What is the GTCNI?
The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) is a statutory, self–regulatory professional body, established by the Education (NI) Order 1998. GTCNI is dedicated to enhancing the status of teaching and promoting the highest standards of professional conduct and practice. It will work in partnership to develop and sustain a broad “professional community” characterised by a culture of respect, integrity, cooperation and dialogue.GTCNI’s core objectives are:To build a broad “professional community” and enhance the status of teaching as a profession.
To provide an independent and authoritative voice for the profession on matters pertaining to teaching.
To promote and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and practice in collaboration with key partners.
How do I check if I am registered or not?
If you have any doubts about whether you are registered or not, please use the ‘Search the Register of Teachers’ facility at the following page: GTCNI
Alternatively, you may contact GTCNI’s Registration Team (email: registration@gtcni.org.uk, telephone: 028 9033 3390).
Who needs to register?
If you wish to be employed as a teacher in a grant–aided school, or work as a peripatetic teacher in Northern Ireland, you must be registered with GTCNI.
The Education (NI) Order 1998 (amended) NI Order 2003, section 35 (3) states that; “An employing authority shall not employ a person as a teacher unless he is registered under this Article”.
If a teacher is in a contract of employment (whether paid or unpaid), or has taught during the registration year (even if only for 1 day) they must pay their registration fee. This applies to teachers on a career break, maternity or sick leave.
How do I apply to register?
Application forms can be accessed on the GTCNI website.
If you have previously been registered, you do not need to submit a new application form. However, you will need to pay the registration fee to reactivate your registration.
What information will I need to give you when I contact you?
To simply check whether you are registered or not ,you will need to tell us your full name, date of birth and one of the following:
National Insurance Number, or
Teacher Reference (TR) Number
I am moving house/school – do I need to let you know?
Yes, please keep us informed of changes to your details. Changes can be made by logging onto MyGTCNI at the following page or by contacting the Registration Team.
I am leaving the profession/taking a sabbatical – do I need to register?
If you are leaving the profession or taking a break from teaching, please keep us informed. The Education (NI) Order 1998 (amended) NI 0rder 2003, section 35 (3) states that; “An employing authority shall not employ a person as a teacher unless he is registered under this Article”.
If a teacher is in a contract of employment (whether paid or unpaid), or has taught during the registration year (even if only for 1 day) they must pay their registration fee. This applies to teachers on a career break, maternity or sick leave.
I am a substitute/supply teacher, do I need to register?
All teachers, working in grant–aided schools need to register with the GTCNI, even if you only work on a substitute / supply basis.
Should you wish to be employed as a substitute teacher you must also be registered with the Northern Ireland Supply Teachers Register (NISTR), a free register which is maintained and operated by the Education Authority. Criminal records checks carried out by NISTR can take a minimum of 8 weeks so therefore it is advisable that you apply to register with them as early as possible.
You can register with NISTR by visiting their website: Northern Ireland Supply Teacher Register (NISTR) | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk) or by contacting them on Tel 028 9056 6256. Please note that registration with GTCNI is required in order to join NISTR.
Do I need to maintain registration if I retire from teaching?
If you are retiring and not undertaking any work (including supply), taking a career break or no longer require registration and wish to cancel your registration, you should email the Registration Team: registration@gtcni.org.uk.
Once we have received your request in writing, your record will be updated and a letter of confirmation will be sent to you. As it is a legal requirement for teachers to be on the register regardless of how many days they work in any registration year, your details will remain on the register until the end of the current registration year i.e. 31 March.
It is not possible to refund all or part of an annual registration fee.
If you are retired but still undertaking some supply teaching, you must maintain your registration and pay your annual registration fee.
Is there a reduced fee for part–time teachers, teachers on maternity leave or supply teachers?
If you have taught or will be teaching during any part of the registration year, you are required to pay the full annual registration fee. GTCNI has considered the subject of scaled or part–year fees, but has decided that this option is not viable because of the high administrative costs it presents, and the need to keep the fee as low as possible.
I have only just qualified. Do I still need to pay the registration fee?
Yes, all teachers irrespective of when they qualified are required to pay the registration fee; if they will be teaching during the period 1 April to 31 March of the current registration year.
Why Register?
Teaching in Northern Ireland is a graduate profession. Only teachers who can demonstrate that they meet the criteria required for professional recognition, will be admitted to the Register.
Registration provides you with both professional recognition and the licence to practise, required to teach in a school in Northern Ireland.
If you want to work as a teacher in a grant–aided school in Northern Ireland you must be registered with GTCNI in accordance with Article 35(3) of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998. Employing authorities are required to ensure that they only employ teachers that are registered with the GTCNI.
How much is the registration fee?
GTCNI’s annual registration fee is £44. GTCNI’s registration year runs from 1st April to 31st March and the annual registration retention fee is £44.
Can you confirm if I am eligible to register before I submit an application?
No. In order to complete a full assessment we require the submission of a complete application form, documents and fee. This is because multiple factors are considered during the assessment.
Is a formal teaching qualification required to apply registration?
Yes, you must hold a formal teaching qualification in order for an assessment to take place.
How will I be notified of the outcome of my application?
You will be notified of your application outcome , to the email address you supplied on your application form.
How many applicants qualified within Northern Ireland are successful?
The table below outlines the number of successful applications for registration with GTCNI between April 2022 and December 2022.
Total no of applications from NI | 527 |
Total no of DE recognised applications received | 20 |
DE recognised applicants awarded registration | 12 |
Total no of FE qualified applications received | 15 |
FE qualified applicants awarded registration | 6 |
Total no of NI PGCE/B.Ed. graduate applications received | 492 |
NI PGCE/B.Ed. graduate applicants awarded registration | 463 |
Please note the difference in application numbers received and accepted also includes those being processed or applications where the applicant chose not to proceed. Statistics for applicants awarded registration may also include applications received in previous year/s.
Will failure to send the correct documentation delay application processing?
Yes, the assessment of your application cannot begin until we receive all requested documentation.
My documentation is not in English. Do you require translations?
Yes, please supply us with copies of the original documentation as well as certified translations to English.
Applicants who completed their initial teacher training outside the UK
The assessment is based on course content information supplied directly by your Initial Teaching Education provider. This information includes course length, duration of teaching placement, School based work, Teaching Methodologies, Educational Issues and Theory and Main Subject Study (where applicable).
All teacher training qualifications must be equivalent to a UK bachelor degree. Applicants with a Postgraduate teaching qualification must also hold an Undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK Bachelor degree.
Applicants qualified to teach in Post–Primary Education must hold GCSE (Grade A–C) equivalent qualifications in Mathematics and English.
Applicants qualified to teach in Primary Education must hold GCSE (Grade A–C) equivalent qualifications in Mathematics, English and Science. Teaching experience duration may be taken into consideration within the assessment process.
References may be requested as part of this process.
Suitability checks will be undertaken for all applicants to confirm fitness to practice status in all UK jurisdictions.
Processing Time Frame: Begins only upon receipt of all required documentation to GTCNI. Approximate processing time for applicants outside NI is up to 4–6 months.
Applicants who completed a PGCE FE/PGDFHE (University of Ulster only)
At present, the only Further Education qualifications that potentially lead to GTCNI registration are the Postgraduate Certificate in Further Education, including its predecessor, the Postgraduate Diploma in Further and Higher Education. To allow for registration with GTCNI, these courses must be attained whilst employed for a minimum of 8 hours per week as a teacher/FE lecturer in an Institution of Further Education in Northern Ireland, as defined by the Further Education Order (NI) 1997. The applicant must also hold an Undergraduate degree. These courses are/were provided by University of Ulster.
Suitability checks will be undertaken for all applicants to confirm fitness to practice status in all UK jurisdictions.
Processing Time Frame: Begins only upon receipt of all required documentation to GTCNI. Approximate processing time for PGCE FE/PGDFHE applicants is up to 6–8 weeks.
Applicants who completed their initial teacher training in Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales)
Applicants qualified in other jurisdictions of the UK must have completed a Bachelor of Education degree, an approved Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma of Education or other approved teaching training course. For those who completed a Postgraduate teaching qualification, they must also hold an Undergraduate degree.
Teachers who have obtained Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) awarded by either the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA, or its predecessor/s) or the Welsh Education Workforce Council (EWC, or its predecessor/s); or hold registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, may be eligible for registration with GTCNI.
For students who have obtained their teacher education qualifications in Scotland, the course must be GTC Scotland approved.
For students who have obtained their teacher education qualifications in England or Wales, the courses must lead to the granting of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
GTCNI does not recognise QTS awards by assessment route only obtained in less than one academic year.
Suitability checks will be undertaken for all applicants to confirm fitness to practice status in all UK jurisdictions.
Processing Time Frame: Begins only upon receipt of all required documentation to GTCNI. Approximate processing time for GB applicants is up to 6–8 weeks.
Applicants who completed their initial teacher training within NI
Applicants who completed their teacher training course within NI must have completed a GTCNI accredited course; those who completed a Postgraduate teaching qualification must also hold an Undergraduate degree. Teachers trained in NI prior to GTCNI’s establishment and who were previously granted recognition by the Department of Education (DE) will be recognised by GTCNI.
Suitability checks will be undertaken for all applicants to confirm fitness to practice status in all UK jurisdictions.
Processing Time Frame: Begins only upon receipt of all required documentation to GTCNI. Approximate processing time for NI applicants is up to 6–8 weeks.
Newly qualified NI Graduates
Applicants completing a GTCNI accredited course in Northern Ireland in the current year should submit their application to register (with associated documentation and fee) in advance of their course completion. Those completing a Postgraduate teaching qualification must hold an Undergraduate degree.
Suitability checks will be undertaken for all applicants to confirm fitness to practice status in all UK jurisdictions.
GTCNI receives confirmation of qualifications directly from the NI accredited Higher Education Institutions. Following receipt of the application, fee and approved documentation prior to course completion, all newly qualified NI graduates will receive confirmation of registration in late summer of their qualifying year.
My documentation is not in English. Do you require translations?
Yes, please supply us with copies of the original documentation as well as certified translations to English.
I have taught for several years. Why do the subjects I studies at University and/or High School matter?
Teaching in Northern Ireland is a graduate profession. GTCNI assesses qualifications from teachers qualified outside of Northern Ireland using the criteria applied to teacher qualified in Northern Ireland.
How many applications from outside Northern Ireland are successful?
The table below outlines the number of successful applications for registration with GTCNI between April 2022 and December 2022.
Total no of applications from outside NI | 765 |
Total no of applications from UK (Outside NI) | 696 |
UK applicants awarded registration | 618 |
Total no of application from Rest of World | 69 |
ROW applicants awarded registration | 22 |
Please note the difference in application numbers received and accepted also includes those being processed or applications where the applicant chose not to proceed. Statistics for applicants awarded registration may also include applications received in previous year/s.
What will my salary be?
For further information on salaries please see the following link: Guidance on teachers’ pay | Department of Education (education–ni.gov.uk)
For pay related queries please contact Teacher’s Pay and Pensions Team (TPPT) – email: teachers.pay@education-ni.gov.uk, telephone 028 7131 9000.
I wish to undertake supply teaching only, do I still need to register with GTCNI?
Yes, it is a legal requirement for any teacher working in a school in Northern Ireland to be registered with GTCNI.
How do I register with NISTR (Northern Ireland Supply Teacher Register)?
Information on registering with NISTR may be found at the following link Northern Ireland Supply Teacher Register (NISTR) | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk) . Please note that you will be unable to fully complete registration with NISTR until you have completed your registration with GTCNI.
Can I apply for teaching posts in Northern Ireland before I am GTCNI registered?
Yes, you may apply for teaching posts in advance of completing registration however, please note you must be fully registered prior to taking up the post.