Following qualifications as teachers and on taking up their first appointment, primary teachers undergo a one year period of probation. During this period they are inspected and advised by members of the Department's inspectorate on at least two occasions. On successful completion of the probation period, teachers are fully established as members of the teaching profession.
The work of established primary teachers is regularly inspected during school inspections which are conducted by the Department's inspectorate in all primary schools at intervals of approximately six years. In addition, the work of an individual teacher is subject to incidental inspection. Teachers whose work is regarded as unsatisfactory are inspected under the terms of rule 161 of the Rules for National Schools.
Students preparing to become second level teachers within either concurrent teacher education courses or consecutive, higher diploma in education, courses are required to demonstrate through a combination of theoretical and practical tests that they have attained the level of competence deemed necessary by the universities.
The Secondary Teachers' Registration Council admits to its professional register teachers who meet its academic and professional requirements and have completed satisfactorily a probationary teaching period of one year. For appointment to teaching posts under vocational education committees teachers must meet the specific requirements for the post in accordance with memorandum V7 and be successful in an interview process in which inspectors of my Department participate.