Information for foreign-trained secondary school teachers
(4141) Verified: 2008 10 31
Information on requirements to practise
The profession of secondary school teacher is regulated in Canada. This means that the requirements to practise are set by the provincial and territorial regulatory bodies. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, but may include a bachelor's degree in education and a provincial teaching certificate. Additional training and certification are required for teachers who would like to specialize in special education or instruction of English or French as a second-language.
Once you know where you wish to settle and work in Canada, you should contact the appropriate regulatory body for more information.
Information on assessment of qualifications
Assessment of qualifications for foreign-trained teachers is done by each provincial or territorial office. However, these offices are not set up to assess foreign qualifications prior to your arrival in Canada.
If, and for immigration purposes only, you need information on how your qualifications compare with Canadian requirements, you may consult our Fact Sheet No. 2 , which has been compiled to help individuals learn more about how to obtain an assessment of their credentials for purposes of employment in Canada. We draw to your attention the list of evaluation services in question 4 in this fact sheet. You may contact any of them for expert advice on how qualifications obtained abroad compare with credentials obtained in a Canadian province or territory.
Other relevant information
For a general description of duties and employment requirements, you can refer to the information prepared by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada regarding:
You may as well be interested by the information for foreign-trained university or college teachers.
Specific Provincial/Territorial Information
Finally, the following sites may also be of interest:
List of regulating agencies
Alberta
- Alberta Education, Teacher Development and Certification
- 10044 - 108 Street, 2nd Floor
- Edmonton AB T5J 5E6 Canada
- Phone : (780) 427-2045
- Fax : (780) 422-4199
- Email : teachercertification@gov.ab.ca
- http://www.education.alberta.ca/teachers/certification.aspx
British Columbia
- British Columbia College of Teachers (BCCT)
- 400-2025 West Broadway
- Vancouver BC V6J 1Z6 Canada
- Phone : (604) 731-8170
- Phone (alternate): 1- 800-555-3684
- Fax : (604) 731-9142
- Email : certification@bcct.ca
- http://www.bcct.ca/Teacher/BecomingATeacherOverview.aspx
Manitoba
- Department of Education, Citizenship and Youth, Professional Certification
- Box 700
402 Main Street- Russell MB R0J 1W0 Canada
- Phone : (204) 773-2998
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-667-2378
- Fax : (204) 773-2411
- Email : certification@gov.mb.ca
- http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/profcert/outapcountry.html
New Brunswick
- Department of Education, Office of Teacher Certification
- P.O. Box 6000
- Fredericton NB E3B 5H1 Canada
- Phone : (506) 453-3678
- Fax : (506) 453-5349
- Email : angelique.binet@gnb.ca
- http://app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/pub/DetailOrgEng1.asp?OrgID1=11563&DeptID1=20
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Department of Education, Registrar of Teacher Certification
- Confederation Building, P.O. Box 8700
- St. John's NL A1B 4J6 Canada
- Phone : (709) 729-3020
- Fax : (709) 729-5026
- Email : robparsons@gov.nl.ca
- http://www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/teaching/certification.html
Northwest Territories
- Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Teacher Certification
- P.O. Box 1320
- Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
- Phone : (867) 873-7392
- Fax : (867) 873-0338
- http://www.newteachersnwt.ca/
Nova Scotia
- Department of Education, Teacher Certification
- 2021 Brunswick Street, P.O. Box 578
- Halifax NS B3J 2S9 Canada
- Phone : (902) 424-6620
- Fax : (902) 424-3814
- Email : certification@EDnet.ns.ca
- http://certification.ednet.ns.ca/
Nunavut
- Nunavut Educators' Certification Service, Department of Education
- P.O. Box 390
- Arviat NU X0C 0E0 Canada
- Phone : (867) 857-3081
- Fax : (867) 857-3090
- Email : rmike3@gov.nu.ca
- http://www.gov.nu.ca/education/eng/teacher/tcert/necs/index.htm
Ontario
- Ontario College of Teachers (OCT)
- 121 Bloor Street East
- Toronto ON M4W 3M5 Canada
- Phone : (416) 961-8800
- Phone (alternate): 1-888-534-2222
- Fax : (416) 961-8822
- Email : info@oct.ca
- http://www.oct.ca/IET/?lang=en-CA
Prince Edward Island
- Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Registrar's Office
- P.O. Box 2000
16 Fitzroy Street, 3rd Floor- Charlottetown PE C1A 7N8 Canada
- Phone : (902) 368-4650
- Fax : (902) 368-6144
- Email : registrar@edu.pe.ca
- http://www.gov.pe.ca/educ/index.php3?number=74956&lang=E
Quebec
- Québec - Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, Direction de la formation et de la titularisation du personnel scolaire
- 1035, rue De La Chevrotière, 28e étage
- Québec QC G1R 5A5 Canada
- Phone : (418) 646-6581
- Fax : (418) 643-2149
- Email : dftps@mels.gouv.qc.ca
- http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/dftps/
- Aide aux personnes immigrantes et aux minorités visibles
Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan Department of Learning, Teacher Services
- P.O. Box 650
- Regina SK S4P 3A3 Canada
- Phone : (306) 787-6085
- Fax : (306) 787-1003
- Email : joan.nielsen@gov.sk.ca
- http://www.education.gov.sk.ca/certification
Yukon
- Teacher Certification, Department of Education, Yukon
- 1000 Lewes Boulevard, P.O. Box 2703
- Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
- Phone : (867) 667-8631
- Phone (alternate): 1-800-661-0408 x3719
- Fax : (867) 393-6339
- Email : peggy.dorosz@gov.yk.ca
- http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/employment/certification.html