Non-practising teachers must be approved by VIT to return to teaching from non-practising registration prior to undertaking the duties of a teacher in a Victorian school or early childhood setting.
Registration obligations and how to apply
An application to return to teaching can be lodged at any time via the teacher’s MyVIT account through the ‘Manage registration’ tile.
Returning requirements for provisionally registered teachers
Returning teachers who previously held provisional registration will be able to return to teaching as a provisionally registered teacher (PRT) under a new grant of provisional registration.
It is expected that they will work toward meeting the requirements of full registration by undertaking VIT’s Inquiry process during this grant of provisional registration.
A PRT can reapply for non-practising registration if they are not currently undertaking the duties of a teacher.
Were you previously an experienced returning registered teacher looking to return from non-practicising registration?
The VIT only grants an eligible teacher one opportunity to apply for experienced returning registration. If an experienced returning registered teacher (ERRT) ceases their registration or fails to meet the registration requirements in the two-year grant, they will need to apply for provisional registration and follow the returning requirements as above.
Returning requirements for fully registered teachers
Returning teachers who previously held full registration will be able to return to teaching as a fully registered teacher provided they meet certain conditions by the next annual registration due date (30 September). These include
- completion of 20 days teaching or educational leadership in a school or early childhood setting
- completion of 20 hours of professional learning activity* that references the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST).
*evidence of this professional learning must be submitted through the MyPD tool.
Visit the Recency of practice and Professional learning pages to find out more.
The returning practice requirements must be undertaken in a Victorian school or early childhood setting. Interstate and overseas practice is not accepted to meet returning requirements.
Gowrie Victoria and the Department of Education run a Coaching for Returning Teachers and Educators Program which provides individual coaching support to early childhood teachers returning from extended leave, new to the sector from overseas, or transitioning from working in schools. Find out more and enrol on the Gowrie Victoria website.
The VIT will assess the teacher’s evidence as part of their renewal of registration application. When all requirements have been met, they will be granted the same registration category held before applying for non-practising registration.
If a returning teacher is unable to meet the requirements within the timeframe given, they will not be able to return to non-practising registration. Rather, their registration will expire and they will be removed from the register of teachers.
If you are an experienced teacher returning to the profession after a period of absence of five or more years, you must apply for registration with VIT. Need help finding out what registration category to apply for? Use our handy Registration Helper tool to find out in under one minute.
Please note it is an offence to teach in Victoria without registration.
Ongoing obligations
All teachers, regardless of their registration category, are required to meet certain obligations in order to maintain their registration.
For teachers who have returned from non-practising, these will align with the same requirements as others with provisional or full registration.
Visit the Maintain my registration page find out more.
Last updated: 15 Dec 2025