Certification

The QCT certifies teachers in Queensland state schools and in non-state schools represented by Catholic Education Queensland Limited (CEQL). Teachers employed in independent schools are certified by Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ).

The certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers (HALT) is a voluntary process in which fully registered teachers demonstrate their abilities, experience, knowledge, and skills at the Highly Accomplished or Lead career stages of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST).

Certification:
  • is founded on the APST
  • lasts for five years and is nationally recognised
  • is a two-stage process.

      Thinking about certification?

      Teacher certification overview

      Certification is how the QCT recognises expert teaching. Here's what is involved and what it could mean for you. The QCT looks at real evidence of your practice, planning, and teaching, and your work with colleagues. It assesses against the national standards at a Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher career stage. This applies if you are a fully registered teacher, work in a state school or a Catholic school. If you work in an independent school, ISQ handles certification for you.

      Certification lasts for five years and is recognised across Australia. It is one of the few ways to be formally acknowledged as an expert in your classroom. 

      So why apply? For some, it's recognition and acknowledging their practice. For others, it's about opening doors, more influence in your school, and a way to keep growing without changing your title.

      It's worth being upfront, though. This is no quick form. You'll gather evidence over time. You will have to write reflections to the standards, have conversations with your principal, and film yourself teaching. It takes real time and real thought.

      The other decision is which career stage. Highly accomplished is about the depth of your classroom expertise and how you use it to support your colleagues. Lead teacher is about taking it further, leading change, and building capability across your school.

      If you are leaning towards Highly Accomplished or know that your practice is more at Lead, we have made a video of each for you to see exactly what is involved.

      Watch
      1
      Highly Accomplished Teacher overview

      Highly Accomplished Teacher certification recognises those teachers who are highly effective in their classrooms and how they use that expertise to lift and support colleagues around them. A Proficient teacher is highly effective in their classroom. A Highly Accomplished teacher is too, but their impact reaches further. They mentor, coach, and model their expert practice for colleagues around them.

      Highly Accomplished standards ask for evidence across three areas, your professional knowledge, your classroom practice, and how you engage with the profession. The through line is exactly the same. You're not just teaching well, you're helping and supporting your colleagues around you to teach better too. One thing to know early you choose your career stage before you apply. Your application is assessed as Highly Accomplished or Lead, not both. So it's worth being certain before you start gathering evidence.

      A good test is to look at what you're already doing. If you're routinely advising and supporting colleagues around you and helping them with tricky problems in their classroom, this is Highly Accomplished teaching practice. And that's exactly what your evidence needs to show real impact on your students and real impact on your colleagues growth. If you're still not sure, watch the Lead Teacher video too and go to the standards themselves. They are the clearest guide you have.

      Watch
      1:48
      Lead Teacher overview

      Lead Teacher certification recognises those that initiate and lead change across the school and often beyond it. A Proficient teacher is highly effective in their classroom. A Lead teacher is too, but they initiate, evaluate, and lead programs and policies that shape highly effective practice across the school.

      The Lead standards ask for evidence across three areas your professional knowledge, practice and engagement. At Lead, you are expected to lead initiatives, not just take part in them. One thing to know early you choose your career stage before you apply. Your application is assessed as Highly Accomplished or Lead, not both. So it's worth being certain before you start gathering evidence.

      A good test is to see what you're already doing. If you're initiating programs that go beyond the classroom, leading professional development, and shaping programs that work across and beyond the school, this is Lead teacher practice in action. And that is what your evidence needs to show real impact on students and real impact at the whole school level. Still not sure? Cross-check with the Highly Accomplished video and let the standards themselves make the final call.

      Watch
      1:43
      Employer requirements

      The QCT provides support to assist Queensland teachers seeking certification as Highly Accomplished or Lead Teachers.

      You can access:
      • downloadable resources
      • webinars.
      These will assist you, your referees, and school leaders in understanding:
      • the application process and requirements
      • how the APST are applied
      • how to demonstrate your teaching practice evidence.
      Important dates

      In response to teacher feedback, the 2027 application portal will open for an extended period. The application portal for Stage 1 applications* will be open from January 25, 2027, to June 25, 2027.

      *A certification application may take up to 6 months for the full assessment process to be finalised, including Stage 1 and Stage 2.

      Use these resources to check if you’re ready to apply:
      Preparing your application resources:
      Preparing evidence
      Referee information
      Consent

      If you’re including someone else's information in your application, you must get their consent.

      Application formats

      You can develop your application using Word, PowerPoint [PPTX, 192KB], PDF, or OneNote [ONEPKG, 1.1MB].

      OneNote users
      • Use the desktop version of OneNote (not the cloud version).
      • Export your notebook as a OneNote package file (*.ONEPKG).
      • Mac users: ONEPKG files don’t work on Mac.
      Need help?

      For questions about the Applicant Support Program, email certification@qct.edu.au.

      What is renewal of certification?

      Renewal of certification verifies that teachers continue to meet the standards for their career stage (HAT or LT) during their 5 years of certification. It confirms they possess the abilities, knowledge, and skills required by the APST.

      • Teachers who want to renew their certification must be employed in state schools or schools represented by CEQL.
      • If you miss your renewal deadline, you will need to reapply by submitting a full certification application.
      To renew, refer to the Renewal of Certification guidelines, the Renewal of Certification Policy, and the renewal templates in the Policies, guidelines, and templates section below.
      When should I apply?
      • You will be asked if you’d like to renew 12 months prior to your certification expiring.
      • Applications open 12 months before your certification ends and close 6 months before the end date.
      You’ll need to provide:
      1. Professional practice statement (1500–2500 words)
        • Provide three examples of your teaching practice from the past five years.
        • Demonstrate how your efforts have affected student results and helped colleagues.
      2. Professional learning statement
        • Explain how you’ve developed professionally and practice your new skills.
      3. Referee statements
        • 3–5 referees must verify your work; one must be your current principal or supervisor.
      4. Video evidence (30–35 minutes)
        • Record a lesson demonstrating your teaching skills; it must be unedited and under 2GB.
        • Obtain consent from everyone in the video (students, parents, colleagues, etc.).
      5. Lead initiative description (for LT only)
        • Write up to 1000 words about a project or initiative you led that positively impacted colleagues and students.
      How does the process work?
      1. Expression of intent (EOI): let QCT know you plan to renew.
      2. Pre-assessment: make sure you meet all of the requirements.
      3. Submission: upload your documents and evidence through myQCT.
      4. Assessment: QCT reviews your application.
      5. Decision: you’ll be notified if your certification is renewed.
      What do referees need to do?
      1. Verify examples: review the examples given by the teacher in their written statements. Ensure they are correct and true.
      2. Optional comments: you may include remarks about the teacher’s practice, such as:
        • what they did and why
        • who they worked with
        • how effective their work was (e.g. impact on students or colleagues).
      3. Professional standards: link your comments to the APST or specific professional capabilities mentioned by the teacher.
      4. Sign and return: sign, date, and return the referee statement to the teacher. Keep a copy for yourself.
      Key points for referees
      • Who can be a referee?
        • You do not need to be currently collaborating with the teacher, but you must have collaborated with them in the past five years.
      • What if you cannot verify?
        • If you are unable to confirm the examples, do not finish the statement. Let the teacher know why.
      • Contact details
        • Include your contact information. Assessors might reach out for more details, and your comments will be recorded and may be shared with the teacher if necessary.
      Principal or supervisor role
      • Discuss the teacher’s intention to apply for renewal.
      • Verify the accuracy of the teacher’s statements and provide feedback on their performance.
      • Principals can delegate this role to another school leader if needed.
      How can schools support certified teachers?
      • Give them time and resources to work on projects or leadership tasks.
      • Encourage them to mentor other teachers or lead professional development.
      • Help them collaborate with other schools for Lead initiatives.
      Tips for writing the statement
      • Pay attention to the examples the teacher asks you to verify.
      • Be clear and specific in your comments.
      • Use the provided template for the right career stage (HAT or LT).
      Extra info
      • Teachers require 3–5 referees to verify all their examples.
      • For LT renewal, referees must confirm at least one leadership initiative from the past five years.
      • The QCT complies with strict privacy laws to safeguard your personal information.
      • You must keep copies of all your documents and evidence.
      • If you are on leave during the renewal period, you may include examples of your work from any time during your certification period.
      • If you want to progress from HAT to LT, you must submit a new application.
      • See Policies, guidelines, and templates for more information.

      The national Framework for the Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers states that certifying authorities must have a process to recognise teachers who have already met some or all of the Standards. This can be done through other trusted programs in which teachers have demonstrated their skills at the HAT or LT career levels.

      There are guidelines to help program providers understand what they need to do to get their programs approved. If you’re an eligible provider, you must contact the QCT for a meeting before applying. Eligible providers include government education agencies, universities, teacher employers, and professional teaching groups.

      If you want to know more about the pathways process, email the QCT at certification@qct.edu.au.

      Approved pathway programs
      Provider Career stageProgram



      Department of Education
      (Available for state school teachers only)      		 Highly Accomplished Mentoring Early Career Teachers:
      Highly Accomplished Teacher Pathway
      Teaching.Expertise@qed.qld.gov.au



      Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) Highly Accomplished QCAA Assessor training and operations: Chief and Lead endorsers
      pathway_programs@qcaa.qld.edu.au


      Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools (Available to Toowoomba Catholic school teachers only) Highly Accomplished Support to Succeed (S2S):
      ECT MentorLink Program
      enquiries@twb.catholic.edu.au
      Last updated:
      20 August 2026