Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
Ways to meet the requirement
From the Teaching Council's English language requirement page. You provide one of the following with your registration application; registration cannot be finalised without it.
| Evidence | What the Council asks for |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Certificate with a score of 7.0 or above |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | Grade C or higher |
| Qualification in English | Teacher education or undergraduate qualification acquired and examined in English (plus a letter from the institution if English is not the local language) |
| Work in English | Living and working professionally in English, in a country where English is an official language, for three of the last five years |
| Study in English | Living and studying in English, in a country where English is an official language, for three of the last five years |
Sitting and validity rules
All components of the IELTS or Cambridge test must be attempted at the same sitting, and the Council may verify your score with the test provider.
The test must have been taken no more than five years before you submit, unless you can show that since the test you have lived and worked or studied full-time in an English-speaking environment.
The page gives a single score of 7.0 and does not set separate minimums for each skill.
Registering as a teacher in Ireland?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS Academic mock and compare your band per skill with the score in this guide. Free account, no card.
Take a free IELTS Academic mock →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Other conditions for overseas-qualified teachers
English is only one part of registration. Primary teachers who qualified outside Ireland have the Irish Language Requirement applied to their registration (see the primary route page), and post-primary teachers have the History and Structure of the Irish Education System condition applied (see the post-primary route page). Any qualification shortfalls are applied as conditions, which you normally have three years to meet.
Regulators change these rules, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current scores on the Teaching Council page before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score do teachers need in Ireland?+
An IELTS Academic certificate with a score of 7.0 or above, all parts taken at one sitting.
How old can my IELTS result be for the Teaching Council?+
No more than five years before you apply, unless you have lived and worked or studied full-time in an English-speaking environment since.
Do I need IELTS if my teaching degree was in English?+
No. A teacher education or undergraduate qualification acquired and examined in English is accepted instead.
Does the Teaching Council accept Cambridge English?+
Yes. Cambridge C1 Advanced with at least Grade C is accepted.
Is IELTS General Training accepted?+
The Teaching Council page names IELTS Academic.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for teachers in the UK
- IELTS for teachers in Australia
- IELTS for Ireland
- Free IELTS Academic mock test
- All 2279 guides
Guide updated on 29 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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