which is why online, self-paced PD has become the default for casuals who aren’t attached to one school’s PD calendar. If you’re starting out in casual work, our guide to casual teaching in NSW and new graduate’s guide to casual relief teaching cover the ground.
One more wrinkle: PD hours generally belong to the state where you’re registered. If you teach across a border or move interstate, check how your hours carry over, and read our guide to teacher mutual recognition between states.
How can you complete your PD hours online?
Online, self-paced PD counts towards requirements in every state, provided it aligns with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (and, where relevant, your regulator’s accreditation rules). It suits casual and part-time teachers in particular, because you complete hours on your own schedule rather than a school’s.
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PD requirements are set by each state’s teacher regulatory authority and range from 20 hours per year (Victoria, Queensland and the ACT) to 100 hours over a five-year cycle (NSW, WA, SA and the NT). Requirements can differ for full-time, part-time and casual teachers: NSW gives casual and part-time teachers seven years to complete their 100 hours.
Professional development can include accredited courses, workshops, conferences, mentoring, and self-directed learning that improves your practice. Some states distinguish between accredited/registered PD and elective PD, so check what your authority requires.
Yes. Casual and relief teachers must maintain their registration or accreditation, which includes completing the required PD — even though they aren’t attached to one school’s PD program. Online, self-paced courses are a popular option.
Each state and territory sets its own required hours, cycle length and rules on what qualifies: 20 hours a year in Victoria, Queensland and the ACT, 100 hours per five-year cycle in NSW, WA, SA and the NT, and an annual engagement requirement in Tasmania. If you teach across borders, you may need to meet the requirements of more than one authority.
Teachers can complete accredited, self-paced PD online through providers such as ClassCover Learn, which offers courses that count towards registration requirements. Online PD is especially useful for casual teachers managing their own hours.
