Professional accreditation of ITE programmes
Professional accreditation for any profession is a judgement as to whether a programme prepares one for entry into that profession. It is distinct from academic accreditation which is based on the suitability of a programme for the award of a degree/diploma.
All teacher education programmes in Ireland that led to registration must have professional accreditation.
Procedures for the Professional Accreditation of ITE Programmes (PDF)
Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education
In November 2020, the Teaching Council launched the revised standards for programmes of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education.
All new Primary and Post-primary programmes submitted to the Council for accreditation must now be in alignment with Céim.
School Placement
School placement a critical part of initial teacher education (ITE) as it enables the student teacher to experience teaching and learning in a variety of contexts, and to participate in school life in a way that is structured and supported.
Immersive Special Education Learning Period (ISELP)
The Immersive Special Education Learning Period (ISELP) is a two‑week assessed school placement experience designed to enhance student teachers’ understanding of inclusive education and their preparedness to support children with persistent, significant and enduring special educational needs.
The ISELP will apply to all primary and post-primary programmes of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) from September 2026.
ISELP Guidance Note- Applicable to all Primary and Post Primary Programmes of ITE
Further Education
To register as a Further Education teacher you must complete a Teaching Council accredited Further Education teacher education qualification (TEQ).
Please view our register as a Further Education teacher page.
List of accredited programmes
Our programme filtering page allows you to filter accredited programmes by provider, route, and subject.