If you want to teach in a NSW school before you finish your degree, the LANTITE is now the first thing you need, not the last. From 1 August 2026, NESA only grants Conditional accreditation to teaching students who have already passed it. This page covers what Conditional accreditation is, exactly what changed, who is and isn't affected, the two exceptions, and how to time your sitting so your result is ready when you apply. Everything here comes from NESA's own pages, checked in September 2026.
The short version
- Pass first, then apply. From 1 August 2026 you must pass the LANTITE before NESA grants Conditional accreditation.
- New applications only. Teachers who were already Conditionally accredited are not affected.
- Two exceptions. A school with an urgent staffing need can ask NESA to accredit you first, and the degree-only pathway gives you 24 months to pass.
- Plan around results day. Results arrive four to five weeks after a test window closes, so sit at least one window before you plan to apply.
What is Conditional accreditation?
You need NESA accreditation to teach in a NSW school. Conditional accreditation is the first level, and it exists for people who are still studying: it is what lets a school employ you as a teacher while you finish your degree.
- When you can apply: once you have completed 75% of an undergraduate teaching degree, or 50% of a postgraduate one. In credit points, that is 240 of 320 in a Bachelor of Education, or 100 of 200 in a Master of Teaching.
- How you apply: online, through NESA's eTAMS system.
- Where the LANTITE used to fit: it didn't. You only had to meet the standard before your final professional experience placement or graduation, so plenty of students were teaching before they had passed.
What changed, and when
NESA's stated aim is to make sure the teachers entering NSW classrooms are well prepared and keep progressing toward their full qualification. It gave students, universities and schools almost six months' notice before the LANTITE part took effect.
Who it affects, and who it doesn't
- Affected: anyone applying for Conditional accreditation on or after 1 August 2026. That includes students lining up teaching work for 2027 right now.
- Not affected: teachers who were already Conditionally accredited. NESA has said the changes don't apply to them.
- Unchanged for everyone: you still have to meet the LANTITE standard before your final professional experience placement or graduation. The new rule only brings the deadline forward if you want to teach before you graduate.
The two exceptions
A school with an urgent staffing need
The principal or employer can apply to NESA on your behalf and ask it to grant Conditional accreditation before you have passed. NESA looks at each case on its own merits, so treat this as a safety net for the school, not a plan for you.
The degree-only pathway
For people who already hold at least a three-year bachelor's degree in the area they will teach and have a formal written offer of at least one school term of teaching, not casual work. Accredited this way, you have 24 months to show NESA you have completed the LANTITE.
The other changes worth knowing
- A yearly progress update. Since 1 March 2026, every Conditionally accredited teacher has to tell NESA each year how far through their degree they are.
- No casual roles on the degree-only pathway. Applicants need a formal offer of at least one term.
- A lighter teaching load. NESA recommends that teachers who are studying while working keep to a reduced load of up to 0.6 FTE, about three days a week.
When to sit the LANTITE if you want to teach while you study
Work backwards from the point where you will reach 75% of your degree, or 50% of a postgraduate course. Your result needs to be in hand by then, and it takes a while to arrive.
2026 Window 4
Register: 22 September to 5 October 2026
Test: 26 October to 8 November 2026
Results: week ending 4 December 2026
2027 Window 1
Register: 12 to 25 January 2027
Test: 15 to 28 February 2027
Results: expected late March 2027
Rest of 2027
Not published yet. ACER's usual pattern is windows in May, August and late October.
Want teaching work in Term 1 2027? The October window is the last one with results before the 2027 school year starts. Registration closes at 5pm on Monday 5 October 2026, on ACER's site.
Dates from ACER. Every 2026 window, fee and registration step is on our LANTITE test dates 2026 page, and what results day looks like is on LANTITE results.
How to pass it the first time
With a job riding on the result, a missed component now costs you more than a $98 resit. It can cost you a term of paid work. The test itself hasn't changed: 65 questions per component, two hours each, and a part of the numeracy test where you can't use a calculator. Practising in exactly that format is the most direct way to get ready, and it's what The LANTITE App is built around.
Exam Mode
Test-style questions across seven levels, from Trial to LANTITE Ready, with worked solutions and Lisa, our AI tutor, when you're stuck.
Study & Practice
Short lessons, 69 video lessons and practice for every skill the test covers, so you can fix exactly what Exam Mode shows up.
Ten full-length practice papers
Five numeracy and five literacy, sat online against the clock and marked for you, so test day feels familiar.
The Pass Guarantee
Reach LANTITE Ready in the app and, if you still don't meet the standard, take a full refund of your last payment or a free extension until your next sitting.
Find out where you stand today
Create a free account and sit a full practice paper. You'll know how far you are from the standard before you pay ACER a cent.
Common questions
Do I need to pass the LANTITE before Conditional accreditation in NSW?
Yes, if you apply on or after 1 August 2026. NESA now requires a LANTITE pass before it grants Conditional accreditation. The only exception is an application from a school principal or employer with an urgent staffing need, which NESA considers case by case.
I'm already Conditionally accredited. Does the new rule affect me?
No. NESA has said that teachers who are already Conditionally accredited in NSW are not affected by these changes.
When can I apply for Conditional accreditation?
Once you have completed 75% of an undergraduate teaching degree or 50% of a postgraduate one, for example 240 of 320 credit points in a Bachelor of Education. From 1 August 2026 you also need your LANTITE pass. You apply online through NESA's eTAMS system.
Can a school get me accredited before I pass the LANTITE?
Only if it has an urgent staffing need. The principal or employer can apply to NESA on your behalf, and NESA decides case by case. You still have to meet the LANTITE standard before your final professional experience placement or graduation.
What is the degree-only pathway, and how long do I have to pass?
It is for people who hold at least a three-year bachelor's degree in the area they will teach and have a formal written offer of at least one school term of teaching work, not casual. If you are accredited this way, you have 24 months to give NESA evidence that you have completed the LANTITE.
When should I sit the LANTITE if I want to teach while I study?
At least one test window before you reach 75% or 50% of your degree. Results come out four to five weeks after a window closes, and if you miss a component the next window is about three months away. The window from 26 October to 8 November 2026 is the last one with results before the 2027 school year, and registration for it closes on 5 October 2026.
Sources: NESA, Strengthening Conditional accreditation (12 February 2026); NESA, Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education; NESA, I'm still studying a teaching degree in Australia; ACER, test dates. Checked 27 September 2026.
