NESA PD hours: what NSW teachers need and what counts
NSW teachers need 100 hours of professional development related to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in each maintenance period: 5 years for full-time teachers and 7 years for part-time and casual teachers. Here is what counts, what doesn't and how to log it.
By Saha Spaces · Updated
How many hours, over what period
PD needed to maintain accreditation in NSW
| Teacher | Maintenance period | PD needed |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 5 years | 100 hours related to the Standards |
| Part-time or casual | 7 years | 100 hours related to the Standards |
Proficient, Highly Accomplished and Lead teachers have the same PD requirement. The 7-year period applies to teachers who have worked part-time or casually during the period, and they give NESA evidence of that employment to adjust it.
What changed in August 2024
Since 16 August 2024, NESA no longer splits PD into Accredited and Elective. Any activity where you learn new skills or practices related to the Standards can count, whether or not the course was accredited.
What doesn't count
Duties that are already part of a teacher's role are not PD. NESA lists these as not counting:
- Programming and planning
- Administrative staff meetings
- Event coordination and excursions
- Writing student reports
- Marking and moderating
- Extra-curricular commitments or planning
- Coaching or leading student initiatives
- Creating or collaborating on individual learning plans
- Parent and carer interviews and meetings
- Trade union training
- Courses unrelated to teaching or curriculum
Some activity types have a maximum number of hours that can count toward the 100, so check NESA's list when most of your hours come from one kind of activity.
How to log PD
Logging in eTAMS is the fastest way to have your log ready if you're audited. You can also keep your own record using NESA's PD log template. Attendance certificates and PD evaluations are not required.
Date
When the PD took place.
Activity
The type of activity and its name.
Standards
Which Standard or Standards it addressed.
Duration
How long it ran.
Provider and priority area
The provider's name and a priority area, where they apply.
At the end of your maintenance period
In the last three months of the period, log in to eTAMS, confirm your employment and contact details, and declare that you have completed your PD.
NESA audits a random sample of PD logs every quarter. Some audits come before your maintenance is due, with six months' notice. Others come after it, with 28 days to hand over your log. Keep your records for 12 months after you submit your maintenance.
For school leaders
Employers are responsible for making sure their teachers have access to PD. The easiest help you can give is a record after every session with the date, the duration and the Standards it addressed, so logging takes minutes.
Saha gives every teacher that record, mapped to Standards 2.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1 and 5.2.
Where Saha fits
Saha runs hands-on PD once per term, then stays with your teachers through the term. Up to 15 opt in to coaching, with classroom evidence at 30, 60 and 90 days. Now booking Term 1 2027.
Questions
How many PD hours do NSW teachers need?
100 hours of professional development related to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in each maintenance period: 5 years for full-time teachers, 7 years for part-time and casual teachers.
Does PD have to be NESA accredited?
No. Since 16 August 2024 NESA no longer splits PD into Accredited and Elective. Any activity where you learn new skills or practices related to the Standards can count.
Do I need certificates for my PD?
No. NESA says attendance certificates and PD evaluations are not required. Keep a log with the date, activity, Standards addressed and duration.
Where do I log PD hours?
In eTAMS, or in your own record using NESA's PD log template. eTAMS is the fastest if you are audited.
Sources
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