Teacher Education Refresh Programme
Your provider of the Teacher Education Refresh (TER) Programme for the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
This course is aimed at primary, secondary and Māori-medium trained teachers who have graduated from an initial teacher education programme but have not achieved a full practising certificate within five years of qualifying, are returning to a teaching career after a lengthy period away from the classroom or have trained overseas.
Note: Before enrolling, please make an application for a new practising certificate and confirm with the Teaching Council whether you are required to complete a TER. If you are TER required your place is funded by the Ministry of Education. If you trained as a teacher in another country, please check the Teaching Council's information for overseas-trained teachers.
Programme structure
TER participants will follow one of the two pathways:
Fast track option
This is for teachers presently in full-time permanent or full-time fixed-term teaching positions. Applicants must provide a letter from their school confirming their employment and acknowledging the applicant's involvement in the TER programme.
Practicum-based option
Teachers not currently employed in a full-time teaching position in a school will be required to complete a four-week practicum in a school (practicum is arranged by the University of Auckland).
More information
More information is available in the following documents:
Important note
In 2025 there are four available TER programmes - teachers need to complete only ONE of them. For details of Maori Medium TER options please email kohia@auckland.ac.nz
2025 programme dates
TER 2 2025 (31 March 2025–16 June 2025)
Three in-person workshops held at the University of Auckland City Campus, Auckland CBD, 9am-4.30pm
31 March, 1 April, 2 April 2025
(No online alternative available)
Four-week practicum in a school:
12 May to 6 June 2025
Online end of programme meeting and tasks:
16 June 2025
Applications closed
TER 3 2025 (11 June 2025-22 August 2025)
Three in-person workshops held at the University of Auckland City Campus,
Auckland CBD, 9am-4.30pm
11, 12, 13 June 2025
(No online alternative available)
Four-week practicum in a school:
21 July to 15 August 2025
Online end of programme meeting and tasks:
22 August 2025
Applications closed
TER 4 2025 (1 September 2025-7 November 2025)
Three in-person workshops held at the University of Auckland City Campus, Auckland CBD, 9am-4.30pm
1, 2, 3 September 2025
(No online alternative available)
Four-week practicum in a school:
6 October to 31 Oct 2025
Online end of programme meeting and tasks:
7 November 2025
Applications open:
(early June)
Applications close:
(to be confirmed)
Please note:
TER 4 is open to all primary teachers, but limited to secondary teachers already employed in teaching positions.
Expectations
Participants will be required to attend all face-to-face sessions at the University of Auckland and must bring a laptop/portable device for these sessions to access the University wireless network. There is an expectation that all online modules and assignments will be completed by the due date throughout the programme.
Outcomes for participants
The Teacher Education Refresh Programme is a pass/fail programme.
Successful participants will be presented with a certificate of completion. Course completion requires the participant to have completed all online tasks to the required standard. It also requires attendance at all face-to-face workshops and effective teaching practice in accordance with the Standards of the Teaching Profession. A practicum report from an associate teacher and a lesson observation by a TER facilitator will be used to assess effective teaching practice.
Enrolment
TER 4 enrolment open date to be confirmed.
Teacher Education Refresh enrolment form.
The University of Auckland will take responsibility for finding a suitable practicum placement in your preferred area. Following application, TER participants may be required to attend a short interview/chat via Zoom.
For more information, contact us:
Phone: 09 623 8977
Email: kohia@auckland.ac.nz