The register is being supported by the Department of Education and is being developed in partnership with all five education and library boards, CCMS, NICIE, voluntary grammar schools, Irish Medium schools and trade union representatives from the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council. The register was made available to all schools from 22nd March 2004.

The Department of Education, in Circular 2006/07, advised schools and employing authorities that as from 1 September 2006 only substitute teachers who are on the Northern Ireland Substitute Teacher Register (NISTR) should be employed to work in schools.

If you are already working in Northern Ireland as a substitute teacher, click here to join the Substitute Teacher Register. Please note that you will be asked to enter details relating to your qualifications, teacher training and experience so it would be useful to have relevant documents to hand. If you would like to find out more about registering, phone 02890 564000  or email at belb.subteach@belb.co.uk