Australian Capital Territory
ACT Teacher Quality Institute (Certification Renewal Fee) Determination 2017 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2017–83
made under the  
ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010, s 95 (Determination of fees)
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Section 95 of the ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 permits the Minister to determine fees for the purposes of this Act.
The ACT Teacher Quality Institute Act 2010 came into effect on 1 January 2011. The ACT Teacher Quality Institute is responsible for:

•	professional registration of teachers
•	accrediting education courses for pre-service teachers and teachers
•	certifying teachers against national professional standards
•	developing and applying a code of professional practice for teachers
•	working closely with employers to promote continuous professional learning by teachers.
Under s 11(f) of the Act the Institute may determine standards, including assessment and certification standards, for the teaching profession within a framework of nationally recognised professional standards, for application under the Act. In October 2013 the Territory formally adopted the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Standards), including standards for the certification of teachers at the Highly Accomplished and Lead levels (NI2013-491).

Certification is granted for a fixed period of five years. Teachers intending to maintain their national certification must apply for renewal of certification according to the processes outlined in the Guide to the Renewal of Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers in Australia. The purpose of the renewal of certification is to verify a teacher’s ongoing performance at the Highly Accomplished or Lead level. The first cohort of teachers to achieve certification in the ACT reach the end of the five year period in late 2017. 
A tax deductible application fee is payable at the time of application for certification renewal. This covers the release of assessors from schools to assess renewal applications. Once the renewal of certification has been granted to an applicant it is valid for a period of five years. The fee is refundable if the applicant fails to meet the eligibility criteria for the renewal of Certification.
This Determination is in addition to the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (Certification Fee) Determination 2013 (No 1) (Disallowable Instrument DI2013-81), which specifies the fee for the initial certification application. This instrument notes that the fee is exempt from GST.
This Determination comes into effect on the day after its notification day.