Notification of intention to apply for HAT or LT Certification in 2025 (Closed)Notification of intention to apply for HAT or LT Certification in 2025 (Closed)

Welcome to the Notification of Intention to Apply for Certification online application form for aspiring HAT and LT applicants who are intending to undertake the teacher certification process in 2025.

Please be advised that If you are not intending to submit an application to the QCT by Monday 9 June (noon) 2025, please do not complete this Notification of Intention to Apply.

A separate process will be run for 2026 and beyond.

The purpose of this online form is to enable the QCT to ascertain applicant numbers for 2025 and QCEC to forward plan the deployment of assessors to undertake the assessment of HAT and LT Teachers. Completing this form is not a binding commitment to undertake certification.

This application will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Please click 'Next' and read the important information relating to the process, eligibility and readiness. You will then be asked to provide your details and confirm your eligibility to finalise your notification.

About the Certification Process

Aspiring HAT and LT applicants who are undertaking the 2025 certification process will be required to:

• Submit an Assessment Stage 1 Certification application (Portfolio) to the QCT between Monday 26 May and Monday 9 June (noon) 2025. Applicants who submit an application must also be available to participate during the assessment period which will take place during 2025.
• In 2024, the Queensland College of Teachers has released Certification 2.0 which includes an option to receive feedback on a sample of evidence known as the pre-submission evidence check. Further details are available on the QCT Website for Certification 2.0 process and Applicant Support Program. Total assessment costs include:
  • Stage 1: $850.00 per applicant
  • Stage 2: $650.00 per applicant (if successful at Stage 1).

Eligibility Requirements

There are a number of eligibility requirements for teachers applying for Certification.

To meet these national requirements a teacher must:

• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or hold a permanent residency visa;
• hold full registration with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT);
• have satisfactorily completed at least two (2) annual performance reviews (or approved equivalent) in the two years preceding the next date designated for portfolio submissions (i.e. 9 June 2025) for HAT certification OR have satisfactorily completed at least three APR (or approved equivalent) in the three (3) years preceding application (i.e. 9 June 2025) for LT certification;
• to the best of their knowledge, meet mandatory teaching requirements in 2025. This is that they have an ‘authentic' teaching role (hold an ongoing teaching role with students that requires the applicant to plan, prepare, teach, differentiate, assess and report (to students and parents) on student outcomes of an educational program;
• complete the AITSL Self-Assessment Tool;
• have a minimum of 5 years (6,000 hours) of recognised teaching service as at the next date designated for portfolio submissions (i.e. 9 June 2025); and
• conduct a professional discussion with their Principal, or their Principal's delegate, regarding their readiness to apply.

• Be employed and teaching in a Queensland Catholic school
• Not currently be subject to formal performance management processes

Please note: Principals will be asked to verify information provided.

Readiness to Apply for Teacher Certification

Before submitting this Notification of Intention to Apply, you are required to:

• review the eligibility criteria to confirm you are eligible to apply
• complete the AITSL Self-Assessment tool to support your decision on the most appropriate career stage to apply for
• have a discussion with your Principal, or their delegate, about your readiness to apply.

It is also recommended that you familiarise yourself with the certification process and application requirements by accessing professional development sessions and key resources located on the QCEC HAT and LT website.

Applicant Details

Please provide the following information.

Teaching Details

Highly Accomplished or Lead?

Please make sure you are familiar with the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher career stages before selecting which one you will apply for. Please visit the QCEC HAT and LT website to find out more.

It is also encouraged that you are familiar with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers before selecting the career stage you intend to apply for. The APST are the basis for national Certification at the HAT and LT career stages.

Applicant Eligibility Confirmation

Over the next few pages, you will be asked a series of questions that relate to the eligibility requirements for teachers applying for Certification.

Please complete all questions.

Applicant Eligibility Confirmation - Recognised Teaching Experience

At the next date designated for portfolio submissions (i.e. 9 June 2025), applicants are required to have 5 years (6,000 hours) or more recognised teaching experience.

Please note that recognised teaching experience can include provisional registration. It can include full time, part time and/or casual employment, or include a mix of these.

If you are unsure about the duration of your teaching experience or need to check if your external teaching service is recognised, please contact your employer.

Please answer the following question in relation to your recognised teaching experience.

Applicant Eligibility Confirmation - Annual Performance Reviews (APRs)

At the next date designated for portfolio submissions (9 June 2025), applicants for Highly Accomplished Teacher (HAT) certification are required to have completed at least two APRs (or approved equivalent) in the two years preceding their application for certification and applicants for Lead Teacher (LT) are required to have completed at least three APRs (or approved equivalent) in the three years preceding their application for certification. 

If your school does not undertake a formalised APR process then an equivalent would be required to reflect similar elements and would need to have been completed in the two or three years preceding the application date (i.e. 9 June 2025). 

Please answer the following question to confirm your eligibility against the APR criteria.

Applicant Eligibility Confirmation - Teaching Requirements

When applying for certification, teachers will need to be able to demonstrate their skills in teaching students in a teaching context.

Applicants are required to meet mandatory teaching requirements of an ‘authentic’ teaching role. This is defined as holding an ongoing teaching role with students that requires the applicant to plan, prepare, teach, differentiate, assess and report (to students and parents) on student outcomes of an educational program.

Page 11 of the Guide to Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers in Australia states “There is no requirement for a specified number of hours or teaching load, but the teacher will need to be responsible for an ongoing teaching program and the assessment of students.” (AITSL, 2017).

Please answer the following questions to confirm your authentic teaching role.

Additional Considerations

Please advise whether you have attended a HAT and LT Information Session and/or a HAT and LT In-Depth Workshop, run by QCEC and QCT.

Please note that attending these sessions is highly recommended, but is not a mandatory requirement. 

Applicant Declaration

By selecting "Yes" you are agreeing to the following statements.

• I declare the information I have entered in this Notification of Intention to Apply for Certification is true and correct at the time of submission.
• I confirm my understanding that I must pay the assessment fees prior to the commencement of each stage – Stage 1 ($850), Stage 2 ($650).
• I confirm my understanding that I must successfully pass Stage 1 assessment in order to progress to Stage 2.

IMPORTANT - Please note that once you submit this online form a copy will be emailed to your Principal or Principal’s delegate to review and complete the online Principal's endorsement form.