For Students

You must have completed the following in order to be eligible to enrol in professional experience course:

1. Ensure you have a valid Blue Card for the duration of placement - this is a legal requirement. (see further information below: Blue Cards)
2. Register your information on the placement management system InPlace (see further information below: InPlace Student Registration Details). 
3. Have met all course prerequisites as per the: UQ Programs and Courses page
4. Have completed the Domestic Violence Module on Blackboard (ONLY for students enrolling in final year courses EDUC4625, EDUC7625, EDUC4714 and EDUC7540)

It is essential you familiarise yourself with this document. It will be referred to throughout your program in all courses that contain professional experience.

Please click link below:

Policies and Procedures for Professional Experience

Semester 1 

Bachelor of Education (Primary) 

Master of Teaching (Primary)

Bachelor of Education (Secondary) / Dual Degree

Master of Teaching (Secondary)

Semester 2 

Bachelor of Education (Primary)

Master of Teaching (Primary)

Bachelor of Education (Secondary) / Dual Degree

Master of Teaching (Secondary)

The following courses include Professional Experience that must be successfully completed in order (as per list below) to meet course requirements. For information on what placement course you should enrol in please refer to your year of admission on Programs and Courses.

BEd Secondary Students

BEd Primary Students

MTeach Secondary Students

MTeach Primary Students

An important reminder: if you do not have a valid Blue Card for the duration of your Professional Experience placement, you are not permitted to attend your host school - a valid Blue Card is a legal requirement.

Apply for/or renew a Blue Card

You are now able to apply for/renew your blue card online. Please follow the following instructions outlined under 'How to apply for a blue or exemption card' at the Blue Card Services page.

**NOTE: You cannot apply for a blue card if you are a disqualified person.

1. Ensure you have a Customer Reference Number (CRN) from the Department of Transport and Main Roads (ie licence number)
2. Register for an online account to verify you identity, provide a photo for your blue card, and access the online application portal
3. Apply for a volunteer/student blue card via the Blue Card Services online application portal. Do not attempt to apply for a paid card.
4. You will reach a point in the portal application where it provides you with an account number. You MUST email this number to the School of Education at education@uq.edu.au via your UQ student email to have your application approved by the School of Education. You will be advised once this approval is complete and can then finalise your application in the Blue Card Services online application portal.
5. You will be notified by Blue Card Services via email when your application is successful and will be sent your physical blue card.

IMPORTANT: You must have a CRN from the Department of Transport Main Roads to be able to register for an online account then apply for your blue card. CRN numbers most commonly appear on government issued ID's (ie licence). For further information on CRN's and how to obtain one see 'Prove your identity' at the Blue Card services page.

You can apply for a Blue Card using a paper based application form. You will still require a CRN number and will need to have a copy certified by an authorised person to apply. Please see 'Submit a paper application' at the Blue Card Services page.

It can take a number of weeks from commencing the blue card application process to when you are issued with your physical blue card. For first time applicants we recommend applying as soon as you commence your program. For existing card holders we recommend applying immediately upon receiving 16 week expiry notification from Blue Card Services or receive renewal notifaction for the School of Education.

Already have a Blue Card through another organisation

If you already have obtained a Blue Card through another organisation (ie sports club, tutoring, or volunteer work), in order for your current Blue Card to be valid, it needs to be linked to the School of Education.

To link your blue card simply email education@uq.edu.au your Blue Card number and expiry date from your UQ student email account. 

Once your Blue Card is successfully linked you will be notified.

Lost Blue Card

This form is to be completed where a Blue/Exemption card has been lost or stolen and a replacement card is required.

• Application for a replacement card (PDF, 116.4 KB)

Please submit directly to Blue Card Services. 

Further information can be found here on the Blue Card Services page.

Apply for a CRN remotely

International, interstate students or students from remote areas no longer need to wait until they arrived in Queensland to apply for their Customer Reference Number (CRN) and get a photo from the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR)

Whether a person is applying for a CRN from overseas, interstate or from a remote area of Queensland, they can now complete a 'Remote Pack' available at the Blue Card Services page.

Please refer to the step by step guide on how to complete the 'Remote Pack'.

 UQ’s placement management system InPlace is where all information regarding your placement is stored.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure your SI-net SEMESTER address is correct as we will only use this address when finding your placement. If you change your Semester address on SI-net anytime after 1st January, you must also email education@uq.edu.au and advise us that you have changed your address. 

You must successfully enter your information on InPlace in order to receive a placement. This includes critical information such as your mode of transport and conflict of interests. If you chose Car/Motorcycle, we will still try to find you a school placement in your area, but it will also give you more options that are easier to travel to than on public transport. 

You must complete InPlace registration as soon as you enrol into the professional experience course.  Without this information, it is very difficult for the Placements Team to organise your placement, and your placement may be delayed.  

Guide to Completing InPlace:

You must complete all required questions in InPlace that are marked with a *. Otherwise, your InPlace dashboard will continue to display 'To Do' items.

To complete questions in each section as per below, expand the section using the and  buttons.

1. Log in to the InPlace portal under 'Staff and Students' using your usual student username and password. Then click on the 'My Details' drop down item under your student username at the top right of your InPlace dashboard.

2. Complete your UQ - Emergency Contact Details.

3. Complete all questions in the Education Student Information. Please note this might look different depending on your particular program, as the questions are tailored to your course placement requirements. Once completed and submitted, we can Verify the details.

4. Do not attempt to change/upload any data under UQ - Working with Children Check - QLD. Even though this is a required field, only UQ School of Education staff should change this data based on the blue card appications you have submitted. However you must check the details to ensure your blue card is valid. If you need to apply/renew/link your blue card please follow online instructions from the School of Education.

5. If you are in a SECONDARY Program, please review your EDUC - Confirmed Teaching Areas. This will only display for Masters of Teaching (Secondary) or Bachelor of Education (Secondary) students in their third/fourth year. This has been based on your SI-net enrolment, or if you are a Masters of Teaching student, you will have had this confirmed when accepted into the Program. Students cannot update this information. If details are incorrect please email education@uq.edu.au 

Please Note: Your InPlace registration will continue to display the item below in your ‘To Do’ list until the School of Education receives notification that your blue card application/link is completed and successful.  Once the School of Education receives this notification, your Blue Card information will be updated accordingly.

You can request to complete a regional/rural/remote placement for any course that does not include single day observations. 

Prior to completing the application form, it is preferable if you call to our office to discuss your options: Room 403, Social Sciences Building (24), St Lucia Campus, (between 9am - 4pm)

Please complete the application form (fillable PDF, click link below) and email to: education@uq.edu.au Please also attach your last Professional Experience Final Report (in PDF format only). Applications will not be considered if you do not attach your last PEx report.

 Regional, Rural & Remote PEx Application Form 

Visit the Teach Queensland website for information about, and to apply for, the Regional Professional Experience Grant and Beyond the Range Professional Experience Grant. Please note that the grants are only available to students completing placements in Queensland State Schools.

Where possible students are encouraged to request placements in towns/regions where they have support networks (ie family/friends) or attend along with fellow students to support them while completing the placement.

If this is not possible, or you are unsure of a RRR location you wish to attend for placement we recommend speaking to fellow students or Placement Officers about appropriate locations, along with doing your own research.

We also work closely with the TECe Teacher Enhancement Centre based at Kelvin Grove State College who offer RRR placements for your final PEx.

If you would like further information on Regional, Rural or Remote placements and available options please call into our office.

The University of Queensland, School of Education, is committed to supporting our Pre-Service Teachers and valued partner schools through Permission to Teach opportunities. Only approved teachers may undertake the duties of a teacher in a state or non-state school in Queensland. Approved teachers include registered teachers and persons approved to teach under PTT. Holders of a PTT are not registered teachers. PTT approval is granted within strict parameters. 

UQ Pre-Service Teachers wishing to apply for PTT must first refer to the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) website. The PTT school is responsible for initiating this process. 

Before accepting an employment contract, we strongly recommend you read the QCT Principles for Permission to Teach 

Further information can also be found on the QCT Applying for Permission to Teach in Queensland - Fact Sheet and QCT Permission to Teach Policy document.

Seeking Approval from UQ and Requesting a Statement of Acknowledgement

At The University of Queensland we support students to undertake Permission to Teach in their final year, final semester of study. In order to start the approval process and access a statement of acknowledgement to undertake the PTT, all students must complete and submit the Permission to Teach Application Form - see below. Upon assessment of your application, and if you meet the required criteria, UQ will generate a Statement of Acknowledgement and submit it to the QCT. If further information is required, The School of Education will be in contact.

 Permission To Teach Application Form

Any further enquires please contact: prac@uq.edu.au

The Professional Year Orientation Program (PYOP) will take place on Thursday 20 February.

This is a full-day event for ALL final year students and features important program and career information designed to support students with enrolment, professional experience, teacher registration, and professional standards and employment. There will be speakers from Queensland College of Teachers, Dept of Education and Brisbane Catholic Education.

This is an ‘in-person’ event only, and lunch and refreshments will be provided. 

Further details will be posted closer to the date. 

How will my Professional Experience Placement be organised?

The School of Education Placements team will organise your placement. 

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure your SI-net SEMESTER address is correct. We will use this address when finding your placement. If you change your Semester address on SI-net anytime after 1st January, as well as updating SI-net, you must also email education@uq.edu.au and advise us. 

Please ensure you complete in full, the InPlace Student Registration Details page (see information in thread above). If you have a Car/Motorcycle please let us know, we will still try to find you a school placement in your area, but it will also give you more options that are not available on public transport journey times.

Professional Experience is a fulltime commitment, and you are expected to be at your school at least 45 minutes before school starts and may be required to stay for the same length of time at the end of the school day. You will also need to consider staff meetings and other related activities which may be outside school hours. Now is the time to start planning to ensure you have time off work, childcare and family commitments organised, etc. so that you can meet the professional experience requirements.

PLEASE NOTE: Placements are limited depending on your teaching areas and may not always be available in your local area, you maybe required to travel up to 90 minutes to attend your host school. 

Can I request which school I want to attend Placement?

No, we do not offer school preferences to students, and students should not contact schools themselves to organise placements. The exception to this is if you are attending a RRR placement, or you have been contacted about returning to a previous school. 

If an instance arises where a school approaches you directly to request to complete a placement with them, please advise the school to contact the School of Education.

What are the dates of my Placement?

Please refer to the 2024 Professional Experience Calendar for placement dates for each course.

If you are attending single day placements your placement day is scheduled for each FRIDAY. 

PLEASE NOTE: PEx dates are set and cannot be changed, or have variations. All course progression must be followed, and courses cannot be taken outside of periods stated in the calendar

When will I receive confirmation of my Placement?

You will be advised approx 10 days prior to the commencement of placement. 

If you have requested a regional/rural/remote placement you will likely be advised well in advance of the commencement of your placement, to allow you sufficient time to prepare for the placement.

Once you receive this confirmation you need to make immediate contact with the School Coordinator (contact details will be on your InPlace portal) to introduce yourself and organise the logistics of your placement.

Conflicts of Interest (CoI)

It is important that you advise us of any schools where you may have a potential conflict of interest.

Examples of a Conflict of Interest are: 

• A partner, spouse or family member who is employed at the school,
• Your own children, or children of family members are enrolled at the school,
• You are employed at the school in any capacity, including as a teachers aide, OSHC worker or extracurricular tutor/coach

 Please add any CoI to your InPlace Student Registration page.

My single day placement causes a timetable clash, what should I do?

1.  Check if there are any other offerings of the classes that clash with your placement day.  If so, enrol into these. 

2.  If there are no other class offerings apart from the day of your placement, and you:

HAVE NOT received your placement confirmation please contact the School of Education to arrange a different day for your placement.  Please do this as soon as possible.   

HAVE received your placement confirmation please immediately contact your placement school coordinator/supervising teacher to request to attend on an alternate day.  You must ensure any alternate day organised is communicated in writing to the School of Education and does not conflict with classes or other ‘on campus’ tasks.

I am unwell or unable to attend my placement, what should I do?

Follow all relevant procedures at your placement school in regards to immediately reporting your absence and providing any necessary documentation or lesson plans if required. YOU MUST email the School Coordinator and supervising Teacher as soon as you know you will be absent from PEx. 

If your absence is greater than 3 consecutive days you are required to provide the School of Education with a medical certificate. However, your placement school may request a certificate for less than 3 days as part of their absentee procedures.

You must advise the School of Education in writing of any ‘make-up’ days you negotiate with your placement school due to illness. Please ensure you contact your course coordinator if your ‘make-up’ days are after the scheduled completion date for the course.

There is a public holiday during my placement, what should I do?

For single day placements you will need to organise a 'make up' day with your supervising teacher.  The majority of single day placements will be on a Friday, so this will limit the number of public holidays during student placements. 

For block placements, you do not need to make this day up. 

Can I attend a school excursion/camp while on PEx?

Approval is required. We may need to complete a Risk Assessment if you are participating in any high-risk activities such as abseiling, high ropes, canoeing etc. Please email education@uq.edu.au to request approval. Should your application be approved, it is on the strict condition that you are not permitted to supervise any school children on your own.

Please note, we require a minimum 3 working days notice to assess an application.

Contact Us

If you have further questions regarding your Professional Experience courses, please:

Call to our office: Room 403, Social Sciences Building (24), St Lucia Campus (between 9am - 4pm)

Or email: education@uq.edu.au  

Pre-Service Teachers have a variety of resources available to them within UQ to support them during the professional experience. Pre-Service Teachers are able to receive support from their course co-ordinator, Director of Professional Experience, Placements team and Facilitator (and other relevant members of staff within the university).

Other useful resources include:

Student counselling services: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/student-support/health-and-wellbeing/mental-health-and-emotional-support/counsellors

UQ Counselling and Crisis Line: 1300 851 998 (24/7 access)

Crisis Counsellor: text 0488 884 115 after hours (4.30pm-8am)

UQ Respect: including UQ Sexual Misconduct Support unit. Receive free, confidential guidance and support around sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Phone: 3443 1000 (open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)

Email: sexualmisconductsupport@uq.edu.au

Phone: 1800 Respect 1800 737 732 for 24/7 counselling support

Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) 07 3646 5207 for 24/7 Acute Response

Website: https://respect.uq.edu.au/support