LANTITE Exemptions: Who Qualifies and How to Apply

Most candidates searching for LANTITE exemptions are hoping there is a way around the test. The honest answer is: formal exemptions are rare, and for most ITE students, the LANTITE is a requirement they will need to meet.

Here is exactly what exists, sourced from ACER and AITSL directly.

Who Does NOT Need to Sit the LANTITE

According to ACER, the LANTITE applies to students enrolled in accredited initial teacher education (ITE) courses in Australia. Two groups do not need to sit:

• Prospective students who have not yet enrolled in an ITE course. You are not required to sit before you begin your degree.
• Students who qualify under an accepted alternative standard. An alternative pathway to meeting the literacy and numeracy requirement exists, but the conditions vary by state and territory.

Everyone else enrolled in an accredited ITE program is required to attempt the LANTITE. For the current policy on when you must attempt, refer to your university and the ACER FAQ.

The Alternative Standard

ACER acknowledges that an accepted alternative standard exists for meeting the literacy and numeracy requirement without sitting the LANTITE. However, the specific conditions and what qualifies as an alternative are determined at the state and territory level by teacher regulatory authorities, not by ACER.

What this means in practice: there is no single national alternative. Whether a prior qualification, test result, or other evidence counts as an accepted alternative depends entirely on which state or territory you intend to register as a teacher in.

To find out whether an alternative applies to you, you need to contact:

• Your higher education provider (your university's ITE program coordinator)
• Your state or territory teacher regulatory authority
• The AITSL website (aitsl.edu.au) for national guidance on teacher registration requirements

Do not rely on secondhand information about what qualifies. Requirements differ between states and have changed in recent years.

Reasonable Adjustments

Candidates with a disability, mental health condition, chronic health condition, or neurodiversity may be eligible for reasonable adjustments to their test conditions. This is not an exemption from the test, but it can change how and where you sit it.

Examples of reasonable adjustments include extended time, a separate testing room, or other modifications to the standard test conditions.

How to apply:

1. Log into your ACER candidate account during the registration period.
2. Submit a reasonable adjustments application online.
3. Upload supporting documentation (such as a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist).

Important: reasonable adjustments must be applied for during registration for each test window. They do not carry over automatically from one window to the next.

What Does NOT Count as an Exemption

Based on ACER's published information, the following do not provide an exemption from the LANTITE:

• Having passed other literacy or numeracy assessments during your ITE program
• Holding a prior degree or qualification
• English not being your first language
• Being an international student enrolled in an Australian ITE program
• Financial hardship (fees cannot be deferred to HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP)

ACER also confirms it will not consider appeals against test results or requests for re-marking. If you sit and do not meet the standard, re-sitting is the only available path forward.

Re-Sits Are Unlimited

There is no limit on the number of times you can sit the LANTITE. Not meeting the standard on your first attempt is not a permanent barrier. You can re-sit as many times as needed.

Each component (Literacy and Numeracy) can be sat independently. If you pass one and not the other, you only need to re-sit the component you did not pass.

The Practical Takeaway

If you are enrolled in an ITE program and hoping for an exemption: in most cases, there is not one. The most productive use of your time is preparing to meet the standard rather than researching ways around it.

If you have a disability or health condition that affects your test performance, apply for reasonable adjustments during registration. If you are genuinely uncertain whether an alternative standard applies to you, contact your university and your state teacher regulatory authority directly.

All facts on this page are sourced directly from teacheredtest.acer.edu.au. Requirements vary by state and territory. Always confirm your specific obligations with your higher education provider and state teacher regulatory authority.