Hong Kong to Require Teachers to Renew Certification Every Three Years
The Hong Kong government is preparing to implement a new regulation requiring teachers to obtain a practising certificate. Due to the large number of applications expected in the first year of implementation, authorities have announced that teachers will be granted a one-year transitional period.
The new regulation will apply to teachers working in publicly funded schools, private schools, international schools, and kindergartens. Short-term substitute teachers and tutors at private tuition centres will be exempt. To obtain the certificate, teachers must be registered and actively employed, declare their criminal record status, complete the required professional development hours, and reside in Hong Kong.
Speaking at a legislative panel meeting on Friday, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin stated that the lifetime validity of teacher registration no longer keeps pace with modern expectations, emphasizing that standards and professional demands in education have increased. She noted that the practising certificate, which will be valid for three years, aims to ensure quality and professional currency in the teaching profession.
The Education Bureau will establish an official register listing teachers’ names and practising certificate numbers. The regulation is expected to take effect in the second half of this year following amendments to the relevant ordinance. While the government has indicated that flexibility will be provided during the transition period, schools will be responsible for carefully verifying that applicants meet all requirements before submitting certification applications.