The course · For teachers and schools
Professional Boundaries
A clear, practical course that helps teachers understand where the line sits, why breaches happen, and exactly what to do if you have a concern about yourself or a colleague. Built on real New Zealand conduct cases.
- Online and self-paced
- 3 CPD hours
- Real NZ scenarios
- Certificate on completion
Who it is for
Written for teachers, valuable for anyone in a regulated profession.
Whether you are early in your career or a senior leader, the course gives you a shared, confident understanding of professional boundaries, and the practical judgement to apply it day to day.
Why it is different
Taught by the people who investigate the breaches.
Professional Insight investigates professional-conduct cases for New Zealand regulators across education, health and social services. That frontline experience is why this course is grounded in real cases, not theory.
See our investigation workWhat you will cover
The whole picture, in plain language.
- 01What a profession is, and what a professional boundary is
- 02What happens when a boundary is breached, and the impact it has
- 03Where the dangerous areas are, and how to recognise them
- 04Social media: why it is so risky, and how to keep yourself safe online
- 05Your professional responsibilities, including the duty to report
- 06How to raise concerns about yourself or another teacher
How it works
Three simple steps to your certificate.
- 01
Work through the modules
Short, practical modules you complete at your own pace, built around real New Zealand scenarios.
- 02
Complete the assessment
A short final assessment confirms you have understood the key concepts and your responsibilities.
- 03
Get your certificate
Download a certificate of completion for your professional records, with a reference you can verify.
What you get
- Short online modules you can complete at your own pace
- Real New Zealand scenarios drawn from actual conduct cases
- A final assessment to confirm your understanding
- A certificate of completion for your professional records
Online or in person
Do the course online at your own pace, any time. We also deliver the same course in person for whole staff groups and professional conduct committees.
Enrol a whole schoolThe details
The facts schools and teachers ask us for.
Learning hours
3 CPD hours
The same figure printed on your certificate of completion.
Structure
Nine short modules
Around 20 minutes each on average, so the course fits around a teaching day.
Access
At least 12 months' access
From the day you enrol. Your progress is saved, so you can leave and come back any time.
Assessment and retakes
80% to pass
A short final assessment drawn at random from our question bank. If you do not pass, you can sit it again with a fresh set of questions; after two attempts we ask you to review the relevant modules before trying again.
Devices
Any modern browser
Phone, tablet or laptop. Nothing to install.
Certificate
Independently verifiable
Every certificate carries a unique reference that anyone can check on our public verification page.
How this counts where you teach
Aotearoa New Zealand
Use your certificate and completion record as evidence for your Professional Growth Cycle, and of your engagement with the Code of Professional Responsibility.
New South Wales
Teachers typically self-log the hours in eTAMS as part of their professional development record.
Victoria, Queensland and the ACT
The hours typically count toward your 20 hours a year of teacher-identified professional development, referenced against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Professional Boundaries is not formally accredited professional development in any Australian jurisdiction. The notes above describe how teachers typically record self-identified professional learning. If you are unsure, check with your regulator.
Questions about privacy, data or what your school can see? Read the Trust Centre.
Standards and evidence
Built to map to the 2026 Standards.
New Zealand does not set professional development hours. What counts for your practising certificate is evidence of your learning against the Teaching Council Standards. This course is mapped, module by module, to the 2026 Standards and the Code of Professional Responsibility, so completing it gives you a clear record to use in your Professional Growth Cycle.
Mapped to the 2026 Standards
Each module is mapped to the Teaching Council Standards it evidences, shown to you as you learn.
Grounded in the Code
The course is built around the Code of Professional Responsibility, so your learning ties back to the standards you are held to.
A downloadable evidence pack
On completion you can download a record for your Professional Growth Cycle: the Standards and Code the course covers, alongside your own reflections.
Your reflections stay yours
What you write during the course is private to you. It appears in your own evidence pack and is never shared with your school.
The specific Standards each module evidences are shown inside the course and in your downloadable evidence pack. The 2026 Standards take full effect on 1 January 2027; how you use this evidence in your Professional Growth Cycle is a matter for you and your appraiser.
What people say
“Thanks for the course, it is the best I have done in years.”
“I very strongly recommend this course, especially for people who are new in the profession.”
“They took each bit of evidence, triangulated it and applied it to the relevant Codes or policies. Well worth it.”
Questions
Good to know.
Still unsure about anything? Call Rachel on 027 348 1326 or Bindy on 021 735 153, and we will help.
Who is the course for?
It is written for New Zealand teachers, and it is just as valuable for anyone who is new to a regulated profession or wants a clear refresher on professional boundaries.
How long does it take?
About 3 hours in total, the same 3 CPD hours printed on your certificate. There are nine short modules, around 20 minutes each on average. It is self-paced: work through it in one sitting or come back over time, and your progress is saved.
How long do I have access?
You have at least 12 months of access from the day you enrol, which is plenty of time to finish and to revisit the material afterwards.
What happens if I do not pass the assessment?
You need 80% to pass. If you do not pass, you can sit the assessment again with a fresh set of questions drawn from our question bank. After two attempts we ask you to review the relevant modules before trying again.
What do I need to do the course?
Just a modern web browser on your phone, tablet or laptop. There is nothing to install.
Is there a certificate?
Yes. When you finish the course and pass the short assessment you can download a certificate of completion for your professional records. Every certificate carries a unique reference that anyone can verify on our website.
Can a school enrol its whole staff?
Yes. Schools can enrol staff in bulk, track who has completed the course, and download completion reports for their board. See the For schools page.
Is it delivered in person too?
Yes. We deliver the same course in person for staff groups and professional conduct committees. Get in touch to arrange a session.
How much does it cost?
Pricing depends on whether you are enrolling as an individual or a school. Contact us and we will sort out the right option for you.
Ready when you are
Start Professional Boundaries today.
Begin online and work at your own pace, or get in touch to enrol your school or arrange an in-person session.