Exemption cards for Queensland registered teachers

If you are a teacher registered with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) you do not need a blue or exemption card when teaching at a school or boarding school.

Teachers employed in another role within a school also don’t need an exemption card.

If you perform any role with children beyond the scope of your profession as a teacher an exemption card may be required.

An exemption card is a blue card by another name and is only for sworn police officers and Queensland registered teachers. Registered teachers must apply for an exemption card when working with children beyond the scope of their profession.

Examples

An exemption card is not needed for a teacher:

• teaching a class at a state primary school
• coaching a school basketball team
• providing learning support to a child in a classroom setting
• working at a boarding school.

An exemption card is needed for a teacher who:

• privately teaches or tutors children—if you do private maths tuition or private music lessons on a commercial basis, you will need an exemption card under the private teaching, coaching or tutoring category.
• participates in their school’s homestay program if you have homestay students, you will need an exemption card under the Child accommodation services category and will need to nominate the school as the employer.
• works in a kindergarten or childcare centre—you will need an exemption card under the education and care services category.
• sits on a board which operates the Outside Hours School Care (OHSC)—you will need an exemption card under the education and care services category.
• coaches a children’s sports team at the local football club on the weekends—you need an exemption card under the churches, clubs and associations category.

Applying for an exemption card

Registered teachers can apply for an exemption card online or by using the appropriate paper form:

• Exemption card application
• Exemption card application or renewal for disability service workers
• Exemption card business application.

Registered teachers can commence providing child-related regulated services once they have applied for an exemption card and have been linked to an organisation. However, directors of a non-state school governing body must have a valid exemption card before starting child-related work.

Once an application for an exemption card is received, Blue Card Services will liaise with QCT to confirm the applicant is a registered teacher and whether further employment screening is required. If a teacher has a criminal history an assessment of their eligibility to hold an exemption card will be undertaken.

More information

• Read about blue cards for schools.
• Understand linking requirements for organisations.
• Check when you don’t need a blue card.
• Check who cannot apply for or hold a blue card.
• Learn how to apply for a blue or exemption card.