Registration and Accreditation Requirements

Under the NSW Education Act, all independent schools in NSW must be registered with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Registration acts as a school's license to operate.

Secondary schools may also choose to be accredited for the Record of School Achievement (RoSA) and/or the Higher School Certificate (HSC). Accreditation enables students enrolled at the school to access the NSW credentials of the RoSA and/or HSC.

Registration Manual

NESA’s Registered and Accredited Individual Non-government Schools (NSW) Manual (Registration Manual) details the requirements for registration and accreditation.

The Registration Manual outlines the registration requirements from the Education Act, provides some explanatory text in relation to the requirement and most importantly lists the evidence of compliance that schools are required to have to demonstrate compliance with each requirement.

Access NESA registration manual

Renewing Registration/Accreditation

School registration/accreditation is approved for a maximum of 5 years (1 year for initial registration).

Schools need to apply to NESA to renew registration in the final year of each registration/accreditation period.

The renewal process involves the following steps:

  • School applies for renewal of registration/accreditation through NESA’s RANGS Online portal. This includes providing NESA with some documentation as identified in the application form.
  • NESA assesses the application using a risk-based assessment process which includes an Inspector:
    - reviewing the documentation provided with the school’s application
    - conducting an inspection visit (note, a small number of schools assessed by NESA as being very low risk may not have an inspection visit each time the school renews registration)
  • NESA Inspector writes an inspection report with a recommendation about the renewal of the school’s registration/accreditation which the school is asked to sign
  • NESA’s Registration and Accreditation Committee considers the inspection report and forwards the recommendation to the Minister for Education and Early Learning
  • The Minister makes a decision about the school’s registration.
  • Once registration is approved by the Minister, the school receives a new Certificate of Registration and Certificate of Accreditation (as relevant).

Registration and Accreditation Resources

AISNSW has a range of advice, tools and resources in relation to NESA’s Registration and Accreditation Requirements.
Explore AISNSW resources