A temporary teaching permit is something that the school will apply for on a teacher’s behalf as soon as they begin work there. It is granted for two years and allows the school time to get the teacher to meet the requirements of the TCT to obtain a teaching license from them.
Previously, at the end of two years the school had to be able to show the TCT that there had been progression in meeting the TCT requirements and if there had been, the school was able to apply for a subsequent temporary teaching permit.
As to what defined progression, that is a more difficult question to answer and it was reported that it could depend on the particular school’s influence and status.
Presently, it seems a lot clearer. A school can apply for a temporary teaching permit of two years for a new foreign teacher. It can do this another two times giving that teacher six years to meet the TCT’s requirements for licensing
A new Teacher does not need a TCT License Immediately
Thailand does recognize the need to improve the English language skills of its population and so the TCT do not want to drive foreign teachers away or put them off teaching here.
It is with this in mind that they created the temporary teaching permit also described as a ‘waiver’ from the TCT permanent license requirements. If a teacher is working at a formal school in Chiang Mai, they will need one of these. Details of how to get one are provided below as well as what constitutes a formal school and a non-formal school.
I was made aware of it on various tefl forums, and got it confirmed at the ministry of labour office here in Buengkan. I could find a link I am sure if you can not yourself.. There are plenty of foreign teachers using this option.
Well.. they are strick with the paperwork.. They did not even care about my yellow book, still had to get the letter of residence from immigration. On the plus side depending how you look at it, they a very slack about the practical things. Once I had the required papers (already on extension based on marriage before that) and handed them over with my passport, my DK license and IDP, I was told that I did not even have to do the colour or brake test because I had the IDP (or maybe its because of my relative young age idk to be honest). I watched some video, but only because it became lunch time for the office workers. They came in and stopped it halfway because they needed the room for something else.