Register to teach
Maintain my registration
Support my teachers
Teacher education
Conduct and suitability
For education providers
To confirm your identity and run a criminal record check, applicants must provide a commencement of identity document. For most overseas applicants, this will be your visa for entry to Australia.
Applicants from overseas should apply for registration once they have arrived in Australia.
If your visa pathway requires VIT registration, please contact VIT to discuss your options.
From July 2025, individuals who completed their ITE qualification(s) overseas must have their qualifications package pre-assessed by VIT as equivalent to an accredited ITE program before they can apply for teacher registration.
Before applying, you can read about the qualification requirements for overseas teachers and review the VIT overseas qualifications information to understand whether your qualification(s) are likely to be equivalent to Victorian qualifications.
The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) assess all overseas early childhood teacher qualifications for equivalence.
Before applying for registration you must obtain an ACECQA Certificate of Equivalence and Outcome Letter (Early childhood qualification assessment | ACECQA) to submit alongside your qualification documents.
Each country has different criminal record checking processes. The VIT only accepts checks that are outlined on the Department of Home Affairs website or are undertaken by AIS International and are national, not state or regional.
To find an accepted overseas criminal record check and view instructions on how to apply for an accepted check
Please note, your overseas criminal record check must cover the entire period of residence in the country.
Effective communication in English is central to the provision of quality teaching outcomes as well as to support teachers communicate with students, parents and colleagues.
If an applicant for teacher registration has completed any of their qualification outside of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland, they are required to complete an approved English language competency test.
The English language test results must be uploaded to your application before you are able to submit it to VIT for assessment.
To undertake the duties of a teacher in Victoria, you are required to have attained relevant qualifications to become registered.
Those who wish to teach in a school setting must hold an approved initial teacher education (ITE) qualification or equivalent.
Those who wish to teach in an early childhood setting must hold an early childhood education qualification approved or recognised by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
If the school has been unable to find a registered teacher to fill the role, you may be eligible for a grant of permission to teach (PTT). Permission to teach is initially requested by a school – please speak to them directly.
If approved, you will only be able to teach the specified subject(s) at the specified school you have been approved to teach. Please note: this registration type is temporary and you are required to enrol in, and complete, an approved teaching qualification.
In your application, in place of the criminal record check, please attach evidence that you have requested the check (such as a receipt) alongside a statutory declaration advising
If you are currently residing overseas, your police check must be issued within seven (7) days* of your application being submitted.
If your police check arrived outside of the seven day threshold, you may provide a signed statutory declaration (alongside the police check) advising the following
*if your check arrived more than 14 days after your application has been submitted, please contact VIT to discuss your options.
All applicants and registered teachers must adhere to VIT’s rigorous screening process, including overseas criminal record checks and continual suitability assessments (such as weekly State police checks, annual self-declarations and nationally coordinated criminal history checks).
The VIT cannot accept applications for teacher registration for individuals who do not reside in Australia for the period they are seeking registration for.
If you’re currently based overseas, VIT is unable to monitor your continual suitability, and therefore cannot accept your application for teacher registration. In limited circumstances applicants may be able to apply from a country outside Australia no more than 3 months prior to arrival.
To be eligible for teacher or early childhood teacher registration with VIT, you must provide evidence that they you communicate effectively in English.
If you have completed any part of your initial teacher education (ITE) or early childhood (EC) qualification outside of:
you are required to complete an English language competency test.
The VIT accepts English language competency test results that are no more than three years old from the date listed on the certificate.
Language skills can change over time. An English language competency test measures your English ability at a specific point in time.
Your English proficiency may improve or decline depending on how often you use the language.
By setting a three-year validity period, VIT’s English language competency requirements aim to ensure your results provide a current and accurate reflection of your English language ability.
Before submitting your application:
• Check the date on your English language competency test certificate
• Make sure it is within the three-year validity period
• Ensure your results clearly demonstrate your English proficiency
If you’re unsure whether your test is still valid or what you need to provide, we’re here to help you understand your options before you apply. Contact us