The Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) recognises the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority's (QCAA) Assessor training and operations for Chief and Lead endorsers as a pathway program towards Highly Accomplished certification.
The QCAA pathway program recognises 6 descriptors of the Highly Accomplished Career stage of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST). You can use these towards your individual Stage 1 application for Highly Accomplished certification.
The 6 descriptors are:
- Focus Area 2.3: Support colleagues to plan and implement learning and teaching programs using contemporary knowledge and understanding of curriculum, assessment and reporting requirements.
- Focus Area 5.1: Develop and apply a comprehensive range of assessment strategies to diagnose learning needs, comply with curriculum requirements and support colleagues to evaluate the effectiveness of their approaches to assessment.
- Focus Area 6.3: Initiate and engage in professional discussions with colleagues in a range of forums to evaluate practice directed at improving professional knowledge and practice, and the educational outcomes of students.
- Focus Area 7.1: Maintain high ethical standards and support colleagues to interpret codes of ethics and exercise sound judgement in all school and community contexts.
- Focus Area 7.2: Support colleagues to review and interpret legislative, administrative, and organisational requirements, policies and processes.
- Focus Area 7.4: Contribute to professional networks and associations and build productive links with the wider community to improve teaching and learning.
Who can apply
You must be currently appointed and participating as a Lead or Chief endorser.
How to apply
There are 2 intakes per year: Semester 1 (January) and Semester 2 (July).
To express your interest, email pathway_programs@qcaa.qld.edu.au.
A QCAA officer will contact you about next steps once you are accepted into an intake cohort.
Program requirements
To complete the program you must:
- complete additional training or briefings as a Lead or Chief endorser
- attend and engage in at least 2 endorsement events within a minimum of 6 months (and up to a 2-year period – with possibility of extension on application)
- complete directives and consultations that meet the standards to be certified.
Completion and certification
Once all requirements have been met for 2 endorsement cycles, QCAA will provide a certificate stating that the 6 standards have been met.
Certificates are issued twice per year only (in January and June), and valid for 5 years.
The applicant can then use that certificate as a part of their Stage 1 individual application.
More information
Learn more about the Certification Pathways of Highly Accomplished & Lead Teachers from Queensland College of Teachers.
For expression of interest for current Lead and Chief endorsers, email pathway_programs@qcaa.qld.edu.au.
- Last updated:
- 20 July 2026
