Teacher’s Card: Is it Available During the Probationary Year?

Reactivated Teacher’s Card: Does the €500 Bonus Apply During the Probation Year?

The Teacher’s Card has been reactivated, raising an important question: does the €500 bonus apply during the probation year? The Ministry of Education and Merit provides clarity through the FAQs available on the platform designed for benefit access.

The answer is affirmative: the Teacher’s Card is applicable during the training and probation year.
This remains a significant topic of discussion, particularly for teachers who will be appointed before the end of 2024 following the release of rankings for the Pnrr 2023 school competition for certain subjects that are still ongoing.

Eligibility During the Probation Year

According to the Ministry’s FAQs, the Teacher’s Card is granted not only to permanent teachers in state educational institutions but also specifically to those who are in their probationary period.
It includes full-time and part-time teachers, teachers on medical leave as per Article 514 of Legislative Decree 297/94, and other categories such as teachers on secondment or serving abroad.

Teachers who began their service on September 1, 2024, will be eligible for the Teacher’s Card, which can be utilized until August 31, 2025.
However, those awaiting the results of the ongoing competition may face different circumstances.

Competition Graduations and New Appointments

The Ministry confirmed that the competition rankings for the Pnrr 2023 would be published by December 10, 2024, with appointments to occur by the end of the year.
This situation raises questions about whether new entrants during the active school year will be eligible for the Teacher’s Card during their training phase.
The Ministry’s guidance has been somewhat vague, indicating that beneficiary registrations will commence at the start of each new school year.

Access for Temporary Teachers

Temporary teachers, however, are typically excluded from the Teacher’s Card under existing regulations.
That said, those with relevant court rulings confirming their eligibility for the bonus may access it through the dedicated platform.
The Ministry states that these teachers should provide a copy of the ruling to claim their benefits, ensuring they follow specific registration procedures to access the electronic wallet.

In summary, while there is some uncertainty surrounding new recruits from the ongoing competitions, the current regulations allow for some claims to be made by eligible teachers during their probation year.

For additional details on the Teacher’s Card and legal guidance, you can visit the official Ministry page.