[Ashby]

I originally posted this to "NZQA" but thought it would do better here with a new title!!


I am a teacher in the US. I have a business degree (in Finance) and I became a math teacher through an alternative certification course. My course was through a college, included classes and a year long internship (which was a paid post).
I have seen that teachers from the UK who have done similar steps to become teachers are having trouble being recognized in NZ. As some of the wording is a little confusing to me (abbreviations, etc and names are very different), I am making a "best guess" attempt at correlation.
The official response (I followed a link from one of the threads on here) was directed only to the UK. Not really sure if these are the same things: GTP and Alt. Cert.
Are there any Alternative Certification teachers who have had the good luck of getting assessed ok with TC?

Thanks for your help.

[Carol]

I had no problems.
I have a degree in Applied Chemistry and a PGCE for my teaching qualification.

It actually works out in my favour on the new pay scales as I qualify to be on "Q3+"

[ruthyroo]

Lots of NZ teachers qualify by doing a degree first and then a one year post-graduate qualification in education. If your 'alternative certification' is deemed to be the equivalent of this (as the UK PGCE is) then you should be fine. Best way to find out is to apply for as assessment from the NZQA...

Good luck

[Ashby]

Maybe if I understood the terms, I would better know what is going on. What does PGCE stand for? And what is GTP?

If I know what those are, then I could "convert" them to the Am. equivalent and then I would be able to convert that Am. equivalent to the NZ equivalent--as the UK to NZ equivalents are relatively easy to research.
Now that is clear as mud!!

[dharder]

What does PGCE stand for? And what is GTP?

If I know what those are, then I could "convert" them to the Am. equivalent and then I would be able to convert that Am. equivalent to the NZ equivalent--as the UK to NZ equivalents are relatively easy to research.
Now that is clear as mud!!

PGCE is Postgraduate Certificate in Education, GTP is Graduate Teaching Programme. The former is a one year college course with teaching stints, the latter is a programme where you teach at a school and get your certifciation while you are working.

My OH asked about this a couple of years ago and was told that becoming qualified via the GTP route would not be recognised in NZ, but the PGCE would.

Yours sounds like the PGCE, so you shouldn't have a problem.

Good luck,

Daniela