Permission to Teach (PTT) Information
Overview
Following the release of the Department of Education’s Memorandum of Understanding and policy Pre-Service Teachers Working with Permission to Teach (General) the Faculty of Education (FoE) is pleased to announce that it will allow Master of Teaching (Secondary), Master of Teaching (Primary) and Master of Teaching (Early Childhood & Primary) Teacher Candidates with Permission to Teach (PTT) - General, to undertake their placements at a school in which they are employed under the Permission to Teach (General) scheme.
If you wish to undertake a placement round at a school in which you are employed under the Permission to Teach General scheme, we ask that you speak with your PTT employer (school principal or relevant person) to discuss this and gain their approval as soon as possible. If you are both in agreement, you will be required to apply through Sonia, using the “2026 Permission to Teach (PTT) Declaration Form” (see ‘Application Steps' section). Once your completed form has been received, the Professional Experience team will then liaise with your school to confirm the placement details.
It is hoped that this change to FoE’s existing Master of Teaching Placement Operating Guidelines, following the new policy and guidelines released by the Department of Education, will allow greater flexibility for Teacher Candidates and partner schools.
Please note that this change extends only to those registered and employed in Primary and Secondary schools under PTT General. It has been specifically introduced to address workforce shortages within Victorian schools only and does not extend to Early Childhood Services.
*Placement 1 can only be undertaken at your PTT employment school with the permission of the Academic Lead, Professional Experience. Your application will be sent to the Academic Lead, Professional Experience, for approval.
PTT Process
If you hold PTT General, regardless of whether you will be undertaking your placement at your employment school, you must do the following:
- Log into your Sonia portal and provide your PTT information under the ‘My Details’ tab.
- Notify your PTT employer school principal of your Master of Teaching program requirements, including but not limited to assessment dates, placement dates, and subject requirements that may impact your time in the school. You should notify your principal of these details before you commence employment.
- If you decide not to undertake your placement/s at your PTT employment school, notify your employer as soon as practicable of the dates you will be on placement, and that you will be undertaking this at a different school.
- Complete the VIT’s one-day workshop “Supporting classroom practice workshop for PTT holders”.
- If undertaking a placement at your PTT employer school, you must declare to your principal any relevant risks that may arise due to an actual or perceived conflict of interest. If you are unsure as to what risks may arise, or whether a conflict (actual or perceived) exists, please speak to your principal.
How to apply to undertake a placement at your PTT Employer School
If you wish to apply to undertake a placement round at your PTT employer school, please start the conversation with your employer early. If you and your employer agree to a placement, you must inform the Professional Experience team by submitting a “2026 Permission to Teach (PTT) Declaration Form” via Sonia no later than six weeks before the start date of the placement round you are applying for. Placement start dates and application submission cut-off dates are below:
| Placement Subject | Placement Start Date | Application Cut-Off Date |
|---|---|---|
| Engaging and Assessing Learners 1 (placement 1)* | 20/04/2026 | 06/03/2026 |
| Engaging and Assessing Learners 2 (placement 2) | 24/08/2026 | 10/07/2026 |
| Engaging and Assessing Learners 3 (placement 3) | 18/05/2026 | 03/04/2026 |
| Clinical Teaching Practice | Varied | 6 weeks before placement commencing |
*If your application is for placement 1, it will be forwarded to the Academic Lead, Professional Experience for review.
Application Steps
- Approach your PTT employer and discuss undertaking placement at your PTT employment school. During this discussion, ensure that a Mentor Teacher will be available to supervise you and be present in the classroom with you during all placement days.
- Obtain confirmation in writing from your employment school principal or relevant person, that your placement can be hosted and that a Mentor Teacher will be always assigned to you and present in the classroom during your placement.
- Log into Sonia and navigate to the ‘Forms’ page.
- From the ‘Form’ drop-down list, select the “2026 Permission to Teach (PTT) Declaration Form” and click ‘Add’ (N.B. you will only be able to view and add this form if you have correctly enrolled in your placement subject).
- Once the form has been added, click the red ‘Edit’ button to open up the form for editing.
- Complete the form and add all required documents including a scan/photo of your PTT registration card, and evidence in writing that you have confirmed your placement and Mentor Teacher with your employment school.
- Click on the ‘Submit’ button (N.B. your form will not be reviewed by the Professional Experience team until you have submitted it).
- You will be sent an acknowledgment email to your student email address outlining the next steps*.
- An outcome email will be sent to your student email address two to five business days after your application has been received.
- The Professional Experience team will liaise with your employment school to confirm your placement details and provide the necessary paperwork to them.
If you have technical issues with your PTT form in Sonia, please contact the Professional Experience team.