According to the Public Education Act, which regulates the key issues related to teachers’ employment, teachers have both the right and the obligation to participate in the necessary continuing education programmes to support their ongoing professional development.

Organisational aspects

The work of schools and teachers is supported by educational and professional services (see Chapter 9.2). These services encompass the support and organisation of teacher training, continuing education, and self-directed learning. In-service training is designed to renew, expand, and enhance the knowledge and skills necessary for directly working with children and students. It also focuses on organising the activities of schools, for providing educational support services and related professional services, as well as management and leadership tasks within these schools.

After being in place for 28 years, the previous teachers continuing education system was completely overhauled in 2025 by the Government Decree on Continuing Education (Government Decree 419/2024 (23 December), hereinafter: the Decree). 

The Decree mandating the professional development of teachers in Hungary delegates the responsibility for teacher training to two organisations: 

• The Educational Authority and

• Ludovika University of Public Service (hereinafter: LUPS).

Under the new system, teachers must earn 120 credits every five years, with a minimum of 60 credits obtained through so-called content-refreshing continuing education organised by LUPS. The remaining credits – up to 60 – can be earned through elective continuing education programmes offered by the Educational Authority.

The Decree also introduced a 120-credit training programme for public education managers. As of 1 January 2026, no teacher is eligible for appointment as a school head in any school without having completed this programme. However, within the legal framework and under certain circumstances, school heads who previously obtained management qualification (e.g., public education management qualification) through postgraduate specialist professional education for teachers will still be eligible to fulfil the responsibilities of a school head.

According to the Decree, the school head must prepare an institutional continuing education plan for teachers that spans one school year including also Junior Teachers required to complete continuing education as part of their junior period (Junior Teachers must complete two 15-credit continuing education courses during their junior period.) The continuing education plan is developed by the head of the school in collaboration with the teachers' working group and becomes final upon approval by the authority operating the school.

The minimum credit value for a teacher continuing education programme is 15 credits or any multiple of 10, and the maximum is 60 credits. Deviation from this maximum is permitted under separate legal provisions.  

Only continuing education courses that have been registered by the Educational Authority and are included on the continuing education directory for the given school year count towards the continuing education requirement.

Applications for registration must be submitted to the Educational Authority by any organisation developing a continuing education programme. During the registration process, the Teacher Continuing Education Accreditation Board reviews the programme and makes a recommendation to the Authority regarding its approval or rejection. Teacher continuing education programmes that have been registered and are available in the directory may also be launched by other organisations under an implementation agreement concluded with the Authority. 

Continuing training takes place partly during working hours and partly outside of working hours. During the teacher’s training outlined in the teacher training plan, the school will provide a substitute, subject to the approval of the school operator (see Chapter 9.2).

Incentives, supporting measures and funding for participation in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities

Teachers’ motivation for professional development is primarily ensured by the teacher promotion, employment, and compensation system, as well as the teacher career model (see Chapter 9.2).

The cost of continuing education for teachers cannot be passed on to the teachers; it is provided free of charge by the state. Continuing education supports the development of expertise that aligns with the needs of schools while encourages users to choose cost-effective yet efficient training formats. Schools are empowered to define their continuing education plans within their institutional authority. Additionally, the state provides continuing education for teachers free of charge through its regional pedagogical training centres.

For a teacher who intends to serve as an expert in national educational-professional inspections, teachers’ promotion examinations or procedures, or to undertake educational and professional consultation duties, successful completion of the Master Teacher promotion procedure is contingent upon completing the continuing education provided for by the Decree 15/2015 (13 March) of the Minister of Human Capacities on the Conditions for Public Education Expert Activity and the Appointment of Chair of Secondary School Final Examination Board (see Chapter 9.2). In addition, teachers who chair secondary school final examination boards are also required to complete the 30-hour continuing education programme specifically designed for secondary school final examination board chairs, which is organised and offered by the Educational Authority.