When most teachers first register with the Teachers Registration Board, they receive provisional registration. This is because the highest career stage of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) they have been assessed against is the Graduate career stage. The process of transitioning to (full) registration evaluates teachers against the Proficient career stage.
It is a requirement of the Act and a condition of your registration that you transition from provisional to full registration within your five (5) year registration term.
How to transition from provisional to (full) registration
Download a copy of the application form Application to Transition from Provisional to full Registration PDF and print it out or save it to your computer. You will need to collate a portfolio of evidence showing how you meet the APST at the Proficient career stage and engage an evaluator at your site. Your portfolio will be the basis of your evaluation. Complete pages 3-9 of the application form to summarise your evidence. Be guided by the examples (Sample Summary Record of Evidence) and the specified word count for each Standard.
If you are using an application form that does not have a Summary Record of Evidence (pages 3-9) in it, either download the updated Application to Transition from Provisional to (full) Registration or contact professional.standards@trb.sa.edu.au and ask for a Summary Record of Evidence template to complete alongside your application form.
If your evaluator is a registered teacher, you will be able to follow the process detailed below. If you are teaching at a site without a registered teacher (like an early childhood service) you will need to follow the Modified Process. The steps outlined in each process may occur separately or at the same time, but all steps must be completed.
Transition process
- Collate your portfolio of evidence.
- Engage an evaluator at your site to review your portfolio and observe your teaching practice, evaluating these against the APST at the proficient career stage.
- Collect your Statement of Service, or Statements if at multiple sites, to show your 200 days of teaching service within the previous five (5) years.
- Complete the Application form to Transition from Provisional to (full) Registration with your site's evaluator and have the form endorsed by your site's approved endorser.
- Submit the application form via email as a pdf (scanned pdf accepted also) or in hard copy. Electronic or wet signatures are accepted.
- All correspondence with the Teachers Registration Board must include the applicant, evaluator and endorser until the process is complete.
- Send to the Teachers Registration Board within six (6) months of the evaluator recommendation date.
Modified process
Teachers whose evaluator is not a fully registered teacher in South Australia (eg. some early childhood teachers) can be supported to transition using a Modified Process. Follow the same Transition process as above. Upon receipt of your application, a Project Officer will contact you and your evaluator to discuss and review your application.
For additional information go to Modified process.
Please note: Some Long Day Care employers have an agreement in place with the Board for an appropriate registered person within their organisation to oversee these applications – please contact professional.standards@trb.sa.edu.au if you are unsure.
Teachers who need advice or clarification on the process for early childhood teachers are welcome to call the Board, or contact professional.standards@trb.sa.edu.au
What happens if you do not transition?
If you are due to renew your registration and you have not yet transitioned to (full) registration, you will need to apply for an extended term of provisional registration.
To apply for an extended term of provisional registration you will need to follow the prompts in the portal when renewing registration. Providing as much detail as possible during this process will assist the Teachers Registration Board in evaluating your application.
Each consideration of an extension will depend on the particular circumstances of a matter, and applicants should not expect that such an extension will be granted, or if granted, it will be for a further five-year period. However, as a general guide, the following circumstances where provisional registration may be granted are:
- Illness or health-related issues
Where a teacher is requesting provisional registration at renewal due to illness or a health-related issue, a current medical certificate or report may be required to support the request.
All medical certificates or reports are to be addressed to the Registrar and marked CONFIDENTIAL.
- Carer Responsibilities
Where a teacher requests provisional registration at renewal due to responsibilities of caring for others. The proposed number of years of provisional registration under this criterion will depend on the particular and relevant circumstances of the applicant.
- Parental Leave
Where a teacher requests provisional registration at renewal due to parental leave, a period of up to two (2) years from the child's birth may be approved.
- Residing in Remote Area
Where a teacher is/or has been residing in a remote area with restricted opportunities to meet their provisional registration condition, the Board may approve provisional registration at renewal.
- Residing Overseas
Where a teacher is/or has been residing overseas with restricted opportunities to meet their provisional registration condition, the Board may approve provisional registration at renewal.
- Reduced Hours (part time)
Where a teacher is requesting provisional registration at renewal due to employment at reduced hours, a review will be undertaken of the proposed plan provided. The review will include an assessment of the requirements met and the teacher's written commitment to transition.
- Has not yet had a full five years of registration to transition
Teachers whose registration term has not provided them with a full five years, including those who applied for provisional registration under mutual recognition, may be granted provisional registration up to the five years (in yearly increments).
- Approved Groups - non-teaching or non-school roles
- Other Special Circumstances
In circumstances where teachers have grounds for provisional registration at renewal that are not covered by the criteria outlined above, such requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, considering situations that, while not previously addressed, warrant consideration. Examples may include transition to retirement.
What is a transition audit, and what happens if you are selected?
The Board audits a selection of applications to transition from provisional to (full) registration.
If your application does not have sufficient detail in the Summary Record of Evidence section, you will be contacted to update and re-submit your application before processing is finalised. Follow the guidelines for completion and view the sample Summary Record of Evidence (Sample Summary Record of Evidence) to ensure sufficient detail is included.
You should retain your application form, summary record and evidence (portfolio) for at least 12 months after the date your application is approved. If you are selected for audit you will be informed by email at the beginning and the end of the process.
For more information, you can read our TPR Fact Sheet
