Teachers in NSW must complete ongoing professional development (PD) to maintain their accreditation. Understanding how many hours you need—and what counts—is essential to staying compliant and avoiding last-minute pressure.
Quick Answer
To maintain accreditation, teachers must complete:
- 100 hours of professional development
- Within a 5-year maintenance period
- Aligned with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
You must log all PD hours in NESA’s system.
Detailed Breakdown of NESA PD Requirements
Under the guidelines of the NSW Education Standards Authority:
Total Hours Required
- 100 hours of PD per maintenance cycle
Timeframe
- Typically completed over 5 years
- May be shorter depending on employment contracts
Focus of PD
Your professional development must:
- Be relevant to your teaching practice
- Align with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
Important Update (2024 Changes)
As of August 2024:
- The required split between “Accredited” and “Elective” PD has been removed
- Teachers now have greater flexibility in choosing PD activities
- The key requirement is that PD remains:
- Relevant
- Aligned to the Standards
- Properly documented
How to Record Your PD Hours
All professional development must be logged in:
- eTAMS (NESA’s online system)
It is your responsibility to:
- Track your hours
- Ensure your entries are accurate
- Maintain evidence if required
What About Conditionally Accredited Teachers?
If you hold conditional accreditation while completing your teaching qualification:
- You are generally required to:
- Complete your teaching degree
- Pass the LANTITE test
- This must typically occur within 24 months
- Your progress is reviewed annually by NESA
What Counts as NESA PD?
Not all professional development qualifies.
To count toward your required hours, PD should:
- Be chosen through a recognised provider
- Align with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
- Support your professional practice in a meaningful way
One way to ensure your PD meets these requirements is to complete training through a NESA recognised provider.
NESA Recognised PD That Supports Real Practice
If you are looking to complete your PD hours while gaining practical tools for wellbeing, regulation, and behaviour support, you can explore:
→ KOTUS Method Level 1 Mindfulness and Wellbeing for teaching Children and Teens
KOTUS Rising delivers this training as a NESA recognised course, and educators across early childhood, primary, and secondary settings already use it.
The NESA PD provider list includes KOTUS Rising Pty Ltd as a recognised professional development provider. – HERE
KOTUS Rising Pty Ltd operates as an internationally recognised online learning school, and this course carries additional accreditation through the International Mindfulness and Meditation Alliance (IMMA).
Final Note
Meeting your NESA PD requirements doesn’t need to feel like a compliance task. The right professional development should also support your day-to-day teaching, helping you respond more effectively to the real challenges in classrooms today.
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