Qualified to Teach

Qualified to teach in Northern Ireland

The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) which is a self-regulatory professional body for teachers has a statutory duty to determine who should be a member of the teaching profession in Northern Ireland.

All teachers who wish to have their qualifications approved for the purposes of registration with the GTCNI and eligibility to teach should contact - the GTCNI, 4th Floor Albany House, 73-75 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7AF

Any queries regarding qualifications should be referred to the GTCNI at the address above, or alternatively telephone: (028) 90333390 or email: info@gtcni.org.uk

Back to top

To teach pupils with visual and/or hearing impairment

Qualified teachers who wish to teach pupils with visual and/or hearing impairment must obtain further qualifications.  Departmental Circular 2007/22 gives a list of acceptable qualifications.

Appointment of teachers

Teachers are appointed to posts by ‘management committees’ according to the type of school. Vacancies are usually advertised in the Belfast Telegraph, Irish News, News Letter and in Educational Journals. The Department does not appoint teachers.

For a list of the Management Committees please access the link below.

Management committees

Salary and conditions under current regulations

Teachers:

• are placed on the salary scale according to the determination of employers;
• are normally required to be available for work 195 days each academic year;
• must satisfy the employing authority that they have the health and physical capacity to teach;

The Department of Education is under duty to protect the public funds that it administers and to this end may use the information held in connection with your payroll records/pension benefits for the prevention and detection of fraud.

It may also share this information with other bodies administering public funds solely for these purposes.

Back to top

You can buy regulations relating to teachers’ salaries and conditions from the Stationery Office Bookshop, Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD.